Durbridge Takes Tour of Mersey U19 Win

Published On: 15 April 2009

Whilst many Australians enjoyed a long weekend to celebrate Easter, WAIS’ younger generation were competing through the picturesque settings of Tasmania’s Mersey Valley.

The three day tour doubled as an under 19 selection race and National Road Series race, and showcased a strong field of around 130 entrants. Luke Durbridge pressed his claims with a strong tour win, whilst Mel Hoskins (third) and Bella King (ninth) both claimed top ten finishes.

WAIS scholarship holder Luke Durbridge enjoyed a strong start to the tour, winning the U19 23km time trial by 11 seconds over second place, setting a quick time of 30:44.4mins.

In the women’s U19 15km time trial also on day one, WAIS athletes Bella King and Mel Hoskins finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Durbridge launched an impressive breakaway on the second day 112km circuit to open up a 30 second lead on the peloton. Whilst the field dragged him back on level terms, Durbridge was part of the bunch pack finish at the line and gained a 43 second advantage in the men’s U19 overall general classification.

In the women’s U19 standings, Hoskins finished fourth to improve her position heading into the final day. She remained 52 seconds off leader Amy Cure. King finished the second stage in seventh position.

Durbridge again showed his class on day three to negotiate over three hours of grueling climbs and attacks to finish in the bunch sprint of 20 riders to the line, to comfortably record a general classification win in the tour of Mersey. Durbridge maintained a 45 second lead over South Australian Dale parker and New South Wales’ Aaron Donnelly.

Stage three of the women’s U19 and elite combined was marred by a serious crash that resulted in two women suffering significant injury. Hoskins and King were lucky enough to avoid the tangle with Hoskins going on to take third place over-all. Bella King completed a top ten finish, in ninth place to round off a successful tour for the WAIS squad.

The next U19 selection race will be held in Murwillumbah, NSW from 30 April to 3 May. This will give the riders another chance to impress the selectors in their bid to make the Junior RoadCycling World Championship Team.