A quality field of 134 riders will line up in the weekends fifteenth Goulburn Workers Junior Two Day Tour conducted by Goulburn Cycle Club.
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Although numbers are down on last year, club President Adam Lambert said that because the tour is a NSW selection event for the NSW Under Fifteen and Seventeen riders and point score for ACT riders in the National Junior Road Series, the top riders have entered including a number of national medalists.
Racing will be over two days on Cullerin road with four stages. Saturday's racing starts from the Gunning end with a 5.4km Prologue in the morning and a road race in the afternoon with age groups from Under 8 to Under 17.
Sunday's starting point switches to Bredalbane with a time trial in the morning and another road race in the afternoon. Riders in the Under 9 to 13 divisions race for points to determine the General Classification (GC) winners while the GC for Under 15 and 17 divisions is based on elapsed time for the four stages plus bonus times for the top place-getters in the road races.
Kurt Eather from Dubbo, fresh from taking out last weekend's Canberra Tour is one of the favoured riders in the Under 17 Men's.
There is always a tussle between Eather and Dubbo teammate Danny Barber who was fourth in Canberra and is sure to be out to make amends this weekend.
But they will not have it all their own way with several chances including Dylan George, Manly, Aiden Sinclair, Hunter Districts, Harry Jones, Canberra, Harry Dennington, Southern Highlands and Luke Tuckwell, Orange. Saturdays selection race is over the longer distance of 60km which includes two testing climbs up the Cullerin range.
In the Under 17 women's Dubbo's Haylee Fuller is the clear favourite after winning in Canberra finishing ahead of the very strong New Zealand team. Her main rivals will be Emily Strumfin, Emily Trkulja and Sarah Cliff, Illawarra, Zara Fuller, Dubbo,Mia Wallace, St George and Rebel Brooker, Wagga.
In the Under 15 Men, Canberra's Oscar Chamberlain took out his home tour by a mere 18 secs over Orange rider, Ben Anderson who is sure to be out to reverse last weekend's result.
Lidcombe Auburn's Keira Will continued her recent track form with a clear 2min 29sec win in Canberra over team mate Sarah Allwork who will also line up at Goulburn.
Goulburn will be represented by Caitlin Bensley in the Under 15 division and has a tough assignment in a quality field. After recovering from a broken wrist in the track season, she has stepped up her training and will go in with her never say die attitude.
Elsie Apps also has a tough weekend ahead in the Under 13s. She is giving away a considerable age difference but she has also been training strongly and on her home course will give the others a run for their money. Indie Champion will line up in the Under 9s and while lacking experience is a focused rider and sure to be in the running.
Lambert said the club is grateful to the Goulburn Workers Club for their support since 2005 when the tour began. He also praised club members and supporters for volunteering for the weekend. A tour takes a massive effort from a team of about 50 volunteers but thanks to their efforts we are able to produce an event that is regarded as one of the best.