Monk wins jersey
Local cyclist Cyrus Monk has returned from the Adelaide’s Festival of Racing event crowned sprint champion, after a stellar showing on the roads last week.
Monk, who returned to Australia in November from Ireland where he races for EvoPro, took up the opportunity to race for CycleHouse Racing in the tour event, with the team helping him get home to compete.
With the usual Tour Down Under event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held as a smaller domestic cycling festival, which allowed more Aussie riders the opportunity to showcase their skills.
He spent each of the four stages in the breakaway, with the goal to claim one of the jerseys on offer, something he was proud to achieve.
Monk finished on nine points in the sprint category, one ahead of Raphael Freienstein in a tense final criterium stage that saw him grab two points on the first sprint of the day to hold on.
He also took up a new role on the team as road captain, helping to strategise for the stages and praised fellow teammate Matt Ross for helping him get into the right positions to vie for the sprint jersey.
“I’ve been one of the helpers riding in Europe, so to be the protected rider was great. It was great for the confidence too, there were at least a dozen world tour riders so to see I can compete was good,” he said.
Sporting a mullet during the event, Monk said his new look might be one he considers keeping after his showing in Adelaide.
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