Bright futures predicted for teenagers Dan Fitter and Callum Scotson

AN Olympic champion has predicted brilliant futures for teenagers Dan Fitter and Callum Scotson after the pair defended their Bendigo International Madison title.

LtoR: Alex Porter, Alex Edmondson, Miles Scotson and Callum Scotson (South Australia) after victory in the Men's Team Pursuit. Track Cycling at Adelaide Super-Drome, night 1. 03/02/16 Picture: Stephen Laffer

OLYMPIC champion Scott McGrory has predicted brilliant futures for teenagers Dan Fitter and Callum Scotson after the pair’s stunning victory in the Bendigo International Madison on Sunday.

The 19-year-olds unleashed a late surge to eclipse a crack field at Bendigo’s Tom Flood Sports Centre to underline the depth of Australian cycling.

McGrory said the progress of the inexperienced duo was phenomenal, pointing to the calibre of riders Fitter and Scotson defeated in the gruelling 200-lap event.

“They showed just how much ability they have,” McGrory said.

“The Australian cycling community is going to hear a lot about them.

“They have massive motors. Over the last 50 laps, against a really strong field with riders such as Alex Edmondson and Glenn O’Shea, they were good enough to go out and snatch a lap.

“Everybody was on their hands and knees, everybody was tired and these two young guys went out and took it.

“Last year when Dan and Callum won the Bendigo Madison, it was seen as a bit of a surprise.

“But since them, they’ve won an Australian championship and been part of the Australian pursuit squad and then defended their Bendigo Madison.

“The Australian selectors are well aware how good these two guys are.”

Two weeks ago, Scotson and his brother Miles, Sam Welsford and Michael Hepburn upstaged a British outfit led by Sir Bradley Higgins to win the world 4000m team pursuit crown.

While Hepburn was not in Bendigo for one of the greatest track races ever seen in Australia, his Cyclones teammates were.

And they set alight the race after German Christian Grassmann and Dutchman Nick Stopler appeared to establish an impregnable lead.

But Fitter, who is also in Olympic contention, and Scotson reeled off 13 successive intermediate sprint wins before lapping the field to secure overall success.

The duo totalled 77 points, 17 clear of Grassmann and Stopler (Green Globe).

Kelland O’Brien and Matt Ross, another pair of outrageously talented Australian youngsters, were third with 61 points — at two laps down.

Annette Edmondson and teammate Jess Mundy won the women’s Madison.