Rising star Kaylee Dunn gearing up for live streamed SA/NT Junior Track Cycling Championships

Darwin teen Kaylee Dunn will lead a hot team from northern Australia at the SA/NT Junior Track Cycling Champs to be live streamed this weekend.

Darwin cyclist Kaylee Dunn is preparing to race at the SA/NT Junior Cycling Championships this weekend in Adelaide. The event will be live streamed by The Advertiser. Picture: Sarah Reed

Kaylee Dunn was a keen triathlete as a youngster.

But her love for cycling quickly shone through and she decided to switch sports.

The Darwin teenager is now working towards being one of the nation’s best track cyclists.

Kaylee, 14, will test her skills at this weekend’s SA/NT Junior Cycling Championships.

The three-day event, which starts Friday, will be live streamed exclusively by The Advertiser on advertiser.com.au on Friday from 5pm.

Kaylee is one of six cyclists participating from the NT and will race for Darwin Cycling Club.

“Originally I did triathlons,” Kaylee said.

“Then from that, as cycling is part of triathlon, I started doing cycling when I was about nine and I enjoyed that a lot more.

“I was about nine when I started cycling and have been doing that ever since.

“I find it really fun.

“It’s a bit of a different sport to do.”

Riders will compete in time trial, individual pursuit, scratch race, points race, sprint, team sprint and team pursuit across under-11, under-13, under-15 and under-17 divisions.

Darwin Cycling Club member Kaylee Dunn is looking forward to this weekend’s SA/NT Junior Cycling Championships. The three-day event will be live streamed by The Advertiser. Picture: Sarah Reed

Kaylee, who is in Year 8 at Darwin Middle School, will compete in the under-17 division for the first time.

She was looking forward to showcasing her skills, especially because the national junior championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m hoping to have a bit of fun,” Kaylee said

“Hopefully I can set some new personal best (times) … and also meet some new people.

“Whatever opportunities come my way I’ll be trying to take them and just try to do the best I can.”

AusCycling general manager Lachie Ambrose was pleased the competition could go ahead after authorities continued to lift restrictions following the containment of last month’s Parafield COVID-19 cluster outbreak.

“Track is the predominant Olympic area for cycling, so it’s a really good opportunity for these kids to showcase themselves,” Ambrose said

“They’ve all been training really hard and looking forward to taking on this as their stepping stone to nationals which will hopefully be in Brisbane in March.”

Ambrose said the live stream would help increase the sport’s exposure.

It follows n from this week’s announcement that the Tour Down Under would be replaced by a new six-day cycling festival in January.