Kelly Cycle Coaching athlete, David Randall (also a member of the men’s ParkTrent team) recently returned to focus on the VRS Road Series with his team, after spending several months as a trackie last year. Highlights included winning the Points race at the State Track champs and coming top 10 at Nationals. His training included endless ergo and track sessions where he rode til he almost spewed……but all in the pursuit of getting faster!!!

Here is what David had to say when we asked him about his time in Adelaide recently and all the track specific training in preparation.

Report by David Randall.

In early 2013, I sat down with Helen and Bob Kelly and planned out the year ahead.  Having finished my schooling in 2012, I hadn’t had the preparation I would have liked coming into that track season.  My primary aim for 2013 was qualifying for selection in the Victorian State Track Team.

I was invited to train with an extended U19 endurance squad during the second half of 2013, and then achieved State team selection following a win in the Points Race and 5^th in the Individual Pursuit at the State Track Championships in December.  I was in the U19 men’s endurance squad with Mat ‘Rossy’ Ross, Jordan Stannus, Jack Hickey and Lucas Hamilton.

I was lucky enough to have a great team around me, all of whom were important in supporting my preparation for my first Nationals experience.

As I had finished 5^th at States and only 4 Victorians could compete in the 3km Individual Pursuit on day one, I rode the Kilometre Time Trial.  In an event I hadn’t specifically prepared for, I was happy to hold onto 10^th place, my first ever top 10 finish in a national-level race!  I watched my teammate Braeden Dean claim the gold medal in clinical fashion, taking 5 seconds out of me in just a kilometre.  The kid is fast!

The scratch race on day two was a race in which any one of us was a chance – we just had to make it through a qualifying heat early in the day.  I managed to lap the field with two others and took the ‘win’ – all four Victorians were in the final.  We planned to be aggressive throughout the 10km race – Jordan and I both made multiple moves off the front but teammates of favourites shut every strong move down before it could build a dangerous advantage.  Jack took Rossy to the front with a couple of laps to go and Rossy ended up coming 2^nd – fair to say we were stoked with a silver medal!  I finished 9^th in the final, another result to celebrate!

In the points race, we had another afternoon heat to qualify for the final in the evening.  Half-way through, as I was near the front of the bunch, Lucas and Jordan fell victim to a large crash which took down half the field – Jordan was, devastatingly, unable to ride the points race and madison due to a nasty leg wound.  In the final, Lucas lapped the field in a group of six and eventually finished 5^th in a hard race.  I played domestique and emptied the tank doing the lead out before the final sprint.

Saturday was disappointing for Jack and I as we were unable to finish the madison due to mechanical issues with Jack’s bike, but Lucas and Rossy put the hammer down and took the win ahead of two WA teams who couldn’t seem to keep the rubber side down!

I was relieved to stay upright all week and have some good results with the team – after working so hard for three months, I’ve taken a week off the bike and started focussing on the upcoming road season.  I’m looking forward to catching up with the Park Trent boys and girls more over the next few weeks and hit the climbs!

I’m thankful to that team around me, who motivated me and kept me grounded through the summer:  thank you to my parents and family, especially Dad who’s been my main supporter for the last 12 months and even flew over to Adelaide for the week – to my family and dad – I really appreciate the constant driving, spectating and motivation; to Bob and Helen Kelly, who took me in a year ago and have helped me improve on and off the bike – I’d never have realised how incredibly beneficial a great coach and team can be, without them; thank you to my sponsors, Park Trent Properties, Bicycle Superstore and the generous supporters of the Team; to Hilton Clarke, Mark Drehlich and Cycling Victoria, for making our lives in Adelaide easier and running the team flawlessly all week; to the team, for the fun and relaxed atmosphere all week and for inspirational performances all round!