Cycling: Evans relishing Australian racing challenge

Otago rider Brad Evans reckons his decision to ride for an Australian development team is paying...
Otago rider Brad Evans reckons his decision to ride for an Australian development team is paying dividends. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Otago rider Brad Evans timed his return perfectly.

The 22-year-old has been in Australia competing in the National Road Series [NRS] and the Victorian Road Series for the past two months.

With a gap in his schedule, he took the opportunity to return home and enjoy a two-week break.

However, he was back on his bike at the weekend and won the Cycling Otago club championships.

''I've had a good block of racing with the start of the NRS season,'' he said.

''And that good racing has certainly brought the form on.''

Evans rides for Pat's Veg and he is leading the Victorian Road Series and has also had some positive results in the NRS.

''The Victorian Road Series is quite a big series with about 100 to 150 riders each round. I'm actually leading that series so that's quite a big deal.''

It is a step down for the NRS, though, and Evans is keen to impress in the remaining events in that series.

He is the lead sprinter for his team and has enjoyed some top-10 finishes. But he has not been able to get across the line for a stage win yet.

''I've found the level really high and it is a really good challenge for me. The fields are absolutely stacked with a lot of riders. It certainly has a very European feel about it with a big massive bunch and a lot of fighting for the wheel and it is really difficult just to get into the top 10, which is what I've been doing.

''I've found my form has been at the level of everyone else in the race. I'm just waiting on that right mix of terrain that suits me and I'm sure the win will come.''

Sprinting for the honours at the end can be a numbers game.

It helps if you have got the wheel of a team-mate.

But Pat's Veg is a young team with many climbers and that makes it hard when he is gunning for the stage win with a big final sprint and no-one is around to support him.

That said, Pat's Veg is a development team for the Drapac professional cycling team and Evans feels he has made a solid impression.

He won the two-day Tour of East Gippsland in February and has been in touch with the management at Drapac.

''They are based in Melbourne as well and it is a really good partnership we've got between the two teams.''

Evans returns to Australia today.

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