MCKENZIE, DUTCH STAR TO HIT LAUNCESTON
THE Launceston City Cycling Club’s Two-Day Classic will break new ground for the sport in Tasmania when an omnium event is held in the state for the first time on Thursday at the Silverdome.
A strong field of local and international riders will assemble for the first day of the carnival, including Tasmania’s under-19 world championship time trial silver medallist Hamish McKenzie, Dutch 2019 scratch race world championship silver medallist Roy Eefting, Burnie duo Dalton Stretton and Will Eaves and Launceston’s Josh Duffy.
Victorian Graeme Frislie will look to defend his title in the blue ribbon wheel race. Hobart’s Felicity Wilson-Haffenden is also searching for back-to-back crowns in a women’s field featuring Launceston’s Lauren Perry and Queenslander Kristina Clonan, who won Commonwealth Games gold in the 500m time trial earlier this year.
LCCC president Ian Loft said the race has attracted a strong mix of talent from across the state and abroad.
The club is looking forward to seeing how the new format is received, with omnium and points races on Thursday’s agenda before the carnival concludes with madison races on Thursday.
“We’ve never run an omnium before and I believe this is the first time in Tassie there’s been an omnium,” Loft said.
“The traditional highlight is the wheel race and the mens is going to be very competitive with some quality local guys and from elsewhere. In the women you’ve got (defending champion) Felicity WilsonHaffenden going well and this will be a good test for her, Kristina Clonan who is very fast and Kiwi riders Georgia Simpson and Mya Anderson.”
The Stan Siejka Cycling Classic, the traditional big drawcard for Launceston’s celebration of cycling, has been scrapped. The second running of the madison event has been renamed in Siejka’s honour. Schedule, Wed, Dec 28: UCI events - Omnium scratch race (women 12.50pm, men 1.03pm); Omnium tempo race (women 2.30pm, men 2.45pm); Omnium elimination race (women 5.55pm, men 6.05pm); Omnium points score (women 70 laps, 7.25pm; men 88 laps, 8pm) Fri, Dec 30: Women’s points race (70 laps, 3.45pm; Men’s madison (175 laps, 5.10pm)