WIND RIDER: Cyclist chase state title

By Cycling by Kate Butler
Updated November 7 2012 - 1:29pm, first published July 10 2009 - 12:27pm

SOME of the best up-and-coming cyclists in the nation will be in Port Fairy tomorrow to contest the Victorian 100-kilometre Championship.One rider is Jono Lovelock, who comes so well credentialed he almost runs out of breath when describing his sporting background."I went from cross-country to swimming to cricket to footy to soccer then to cycling," he said.After jumping on the bike about four years ago, the 19-year-old has settled on his preferred sport."I guess a lot of kids start racing really young but I didn't get into it until I was about 15 after I'd tried my hand at every sport,'' he said. "I was watching the Tour de France on TV and also my Dad was doing a bit of cycling at the time."I like the solo training and riding in a team's quite rewarding.''Lovelock is one of five Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) riders who will cycle in tomorrow's Victorian 100-kilometre Championship at Port Fairy.He said helping out his fellow VIS riders was second nature."We just look out for each other and make sure if there's a breakaway at least one of us attacks,'' he said. "You don't really think about doing it for yourself."It's not `I've got to get in the breakaway', it's `we've got to'.''The teenager often finds himself as the rider who keeps up with the lead bunch."I'm not a very good sprinter,'' he admitted. "I'm always looking to stay up the front of the race so the other guys can save their energy."You don't win as much but it's rewarding when you do.''A victory is Lovelock's aim tomorrow as he looks to impress selectors of the national under 23 men's road team."I'm in the squad and they have to narrow it down,'' he said. "I want to win every race I start because it will help.''If he is picked, Lovelock will compete in the 2009 UCI Road World Championships in Switzerland in September.His pedal power has already seen him use his passport, with trips to Italy and Thailand where he recorded top-10 finishes.The Hawthorn Cycling Club member also recorded a top-10 finish in Port Fairy at last year's Victorian championship and it's a course he enjoys."It's one of the best circuits in Victoria because it's got that nice, windy coastline and because of the town,'' he said. "A lot of races are in the middle of nowhere."With this one, it doesn't matter who turns up - the wind always makes it bloody hard to win.''The circuit is two-and-a-half kilometres around Port Fairy.Lovelock aims to discover more enjoyable circuits."I'd really love to become a professional and get paid to do what I love and live in Europe but I have to keep plugging away,'' he said. "I'm exactly halfway through a bachelor of commerce so once I knock that over, we'll see what happens.''South Australia will be represented by Will Dickeson, Russell Gill and Tristan Jones at tomorrow's championship, while making the trek from New Zealand is Brett Tivers and Alex McGregor.Local riders to look out for include Port Fairy's David Tozer and Hamilton pair Brendan Schultz and Garry Polack. Port Fairy Cycling Club president Richie Belleville believed a quality field of just over 80 had entered the event, which the town has hosted for about a decade."There's about 25 top Victorian A grade riders,'' the president said. "I think it might be a bit damp and fairly cool which won't be excellent for this sort of racing but they'll survive.''About 25 riders have entered the support criteriums which include J15, J17, masters and women/W19 and begin at 10.30am.The championship is at 12.15pm.For many riders, it will be their second event in two days, with the annual 120km Cecil Shore Memorial in Hamilton today.

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