Silver lining for Troy CWD Michelle Cook
Silver lining for Troy
MICHELLE COOK
09 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM
ELITE cyclists in NSW will be paying attention to Mick Troy after his medal-winning performance on Sunday.
The Orange Cycle Club member won a silver medal in the elite men’s category at the NSW State Road Cycling Championships at Kurrajong.
Troy was part of the breakaway which dominated the majority of the 165km race.
Adam Phelan, who rides for Drapac Porsche and had just returned from a few months racing in Europe, broke away in the last 30km and held on for the win.
In a sprint finish Troy was fifth across the line but claimed the elite men’s silver medal as the race combined the top riders with under 23 cyclists.
Troy was thrilled to claim a medal at the NSW event.
“I’m stoked,” Troy said.
“I didn’t really know what to expect.
“I’d had some solid results this year but not in a field that was this tough. “To get second, I’m rapt.”
The 165km race was five laps of a course which included one large hill.
The breakaway came at the top of the first climb, 5km into the race.
“I was in the main bunch when it splintered and saw there were teams breaking away, so I thought I better go with them,” Troy explained.
“I dug deep and got across to the breakaway. We put 10 minutes on the main bunch.”
On the third lap Troy won the King of the Mountain sprint.
In the sprint finish Troy managed to find the energy to win silver.
The 22-year-old said his silver medal was a continuation of what has been a solid year for him on the bike.
“It’s been my coming out year, as in I’ve gone from being someone no one notices to someone they have to pay attention to,” he said.
Already this year Troy has claimed bronze at the NSW Hill Climb, had a top 10 in Mudgee and was fifth at the Sydney Road Race Titles in the elite class.
At the Canberra Tour he was fourth overall in B grade, won the King of the Mountain, the sprint category and the final stage.
He’s hoping his form continues with a number of events big coming up, including the Cootamundra Classic this month, the Goulburn to Sydney in September and the Grafton to Inverell in October.