'I had to dig deep': Aussie young gun wins junior men's sprint world championship silver

Grit and grind, and then some – Australian sprint young gun Ryan Elliott has claimed an individual medal at the 2022 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Brisbane teenager went to work on Day 4 at Sylvan Adams National Velodrome, winning a sensational silver medal in the junior men’s sprint.

That result came after the Balmoral Cycling Club product was unable to usurp Italian Mattia Predomo in the gold medal final.

Elliott was far from disappointed post-race despite coming so close to a second world championship in Israel, with the 18-year-old quickly taking stock of the occasion and soaking up his achievement.

“I’m really pleased with my results today,” Elliott said.

“It’s been a long campaign leading into junior world champs and I’m super happy to have been on the podium twice.

“Full credit to the Italian who was super-fast today. I did my best but he was a tough opponent.”

Ryan Elliott won silver in the junior men's sprint on Day 4 of #TelAviv2022. Picture: Gilad Kavalerchik

Elliott was forced to battle hard through the rounds to reach the gold medal final, negating two do-or-die match sprints in the semi-final and quarter-final to win in three.

“It’s tough competition at this level and I had to dig deep through every round,” Elliott said.

“My quarter-final and semi-final both went to three races, so I was carrying a bit of fatigue into the final.

“But it’s great to know my speed is up there with the best in my age group.

Ryan Elliott has now won two medals in Israel. Picture: Gilad Kavalerchik

“I’m really motivated now to build even more strength and speed as I enter the elite ranks next year.”

Australia’s other top result for the day was that of a fourth-place finish in the junior women’s 500-metre time trial for Tyler Puzicha.

The Bathurst 18-year-old's time of 38.784 seconds fell agonisingly short of a bronze medal.

Tyler Puzicha finished fourth in the junior women's 500m time trial. Picture: Gilad Kavalerchik

Follow #TelAviv2022

Follow #AusCyclingTeam

'I had to dig deep': Aussie young gun wins junior men's sprint world championship silver

Pictures: Gilad Kavalerchik