In just his first year of senior cycling, frontmarker Josh Duffy has upset some of track cycling’s biggest names to win the 2016 Devonport Wheel.
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Duffy, 16, from Launceston made a bold move on the final lap to skip clear of the closing field and had enough in his young legs to hold on and claim the $6500 first prize purse.
Duffy’s time of 3:09.71 also saw him break the existing 3000 metre race record of 3:11.18 set by the legendary Stephen Pate in 1996.
Appearing to still be in a state of shock as to what he had just achieved, the quietly-spoken Duffy said he thought he could make an impact on the race from his mark of 240 metres.
“I definitely knew with the handicap I had that I could keep away,” he said.
“I talked to the boys (at the front) before the race and we all worked together pretty well.
“They (the backmarkers) were coming quick, and we had to ride well to keep away.
“It feels pretty good – it’s my first wheel win and it was good fun.
“I’m pretty excited on the inside.”
I definitely knew with the handicap I had that I could keep away.
- Devonport Wheel winner Josh Duffy
From the start Duffy joined forces with a group of six at the front of the field who worked hard to keep their lead at a safe distance.
But his allies quickly started to fall by the wayside as the laps dwindled down, and with two laps to go it was just him and Jordan Matthews leading the race as a group of eight riders loomed in the distance.
Duffy was still in front when the bell rang out with one lap to go, and with the chasing group of backmarkers starting to fracture themselves, he was quickly able to steal a march on them, eventually winning by 20 metres from the fast-finishing Japanese cyclist Taisei Kobayashi (60m), with Mersey Wheel winner Nick Yallouris finishing third from scratch.
Duffy said he fully expects to get a handicap readjustment for the Burnie Wheel on New Year’s Day and be watched far more closely, but didn’t rule out a repeat of his daring tactics against rivals he looks up to.
“Maybe I can back it up, who knows,” he said.
“It’s just awesome to be racing with the guys you see on riding on television and the world champions.”
Only three scratchmen made the final – Max Beyer, Zac Williams and Yallouris.