Dubbo Junior Cyclists travelled to Goulburn on the weekend to take on the Goulburn Junior Tour. The four stage road event included two time trial and two road race stages. The first of the road race stages in the U17 and U15 categories was also an important selection race for the NSW road team.
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Haylee Fuller was again at her brilliant best winning the tour by a massive 8 minute margin over her nearest rival. This achievement was set up on the first road race stage. The stage, which also doubled as the NSW selection race, saw Fuller break away from the main bunch in the first five kilometres, requiring her to ride a solo 60 kilometres to win by a comfortable seven minute margin. Meanwhile the main bunch was being driven by first year U17 rider Zara Fuller. Placing the other girls under continual pressure Zara was able to show her endurance to finish in third position in that race and maintain this position in the other stages to stand on the podium in third position overall.
Dubbo riders Dylan Eather and Danny Barber dominated the stages in the U17 men's category. Eather dialled in strong power and cadence to be a clear winner in both the time trial stages while also coming home in second position in both the road races.
This consistency at the sharp end of all four races saw him repeat his performance the previous week at Canberra to win the Goulburn tour. Barber was able to claim victory in both road stages, transferring his recent success on the track into the sprint finishes on the road, this saw him join Eather on the podium in third position.
U15 rider Isabelle Russel was in good position to claim important NSW selection points in her opening road race before a flat tyre saw her have to wait for a spare. Costing vital minutes she fought valiantly back on to finish in the top 10 of that race and the tour overall.
Trent Hines was always in the action in the U15 men's category that was won by Orange local, and regular competitor in Dubbo, Ben Anderson. Anderson was able to finish across the line in first in all four stages.
Dubbo sisters Imogen and Makayla Fuller rode brilliantly all weekend and certainly put other U13 riders on notice. A highlight of their weekend was when the twins worked together to come home in third and fourth position in the road race.
Their teamwork saw them come home more than two minutes in front of the next placed rider. This contributed to Imogen finishing in fourth position overall and Makayla just behind in sixth.
While the Senior club racing had the weekend off riders Sarah Gordon, Craig Grainger and David Gerrish headed across to Forbes to compete in the Forbes Flatland Sportif.
The trio treasured the lack of hills to finish on the podium for the event.