Cairns teen cyclist on track for success
CAIRNS Cycling Club rider Chloe Buckley is maintaining her podium juggernaut after a successful performance at the AusCycling U15 Women Criterium at the Junior Road Nationals in Wollongong last month.
Now she’s planning to repeat her medal-winning ride at the MiHaven Mareeba Tour this weekend.
When Chloe, 13, made her debut in the UCI Road World Championship associated event, she made the most of the U15 Women Criterium race, finishing a minuscule 0.01 seconds behind the winner Elsie Apps of Goulburn CC.
In the Junior U15 Women Time Trial, Chloe came 9th in a time of 23:18.48, 1.28.17 after the first-placed rider and a strong sixth in the U15
Women Road Race. Since then, her father Terry said she had maintained a rigorous approach to training and her focused approach had been rewarded in spades.
“Last weekend in the Cairns Cup on Wheels she rode against the U17 boys and came third and then won the C Grade by slimmest of margins,” he said.
“This weekend she will compete in the 2022 MiHaven
Mareeba Tour in D Grade then the weekend after it’s the Townsville Cup on Wheels.”
Mr Buckley said after this her focus will pivot from the road season to the track season.
“In December Chloe will head to the state track titles at Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane to compete for place on the Queensland team,” he said.
Looking back at the Wollongong
event, Chloe said she gained a lot of experience.
“I feel I’m happy with that result as my first year and I want to thank Gabby Thomasz and Richie Bates and of course, my family,” she said.
“It was also great that New Zealand Gold Medal Commonwealth track cyclist Jordan Kirby was helping out the Queensland junior team with coaching and advising us on tactics.”