"Megan Dunn is the future of women’s cycling.”
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These were the words Australian coach Gary Sutton used to describe Dubbo’s golden girl after she was crowned Australian Junior Female Cyclist of the Year at a gala function in Melbourne on Sunday night.
The nation’s best riders, coaches and administrators were at the dinner and it came as no surprise to many that Megan finished ahead of Australian team-mates Sarah Kemp and Ashlee Ankudinoff for the prestigious title.
Earlier this year Megan became the first Australian junior cyclist to have won three world titles in her first meet at the Junior World Championships, as well as becoming the youngest female ever to win a Melbourne Bay Series Classic.
Just last month the 17-year-old blitzed the field at the Oceania Games in Adelaide, winning all three of her events considerably, further proving her remarkable talent on the track.
Standing proud at the award night was Megan’s Australian coach Gary Sutton and yesterday he expressed his delight in seeing his young star take out the prestigious award.
“Megan Dunn is the future of women’s cycling,” he said.
“It’s very exciting for her and for Dubbo that she has taken out this award.”
Sutton said there were more than 300 people attending the awards ceremony held at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Yesterday he praised the tireless efforts of Megan’s coach in Dubbo, Gary ‘Gus’ Dawson, saying he was one of the country’s leading coaches.
“Gus Dawson has done an awesome job,” he said.
“I may be Megan’s national coach, but Gus is the backbone of her achievements, along with her parents.”
Sutton compared Megan to Australian cycling champion Natalie Bates, saying she is very organised and well grounded.
“It was nice for Megan to take out Sunday’s award, but at the same time she knows that this is just the start of her cycling career, not the end,” he said.
Sutton said he was interested in gettting Megan more involved with senior camps next year, despite the fact she still had one more year left in juniors.
Olympic silver medalist Anna Meares took out the coveted Female Track Cyclist of the Year award, while Cadel Evans scooped up the Men’s Road Cyclist of the Year.