DELUNGRA cyclist Brendan Jones looks set to finish in the national road series selection tour top 10 after the first stage held recently in Melbourne.

The 18-year-old competed in the under 19s division of the tour of Cardinia in Melbourne on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 in what was a national road series event for world championship selection to be held in Canada in October.

Brendan managed to stay clear of a big crash, which involved 35 riders at the beginning of the 100km road race.

About 15 riders broke away after the crash, but Brendan fell away from this group when he was involved in a crash of his own on the third lap.

"I couldn't quite get back to the group so then I chased by myself for about 15km.”

Brendan caught up with the group in the final 10km and finished 8th in a sprint for the line.

Stage two of the tour of Cardinia involved a 22km time trial with 60 competitors.

This was a demanding course with hills including a 500 metre climb and sharp corners.

Brendan was placed 6th at half way but still tired from the 100km road race and finished 14th. Place ranking was tight with only 20 seconds between 6th and 14th.

"I wasn't feeling good for that race as my legs weren't recovered from stage one,” Brendan said.

Stage three on Sunday was an 80km road race with 6 laps including a 2.5km climb.

Three riders broke away in the first 10km, but Brendan and another competitor attacked after two laps in an attempt to bridge the two-minute gap separating them.

Brendan then left his attacking partner behind and rode alone for 30km.

A group of 10 riders caught Brendan at the start of the second-last lap, with about 25km to go, forcing him to chase for the next 10km.

He finished 10th in an uphill sprint for the line.

"I enjoy going away racing. It's the reason I train.”

Brendan competed at a 25-competitor mens' tour in Wagga Wagga on Saturday, May 3 and finished sixth in the 100km road race and second in the 20km time trial.

© 2003 Inverell Times

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