Delungra teenager Brendan Jones is currently riding about 600km a week in preparation for what he hopes to be a successful cycling season.

Brendan, 17, took up cycling in 1999, but only began travelling to competitions in 2001 and reached national level last year.

"I used to do cross country and took up cycling from there – it's a bit easier,” he said.

Brendan finished eighth in the under 19s division at the NSW road championships held in Windsor in July last year.

He then went on to finish 12th in the under 19s division at the national road championships at Murwillambah in September last year.

Brendan competed at the national road selections in Adelaide in July last year where he finished 16th in the road race.

"The conditions were bad– it was pouring down rain, cold, and very windy,” he said.

Brendan said he enjoyed racing, but found winning the most difficult aspect of racing due to tough competition.

"There's some pretty good bike riders,” he said.

Most of Brendan's races are between 120km and 160km in distance.

Brendan has had the influence of two coaches who have helped him to where he is today.

He was coached last year by Inverell's Mick Hoynes who won the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic C grade division in 1995.

Mick was Brendan's cycling inspiration as a child.

"I watched him as a little kid,” Brendan said.

Inverell's Ian Manton, who has competed in the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic 18 times, now coaches Brendan.

Brendan said he hoped to go well in his competitions this year.

Brendan will compete at the Canberra Tour in April where he will race in two 75km races and another 130km race.

The first national road series selections for the year will be held in Cardinia, Victoria, on May 31 and June 1.

In July, Brendan will compete in the second national road series selections to be held in Canberra.

"I hope to make the World Championship team and go to Canada or the B team that goes to New Zealand.

"There's eight people all up that get selected,” he said.

Brendan can be found every day of the week training along the Gywdir Highway between Delungra and Inverell.

© 2003 Inverell Times

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