Cairns cyclists named in QLD team

ONE of the state’s best junior cycling prospects and a young man selectors believe have the potential to make it to the big time earned selection in the Queensland team.

Chloe Buckley and Will Emeleus have both named the state squad after outstanding performances at the Queensland Junior and Masters Track Championships at Anna Meares Velodrome this week.

Buckley won a swag of medals from a range of disciplines, and while Emeleus wasn’t as lucky on the track, he has shown enough to selectors to warrant an invitation.

Cairns Cycling Club coach Richie Bates said both were hardworking and skilful young riders with plenty of potential.

While Buckley is a bottomage competitor, it didn’t stop her from making an enormous impact on the track in the under-15 junior womens category this week.

“Chloe is in the first year of U15s, and usually the riders have it all of the younger ones but she was beating cyclists a year older,” Bates said.

What makes Buckley such a strong, well-rounded rider, said Bates, was her seeming lack of a specialty event.

Where a lot of riders are strong on the track or the road, Bates said Buckley was a cyclist who could perform on just about any surface.

It’s why it made answering a question about Buckley’s best event so difficult.

She was outstanding in the time trial on the road, but is just as adept on the track.

“Across the 15s girls age group, she’s probably among the best in the state,” he said.

“She excels in everything. She’s an endurance athlete, so points race is what she was really good at in track.”

Emeleus, meanwhile, started his cycling life on the BMX track, and while he hasn’t fully given up the berms for the velodrome, Bates said he had shown enough on the track for state selectors to have a close look at him for future.

“He really impressed. Going into the titles, we saw him really step up,” Bates said. “He’s got a new setup and everything has gone well. Selectors have seen his potential and believe he could be one to watch."