Cairns riders ready for national track titles in Brisbane next month
Two Cairns junior riders have overcome tyranny of distance to become genuine contenders for green and gold when they roll onto the track for the Aussie junior track titles in March.
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IN a sport that demands intense focus, strength, endurance and split second changes of tactics to win by the slimmest of margins, two young Cairns cyclists are ready to rumple.
Ahead of competing at the 2022 AusCycling Junior Track National Championships in Brisbane next month, Cairns Cycling Club’s pocket rockets Chloe Buckley, 13, and Will Emeleus, 12, reveal the motivation which has seen them prepare to race for the coveted green and gold champion’s jersey at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane from March 24 to 27.
Under the eagle eye of head coach Richie Bates, the dynamic duo have been giving their all, but their approach could not be more different.
For Chloe it’s about a steady focus following her strong results at the state titles in December which saw her on the podium following each of her eight events.
But the rising star has a pragmatic approach and said she has stepped up her training commitment before the Brisbane event.
“I’m really excited about representing my club, Cairns and Queensland at the these titles,” she said.
“My training has gone up to 100 per cent, it’s been a lot harder to get ready for nationals, “I’ve done lot of online training using Zwift and a lot of motorbike pacing at the track, which means training at high speeds, high cadence so I can get the leg speed I will need for a sprint.”
The Year 8 McKillop Catholic College teen said motor pacing is very useful as it “pushes me to my limits.”
“I’m also doing lots of body strengthening like sit ups and box jumps,” she said.
“Currently I’m training four to five days a week and doing around 140km.”
Meanwhile, club mate Will Emeleus is known for his laid-back, laconic approach.
After nine years in BMX, he took up track cycling “about one year and four months ago.”
From then on, the Grade 8 Cairns High School student has not looked back.
“I like the speed and the strategy involved to position yourself before the end of the sprint to have the best chance of winning,” he said.
“It’s very exciting, I will compete in the U15 Men’s, I did not win any medals at the state titles but I scored high enough to catch the attention of the Queensland coaches, they always choose one or two young kids who show promise, I’ll be in the U15 first year group, as I stated competing in this age division last October.
“I focus one race at a time, focus on that race do my best.”
Bates said the pair “are well placed”, to take on their rivals.
“They are pretty well grounded in their preparation and race every week,” he said.
“Chloe and Will have been diligent in their training and will be tough competition.”
Originally published as Cairns riders ready for national track titles in Brisbane next month
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