South Australian Junior Road Team

Cycling South Australia is excited to be taking a 13-rider team to Junior Road Nationals, to be held on the Gold Coast from September 20-22nd. The team will be a mix of first-timers and experienced riders, with a variety. Team selections are continuing to get harder and harder in South Australia, as the depth of talent increases. Cycling South Australia would like to acknowledge all those who missed out on selection, and we expect many of those riders to push for selection in the future.

U17 Women
Three riders were selected to take on the U17 women’s races. The team truly has no-headline act, with all three riders capable of delivering strong performances over the three days of competition. Eloise Sandow (South Coast Cycling Club) has been knocking on the door for selection over the past 2 years across road and track and has finally broken into the team. Her climbing prowess displayed at both local and interstate races has turned heads, and we look forward to seeing if she can ride away from the field as the gradients push upwards. Joining her will be riders from two regional clubs in Chelsea Symons from Mildura-Coomealla CC and Tess Wight from Mount Gambier CC.

Symons dominated the Victorian Junior Road Series in 2018, and continued to impress in 2019. Leading the South Australian component of the Junior Road Series after strong performances at the Wirtgen Group Central Districts Junior Tour in April and taking out the JW17 State Road and TT Champs in 2019. Tess Wight earns selection for yet another state team with the impressive Mount Gambier CC member continuing her trajectory through the sport after taking out the 2018 U15 Women’s National Criterium title.

U17 Men
A large team for the U17 men has been selected, with the state team honours to be shared between the events. Jai Fielke (NCC) has been the standout rider for much of the season and for that he earns his selection. Zac Marriage has shown consistent improvement over the past 12 months, and with his tactical capabilities continues to impress. Jude Thursby (SCCC) makes his second state team of the year and will provide a capable option for the in any of the three championship events. Aston Freeth is developing significant skills in the race against the clock and earned his selection based on his prowess in this discipline. After making the state team as a newcomer to the sport in 2018 as an U15, Leo Zimmerman (NCC) will make his second appearance in state colours. State team debutants Sam Golding (NCC) and Paul Wentrock (KCC) will look forward to the experience and opportunity to race on the national stage.

U15 Men
The U15 men’s team saw a large number of riders vying for selection, something that we haven’t seen in recent years. The final selections were very difficult with several riders narrowly missing out on nominations. Cycling South Australia would like to Congratulate William Mathwin (SCCC), Joshua Cranage (NCC) and Jack Wisbey (Whyalla CC) for making their first state team. Wisbey’s selection means that three of the four regional clubs are represented in the Junior Road Team for 2019.

• CSA CEO Lachlan Ambrose was asked his opinion on the selections “This is the 6th junior state team that I’ve been involved in selecting, and every team takes longer and longer to select as we see a continued improvement in the depth of junior cycling in South Australia.”

He also noted that the new pressures on selection necessitate a need to change to the selection policy moving forward “We noted that the current policy had some deficiencies, particularly for those who were very close to selection not really getting the opportunity to understand why they missed out. With our objective of increasing participation along with performance, we feel like the current policy misses the mark a little, as there is a huge opportunity to provide riders with exposure through extended team lists”.

The Cycling South Australia Board has endorsed a review of the current selection policy, with a revised policy expected to be in place prior to the selection period for Junior State Track nationals.

Cycling South Australia would like to extend our best wishes to the team, along with any other riders travelling to the championships to represent their clubs!

2019 State Junior Road TeamJai Fielke (JM17, NCC)

• Zachary Marriage (JM17, KCC)
• Jude Thursby (JM17, SCCC)
• Aston Freeth (JM17, SCCC)
• Sam Golding (JM17, NCC)
• Paul Wentrock (JM17, KCC)
• Leo Zimmerman (JM17, NCC)
• Eloise Sandow (JW17, SCCC)
• Chelsea Symons (JW17, MCCC)
• Tess White (JW17, MGCC)
• Joshua Cranage (JM15, NCC)
• William Mathwin (JM15, SCCC)
• Jack Wisbey (JM15, WCC)