ORANGE cyclist Max Stewart will represent his state for the first time after being named in the NSW under 15 boys’ team to compete at the 2014 Junior National Road Championships at Toowoomba in September.
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Representing Orange Cycle Club, Stewart was selected after two stellar rides at the Cycling NSW Road Championships, in which his younger siblings Travis and Lucinda also competed, at Wagga Wagga last weekend.
In the junior boys’ 15 years division, Max finish fourth in the road race, clocking 51:42 in a bunch sprint at the finish.
In his pet event, the time trial, he finished in second in 15:21.97, a tick under 38 seconds behind the winner.
“I was aiming at it (NSW selection), it was a goal I’ve had since the start of the season,” Max said.
“It was still a surprise to be named though. I was very happy with my performance, particularly in the time trial. I’d been working toward that race for a while.”
Jeff Stewart, Max’s father, said his son’s selection was deserved after a wealth of hard work.
“Max has had a good, consistent year,” Jeff said.
“He had a win at the (NSW Junior) Country (Road) Championships earlier in the year, and rode very well over the weekend.
“It’ll be the first time he’s represented NSW, we’re all pretty excited for him.”
The two younger Stewart siblings, Travis and Lucinda, also rode with aplomb in Wagga Wagga.
Travis, in the junior boys’ 13 years division, finished fifth in his road race (25:20) and seventh in his time trial (11:18.82).
Lucinda rode for a second place finish in the junior girls’ 11 years division road race, finishing in 12.51, just one second behind Wagga’s Bronte Stewart.
She immediately squared the ledger, edging out Stewart by just over three seconds to win her time trial in 5:49.78.
“They both did well,” Jeff Stewart said.
“Trav was a little off his game on the day I think, but rode well, and little Lucy always does very well. She’s always up near the top.”
The 2014 Junior National Road Championships run from September 12-14.