Benson Backs Juniors for Bright Future
WAIS cycling coach Darryl Benson believes the future of Australian road cycling will be unveiled when WAIS pair Jessica Allen and Brad Lindfield compete at the UCI Junior Road World Championships in Denmark this September.
Both athletes were named in Cycling Australia’s squad this week with Allen making her second appearance at junior level whilst Lindfield will make his Australian representative debut.
The pair’s selection adds to track sprinter Allee Proud’s position in the Australian track junior team for August’s world championships, bringing to three, the number of WAIS athletes competing in junior world championships in 2011.
After impressing in 2010 in her first year in international junior competition, Benson feels 2011 could be a big year for Jess Allen.
“I believe she’s a star of the future on the road,” Benson said. “The experience she gained as a first year should put her in a stronger position this year to produce a result for either herself or the team.”
In addition to competing in her second world junior campaign, Allen will also head to the Isle of Man – a territory made famous by champion road cyclist Mark Cavendish – for September’s Youth Commonwealth Games, ensuring a busy 2011 campaign for the 18 year-old.
Lindfield has made big strides in 2011 and will wear the green and gold for the first time, and whilst the expectation will be on gaining experience and acclimatising to the new international standard, the WAIS NTID athlete has the potential for big things according to his coach.
“Lindfield has the potential to be one of the greatest road riders WA has produced,” Benson said.
“He has an outstanding power to weight ratio and a smart tactical awareness, to get himself into breakaway moves during racing.”
From my point of view, as a first year senior Brad has done an outstanding job on selection in what was a very competitive year.”
“This year is all about exposure and an opportunity to develop himself internationally on the road,” Benson explained.
Although the track team for the junior world championships was released in February, Benson revealed that selected WAIS junior Allee Proud had been preparing well ahead of competition in Russia.
“Allee’s been training solidly with WAIS sprint coach Clay Worthington and will head soon to Adelaide for a track camp before competition.”
“She will look to get as much experience out of Russia as she can as a first year, but it isn’t out of the question for Allee to get a medal or two from her first world championships,” Benson tipped.
In other cycling news –
WAIS cyclist Mel Hoskins claimed a strong win in a European road event in the Dutch town of Boutersem. The race followed a format of a 15km lap before branching onto a final circuit of five laps of 17km to make a 100km stage. It ended in a bunch sprint of close to 60 riders, with Hoskins showing good end speed to take an impressive win.
“Mel has a wonderful opportunity to race with the AIS-Jayco team during their current block of racing,” he said.
“She’s rewarded those who backed her for selection with some strong wins and team placings, which is an impressive performance in a high quality field of European racers.”
Benson will soon join the AIS team over in Holland and the Czech Republic to assist with preparations and competition through the European season.