Junior event announced as part of Launceston Classic

In a bid to secure the future of the sport of cycling in Tasmania, the Tasmanian cycling federation and the Launceston Cycling Classic (LCC) announced this week that an event for junior riders will be included as part of the LCC.

Tasmania has produced a succession of top riders like Matt Goss (CSC) and Wez Sulzberger who recently placed second in the under 23 world championships. Yet despite the success of these riders, numbers have been dwindling in the younger ranks. The Federations aim with the inclusion of the event is to promote the sport among the younger generations and hopefully begin the development of the future stars of Tasmanian cycling.

Entries for the race will be accepted up to a week before the December 23rd race and are open to all comers with a current CA licence. The blue ribbon event will feature riders like Cadel Evans, Robbie McEwen (both Predictor Lotto), Stuart O'Grady as well as the local favourites, Goss and Sulzberger. The criterium carries a prize purse of $20,000, with the winner taking home $5,000.

Racing starts at 7.00pm with the curtain raiser U17 men and the main event of the evening starts at 7.30pm with a 60-kilometre race and is expected to be completed by 9.00.

As usual the post race activates are generally as hot as the races themselves.