Australian U19 Mountain Climbing Championships

Clement Boydell competed in the U19 Australian mountain climbing championships last weekend. Here is how the time trial and road race unfolded for the Macdonald Shaw cycling team.

Last weekend our Macdonald Shaw team competed in the U19 Australian mountain climbing championships, and with sunny conditions the racing was looking to be good fun.

On Saturday, we started with a Time trial which was unfortunately shortened by 4km of climbing meaning we needed to ride fast and with a headwind along the straight this was unconvincing.  I finished as our top placed rider in 9th position closely followed by Bryce Morey and Munro Boydell, with team mates Hayden, Will, Camden and Mikky further back in the field.

On Sunday, the day of the road race, the conditions were sunny but cold to start with and also we had team mate, Bryce missing due to an unfortunate illness.  The race started under netural zone until the lead car pulled away immediately the pace picked up.  

Small attempts to get off the front were made but nothing huge until the big sprinter Will Allen made his move on his side of the hill, (the decent) pulling one other rider with him.   Will Allen built on his lead all the way to the bottom of the climb with a lead of 5 minutes and 20 seconds.

A well put together VIS team pulling their weight up the first 10km of the climb shedding most of the bunch and leaving only me left from our team.  Will Allen was not the rider we had picked to win on top of Mt Buffalo but he did his job and forced other teams to chase, meaning we could all sit in.  Fortunately he was there to help team mates Munro and Mikky with some friendly help on the climb when we caught him (and then he exploded).  I didn’t feel great today and only lasted the first 10km with the front bunch and managed to place 11th, while team mates Munro, Mikky, Hayden, Camden and Will were close behind.

I am racing the Baw Baw Classic this coming weekend with Munro, Trent, Aaron and Hayden.  Fingers crossed we all have a good day.