Welsford Claims Elusive National Omnium Title
Western Australian track cyclist Sam Welsford has earned the title of Australian omnium champion after a dominant performance at the titles held in Melbourne recently.
The result was a further breakthrough for the 21 year-old who has already medalled at Olympic level and earned dual track world championship titles in the team pursuit.
Yet until this month, the national omnium crown had escaped him and the Woodlands raised athlete admitted he was pleased to add it to his personal collection.
“I am rapt, I have had my eye on this one for a while now, I fell a bit short last year so to get the win this year I am stoked,” remarked Welsford, who adds the green and gold jersey to World Cup and Oceania omnium gold.
“The field was so competitive this year and Cam Meyer eight-time world champion in the bunch, so it was a new experience with that many riders in a points race domestically.
“I picked up the three wins so was in a good place heading into the points race, but anything can happen there and with double points at the end, I couldn’t be complacent.
“I certainly had to be on my A game.”
A dominant display saw him speed away from the field to take out the opening scratch race, before he went on a points taking expedition with Cameron Meyer in the tempo taking the win, and added the elimination soon after to make it three from three.
In the points race Welsford was alert to any danger, quickly chasing down a threatening five-rider move which included defending champion Alex Porter, plus Jordan Kerby, Callum Scotson, Ben Harvey and Jarrod Drizners early before setting his eye on picking up points in the sprint.
Porter took the race to Welsford however, when the West Australian unleashed his trademark sprint to claim victory in the penultimate sprint, it gave Welsford a title-clinching 12-point lead.
Silver went to Porter, with individual pursuit world champion Jordan Kerby snaring bronze, having displayed his pursuiting skills in taking a lap on the field with less than 20 laps remaining.
- CyclingAus (Photo Con Chronis)