South Australia’s Chloe Moran and Tristan Saunders aiming for super end to cycling series at Unley Oval
Two local cycling stars are hoping to put in big performances as the Super Series cycling finale gets under way at Unley Oval on Sunday.
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Chloe Moran is dreaming big on the eve of securing a consecutive Cycling SA Super Series title, as young gun Tristan Saunders’ decision to give soccer the boot is set to pay dividends on Sunday.
The home of the Sturt Football Club – Unley Oval, renamed Peter Motley Oval where the Parkside Cycling Club ran regular cycling events on a track in the early 1900s – will be the heartbeat of a season ending Super Series finale.
Some of Australia’s best cyclists will take to the streets in the City of Unley criterium where Moran wants a top 10 finish to secure a second winners trophy.
A medical science student at Flinders University, Moran, 21, from Team Prochem and Central Districts Cycling Club has recorded points every round this season.
She has a 20-point lead over Ashlee Ankudinoff from Cycling Australia Green and the St George Cycling Club.
“Being in the top 10, that’s the aim,’’ Moran said.
“My teammates have helped me out for the entire series and teammate Breanna Hargrave got the win last weekend.
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“I’m coming back from a back injury which took six months to get over.
“I’m starting to get fit again, I’m hoping to do the time trial and the criterium at the road nationals (next year) and the track nationals in April.
“And I would like to make it to the (track) Olympics in 2024, that’s my biggest goal.”
Saunders, 19, is closing in on his first major cycling prize more than three years after making the switch when he became sick of soccer despite being a first class junior player.
Saunders, who lives 1km from Unley Oval and is a fan of Sturt, was an Adelaide City junior before he lost his passion when he spent a few seasons with Football Federation SA’s NTC team.
“I went to the (soccer) nationals each year, I got sick of it,’’ Saunders said.
Saunders said he found his new sports calling when members of the SA Sports Institute visited his old school Mercedes College in a bid to recruit new talent.
“When I went out to the velodrome and did my first road race and came dead last it was very intimidating but I had a very good coach Michelle Crick,’’ Saunders said.
“I have only really been competitive this year in racing and I’ve got my new coach Stephen Lane from Victoria, he really is fantastic and a mentor.”
Saunders – a member of SA development team Butterfields–Appselec p/b Van D’am Racing – is also competing at the National Road Series where Jarrad Drizners is the race leader.
Drizners is seven points adrift of Saunders in the Super Series, but won’t be racing at Unley on Sunday.