Cycling: Evans enjoying tough Australian competition

Brad Evans, of Mosgiel,  is enjoying cycling success with an Australian development team. Photo...
Brad Evans, of Mosgiel, is enjoying cycling success with an Australian development team. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Mosgiel cyclist Brad Evans' decision to ride for a development team in Australia is beginning to reap rewards.

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

He returned home recently to take a well-earned two-week break. But he was back on his bike for the Cycling Otago club championships which he duly won.

''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 from 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 the wheel of a teammate. But Pat's Veg is a young team with a lot of 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 returned to Australia last week to resume competition.

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