Riding the boards left Rayner wanting more
CYCLING
THREE bronze medals in his first time riding the boards at the Anna Meares Velodrome is all the encouragement Josh Rayner needs to go back next year in pursuit of the gold.
Rayner recently returned home from the Queensland Masters and Juniors State Track Championships in Brisbane, where he represented Cairns Cycling Club alongside fellow riders Greg Hutton, Don Huyser and club president Richie Bates.
In his timber velodrome debut, Rayner held his own against more experienced opponents in his division, including Masters Track Cycling World Champion John Eder, to claim bronze in the keirin, time trial and sprint events.
“It was a really steep learning curve, quite literally,” he said.
“It’s almost like doing a different sport because we practise on the flat track in Cairns.
“Their track is shorter, it’s steep and you’ve got all these tactics that come into play with using the banks.
“That’s not something we can even practise up here but it’s a really big part of your race down there.”
Rayner said it was encouraging to take home three bronze medals at his first Masters State Track Championships and he hoped to be back for more in 2021.
“I definitely made a lot of mistakes because of my inexperience on that type of track, but it’s all about learning the game and it’s certainly motivated me,” he said.
Rayner also combined with Hutton and Bates for the club’s first Masters Team Sprint (750m) entry at the event.
The trio recorded the second-fastest time of the day as they claimed the bronze medal, defeating Kangaroo Point Cycling Club in the third-place final.
But it was the club’s most senior competitor who enjoyed the most success.
After taking time off from racing to undergo shoulder surgery last year, Huyser made a statement in his return to the track.
On the first day, he bravely rode the keirin from the front only to be pipped on the last lap to narrowly miss gold.
But, with that performance, it was clear that Huyser was back and he meant business.
The experienced campaigner went on to win two gold and three silver.
“He’s an absolute inspiration that fella,” Rayner said.
“It was really good to have the other riders down there.
“They’re all super experienced and have been racing track their whole lives, so I definitely learnt a lot from them.”
Huyser will compete at the Cycling Australia Masters Track National Championships at the Anna Meares Velodrome in March.
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