Dubbo Cycle Club riders are determined to keep the major awards at home when they contest this weekend's Cycling NSW Junior Championships and Open Carnival.
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This weekend marks the first major carnival at the new precinct on River Street, giving hometown riders even more motivation.
Club riders have taken to the new track for the first time in the past week, and this weekend they'll do battle with many of the state's best.
The junior championships will be contested on Saturday and Sunday morning, while the Dubbo Open Carnival sees senior riders do battle on the Saturday night and Sunday.
On top of that, the NSW Cyclist of the Year awards will also be held at the facility on Saturday night.
"It's going to be good to give the new facility a workout," Dubbo Cycle Club president Matthew Gilbert said.
While there will be a huge amount of talent on show in nearly every event contested across the weekend, two Open Carnival events stand out the most.
The new precinct features a criterium track and the first criterium race in Dubbo will be contested on the Sunday morning.
Many of the riders there will be hoping for a second feature win of the weekend as the annual Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace is on the Saturday night.
The event was won by Penrith's Tim Cuff last year but Gilbert said the local hopes are eager to reclaim the prize in the race's 20th year.
"Kurt [Eather] has won it twice before so we'll see how he goes and there's Jason Farr as well," Gilbert said.
"There's Danny Barber too, he's an extremely fast finisher ... there's Danny, Kurt, Jason, and Dylan Eather too so it's quite strong.
"I know Kurt is intent on winning it. Kurt can be strong over a longer period but Danny is a fast finisher.
I know Kurt [Eather[ is intent on winning it.
- Matthew Gilbert on 20th Cliff Hazell Memorial Wheelrace
"Dubbo has all types in it so hopefully we can win it back."
The Cyclist of the Year awards is also set to be a highlight of the weekend.
A host of awards will be up for grabs but the one of most interest for Gilbert, and many others, is the Jackson Pascoe Memorial Award.
That prize goes to the most outstanding junior at the weekend's championships, and it is a near guaranteed indicator of elite talent.
"Nearly all of them [winners], going right back, have done extra well," he said.
"It probably is one of the standout trophies for showing cyclists of the future so I'm looking forward to seeing who wins that."
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
