Lindfield Snares Podium Finish and Best Young Rider in Italy

Young WAIS athlete Brad Lindfield has secured a second place finish in a European tour event as he continues his preparations for the UCI Junior Road World Championships in Denmark from September 19-25.

Riding for the National Junior 19 road team, Lindfield competed alongside fellow Australians Cal Watson, Nic Schultz and David Edwards at the Coppa Linari in Italy, a one day race consisting of 109km stage, with a 60km flat leading into three circuits of a 15km loop that featured a solid four kilometre climb.

A small group escaped in the first 20km with Watson and Linfield instrumental in bridging this gap in a group of ten riders.

Australian team coach Dave Sanders explained the crucial stages of the race, that lead to an Australian one two finish.

“They (lead group) stayed away until the first climb when our guys (Watson and Lindfield) were left on their own at the front of the race with about 1 minute gap over the main chasing peloton, including the two other Australians,” Lindfield said.

“Watson and Linfield rode together until Conti (the best young Italian of this year, and stage winner at the recent Nations cup in Germany) rode across to them on the second lap and joined them for the final climb.”

“Conti then attacked our two which put Linfield into difficulty. Watson of course followed and didn’t cooperate with Conti. Linfield re-joined the front two by the top of the final climb.”

“The three rode together until the finish, retaining the one minute advantage from the remaining chase group. Watson and Lindfield forced Conti to the front in the last kilometre, before Watson jumped first, about 350 metres from the finish line where Conti had to respond with Linfield on his wheel, however the Italian never got closer than 20 metres to Watson who went on to a spectacular victory,” Sanders said.

“Linfield sprinted past Conti on the line to take out second place for an Australian one, two finish.”

Lindfield was awarded the Best Young Rider, for best first year junior, capping an impressive performance from the 17 year-old.