More gold has rained down for Queensland and New South Wales on the second day of the 2025 AusCycling Junior & Masters National Championships in Wagga Wagga.
The junior and women’s masters road races took place on a 31-kilometre circuit around Wantabadgery, guarded not only by a particularly fierce magpie, but by a climb that peaks just 5km from the finish.
Junior Road Races
Although thunderstorms were in the forecast, the juniors enjoyed a clear and sunny morning of racing.
First up was the under-15 men’s road race over just one lap. It was taken out in a mass sprint by Reilly Dickson ahead of Cam Franks in a Queensland one-two.
A Queensland sweep of the under-15 road races.
The maroon squad soon had even more to celebrate when Hannah Walters (QLD) won the under-15 women’s race from a breakaway of five riders.
The under-17 men’s race over two laps was brutally aggressive: by the first passage of the finish line, the peloton had been shredded into groups of twos and threes.
The early breakaway of Hamish Carson (NSW) and Dylan Locke (Tasmania) came within seconds of being reeled back in. But, as the peloton behind paused to caught their breath, the leaders drove their advantage back out to a full minute by the base of the final climb.
The junior peloton amid Wagga Wagga's golden canola.
There, Carson dropped the Tasmanian and barely managed to hold off the charging peloton to take a spectacular solo victory by just nine seconds.
Speaking with AusCycling afterwards, the Sydneysider from Southern Cross Cycle Club was gracious in victory.
“On the final climb, I unfortunately had to drop my break partner to get away for the win. Which, I was pretty happy with, but I felt kind of bad in the moment, dropping him,” said Carson, who four years ago came to cycling from running.
A hard-earned solo victory for Hamish Carson.
“I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity with my parents coming down and sacrificing a lot. Also, the coaches and officials allowing me to be on the New South Wales team and representing them. I’m very happy with this achievement and I’ve worked very hard for this, so I’m very appreciative.”
The under-17 women’s race ended with a blanket bunch finish, with the entire peloton spread across the road. Spinning their restricted gears rapidly on the downhill finish, it was Ava Robbins (Queensland) who crossed the line first, adding a second national title to her tally in as many days.
Masters Women
The afternoon was handed over to Australia’s top masters women as they tackled two laps of the circuit, mindful of the rainclouds developing overhead.
The Women’s 1–4 race was marred by a large crash on the first lap, forcing several into an early withdrawal.
The small but hardy Women's Masters 8-10 race.
After a crucial selection was made on the first climb, ultimately, a reduced group of 10 contested the sprint, where Nicole Wilson (Sydney Uni Velo Club) outkicked the field to take the race win and the Masters 1 title.
Close behind was Kate Lee (Manly Warringah CC), who celebrated securing the Masters 2 championship, while also in the bunch were Amy Bradley (Carnegie Caulfield CC) and Nicole Oh (Sydney Uni Velo Club), winners of their respective categories.
Wilson had been part of a quartet that attacked on the final climb, before they were caught by the chasers in the last few kilometres.
Kate Lee (left) and Nicole Wilson winning their respective national championships.
“We were committing to try to come the line, but the downhill’s quick, so quite a few came back,” Wilson said. “It’s a fast downhill finish, so you never really know, but I had a dig and came over the line first, which was really exciting.
“It’s just great racing. You can’t get any better than taking the win, so, super happy.”
The Women’s 5–7 event was temporarily neutralised due to the crash in the earlier race. Time trial champion Jenny Pettenon (Hawthorn CC) did the double, winning a reduced bunch sprint of eight riders ahead of Dayna Davidson.
The heavens opened just as the last riders finished in Wantabadgery.
Under darkening skies, the Women’s 8–10 riders were the last to arrive, led home by Bev Anderson (Canberra Off Road Cyclists).
With poetic timing, the forecast storm rolled in as the last riders crossed the line, forcing a rapid relocation of the podium ceremony. Inside the Wantabadgery Community Hall, every medal was cheered raucously as the spirit of camaraderie among the Masters Women brought a warm, comforting close to the day.
National Champions – Road Race
🥇 JM15: Reilly Dickson (QLD)
🥇 JW15: Hannah Walters (QLD)
🥇 JM17: Hamish Carson (NSW)
🥇 JW17: Ava Robbins (QLD)
🥇 WMAS1: Kate Lee (Manly Warringah CC)
🥇 WMAS2: Nicole Wilson (Sydney Uni Velo Club)
🥇 WMAS3: Amy Bradley (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
🥇 WMAS4: Nicole Oh (Sydney Uni Velo Club)
🥇 WMAS5: Jenny Pettenon (Hawthorn CC)
🥇 WMAS6: Roberta Salvatori (Harlequin)
🥇 WMAS7: Anna Davis (Coburg CC)
🥇 WMAS8: Bev Anderson (Canberra Off Road Cyclists)
🥇 WMAS9: Julia Emblin (Sunshine Coast CC)
🥇 WMAS10: Gaye Lynn (Sutherland Shire CC)
Photos: Con Chronis