Haines Takes Criterium Win at U19 Road Nats
Western Australian road talent Jade Haines has won the women’s criterium title at the U19 Australian Road Championships in Geelong last weekend.
Haines’ result highlighted some impressive performances from the WAIS competitors in action, which also included a bronze medal to Albany cyclist Craig Wiggins in the men’s criterium.
Having earned selection onto the Australian long-team for the Junior Track World Championships earlier in the year, Haines showed that she is equally adept on the road bike, outsprinting a high quality field for a gold medal she adds to a collection that includes an U17 title in the same discipline.
Haines had a busy weekend schedule, also finishing sixth in the road race and 16th in the individual time trial.
In the men’s criterium, Craig Wiggins was part of a four-rider sprint for the line, eventually taking third place, behind race winner Bryce Lanigan of the South West Cycle Club. Wiggins’ WAIS training partner Tyler Lindorff crossed home in 11th place.
Conor Leahy gave a strong effort in the individual time trial, finishing 30 seconds off the gold pace in sixth position, with Lindorff rounding out the top ten.
In the men’s road race, Wiggins, Lindorff and Leahy were unable to get themselves into podium contention in what proved a taxing ride that saw 22 athletes fail to finish. The former pair were outside the top 40, whilst Leahy was one of the 22 to abandon.
Photo Credit: Stephen Harman