Alice Culling was crowned Victorian’s best under-19 women’s cyclist after she won the women’s scratch race at the Ararat Cycling Club carnival on Saturday.
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The 16-year-old entered the competition hoping to continue her cycling form in the Victorian titles and finished with two wins from two starts.
Ararat’s Culling also won the elite women’s wheel race ahead of Macedon Ranges Cycling Club’s Lauretta Hanson in a dominant performance on the cycling track.
This time Culling, who had a 10-metre advantage was caught by Hanson from scratch, and the two stayed together until Culling gained a two length lead in the bell lap.
Culling’s younger brother Murray also showed promising signs after he was in the lead with three laps remaining in the boys under-15, 1500-metre wheel race, to finish second.
Horsham’s Matt Denham won the second heat in the elite men’s 1500-metre handicap race.
In the 1500-metre handicap final, Denham claimed victory ahead of Malaysian national team member Danieal Suhiadee and Hamilton’s Chris Kennett.
The carnival had some notable additions including five members of the Malaysian national team competing at the event, courtesy of a connection with Cycling Australia coach John Beasley.
It was the second appearance at the Ararat carnival by Malaysian riders, who added to the quality of riders in the elite and under-19 men’s divisions.
The elite men’s 60-lap race started at a fast pace with the 21 riders out to try and build an early advantage.
With 34 laps to go, the three Malaysian riders, Stawell’s Todd Satchell and Chris Kennett from Hamilton remained in the hunt for the win.
Kennett was eliminated next leaving Satchell with the other three riders, who took turns sprinting out front to try and wear Satchell out.
Satchell was undaunted and continued to maintain a steady pace until the final lap when the Malaysians made their move.
Irawandie Lakasek won ahead of teammates Firdaus Zamri and Danieal Suhaidee to make it a Malaysian sweep.
Satchell finished one length behind at the finish line to place fourth.
Ararat’s Pippa and Minda Denham claimed first and second place in both the girls under-11 500-metre handicap and wheel race.
Jensen Plowright was the youngest of the senior racers at 16 years old.
Plowright and fellow under-19 cyclist Connor Sens finished first and second respectively in the under-19 40 lap Victorian scratch race championship.
The pair also competed against other elite riders in the 1500-metre handicap, the kieran and the wheel race.
A 50 lap scratch race finished off the carnival with Zamri claiming the victory.
Plowright finished in second ahead of Lakasek in third.
