Cyclists pursue Austral victory

SINCE it began in 1887 the Quest Ivanhoe Austral Wheelrace has become one of the most sought-after victories in track cycling circles.

This Saturday night’s 126th edition of the 2000-metre classic features several of Bendigo’s best competing in the men’s or women’s showdowns on the Darebin velodrome.

Among the Bendigo stars to watch will be Blake Agnoletto and Alessia McCaig who hold places on Cycling Australia’s podium potential program for track sprint and track endurance respectively.

CA’s podium potential for road includes Bendigo-raised Jack Haig.

Gold in the keirin at this year’s national titles has McCaig in the running for Bendigo Sports Star of the Year award.

A multiple finalist in Sports Star, McCaig was the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund recipient in 2018-19.

A runner-up in last year’s women’s Austral to Lucinda Stewart when both raced off scratch, McCaig will not just be chasing wheelrace glory at Darebin.

A big meet for McCaig who competed at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games includes the UCI sprint and keirin.

Another highlight of Saturday night’s Austral carnival will be the national elite madison championship.

On Friday night, Agnoletto will contest the elite men’s national omnium which is a series of track disciplines.

Among the many career highs for Angoletto was second place in the Austral final of 2022 from the 40m mark.

It’s been a big year for the 21-year-old who was third in the under-23 criterium at the national road titles in Ballarat and went on to race across Europe and Asia.

Angoletto is presently racing for ARA/Skip Capital.

Austral champions from Bendigo are Merv Andrea in 1968, Phil Sawyer 1983, Terry Schintler 1984, Ash Harding 1994, Tony Hughes in 1995; and Zak Dempster in 2004.

They are in a unique group of winners of what is the oldest wheelrace in the world.