Road rewards for Felicity
Seaview cyclist Felicity Waddell is looking forward to mixing it in open races after securing a state title in her final year as a junior.
The Marist Sion College Warragul student, who trains at both the Warragul and Leongatha cycling clubs, took out the junior road series and was presented with her trophy in Melbourne during the Herald Sun Tour recently.
The series is a new initiative, modelled on the highly successful format of the Victorian Road Series.
With the series taking in stages at Mount Buffalo, Leongatha, Ararat, Casey Fields and Bendigo during the course of the year, Felicity came out on top in the under 17B women’s class.
More than 250 young cyclists took part in the series, which concluded with road races at Newbridge and Harcourt North.
With each stage taking in between 60 and 70km, the final stage included an impressive hill climb.
Felicity said she was pleased to take her first road series win at state level.
“I did the winter track series prior, but that was my first-time racing,” she said. “It was good experience.” Preparing to make the 17km trip home from Warragul Cycling Club on the bike following the interview with the Gazette and ahead of training that night in Leongatha, Felicity said she trained up to four times each week with length of sessions depending on races coming up on the calendar.
Felicity plans to compete in club races over the coming year and will also turn her attention to another road series.
“I’m hoping to do another Victorian Road Series but that will be the under 19s,” she said. “I’m up mixing it with the women now. “I’m also hoping to do the first stage of the Tour of East Gippsland and take it from there.”