Junior Road Athlete of the Year Award for Allen

WAIS athlete Jessica Allen has been awarded the Junior Female Road Cyclist of the Year at Cycling Australia’s 2011 Awards Night in Sydney.

Allen claimed the award at a black tie function held at the Ivy Room, as Tour de France champion Cadel Evans won a fourth Sir Hubert Opperman medal.

2011 has been a year to remember for Doubleview resident Allen, after the second year junior rose to prominence with a stunning win in the women’s junior road time trial at the World Championships in Denmark last September.

As the last rider out of the start gate, Allen knew the time needed and task ahead of her. What followed was a blistering ride around the 13.9km circuit in a time of 19.18.63mins, which was good enough for gold, two seconds clear of Great Britain’s Elinor Barker in second.

Allen also represented Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man in 2011 and claimed a track U19 national title, with a dominant win in the points race.

The WAIS scholarship holder was on hand to accept her award in Sydney, and is currently at the AIS in Canberra, attending a Senior Women’s Road Selection Camp.