Alessia, Blake take on world's best on track

BENDIGO-raised cycling stars Alessia McCaig and Blake Agnoletto will again race at next month’s world track cycling championships.

McCaig and Agnoletto will mark back-to-back world titles when they compete in Santiago, Chile.

The championships will be on from 22 to 26 October.

McCaig has earned selection in the women’s sprint group and Agnoletto in the track endurance squad of the ARA Australian Cycling Team.

There have been many highs in McCaig’s cycling trek.

At last year’s world track titles in Denmark she earned bronze when she joined forces with Kristina Clonan and Molly McGill in the team sprint.

It’s been a demanding six-month training program for McCaig in the build-up to these championships.

“We have been in a big strength block trying to gain lower lean muscle mass,” McCaig said.

“It’s been really tough, but rewarding as I am starting to go faster on the bike.”

Off to the worlds: Alessia McCaig leading the A-grade field in one of last season’s scratch races at Bendigo and District Cycling Club track racing. Photo: RICHARD BAILEY

McCaig’s campaign in Santiago will include team sprint, individual sprint, and keirin.

“I believe our team sprint team has a great chance at doing well,” McCaig said of racing with McGill, Kristine Perkins and possibly Liliya Tatarinoff.

“I’m also really excited to see what I can do individually as I believe I am in much better position to be competitive with the top riders.

A multiple finalist in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards, McCaig was joint winner for March with Bendigo Spirit after she won the sprint and keirin at the national titles.

Sports Star of the Year will mark its 60th anniversary next February.

It’s been another superb season of racing for Agnoletto, 22, who is racing on the roads with French-based Groupama-FDJ.

Agnoletto is in a teams pursuit squad that includes Ollie Bleddyn and Connor Leahy, who won gold in the discipline at the Paris Olympics.

All three are Bendigo International Madison winners.

An incredible start to this year by Agnoletto included victory in the Melbourne to Warrnambool (266km) classic.

The victory earnt February honours in Sports Star of the Year.

Agnoletto raced in the elimination and madison at last year’s world track titles in Ballerup, Denmark.