The disappointment of not being able to race at her hometown carnival was quickly washed away for Macey Stewart after her lung-busting win in the Burnie Women's Wheel Race on Tuesday.
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In windy conditions, Stewart, who started off scratch, and her fellow backmakers need all their strength and experience to catch a large group of frontmarkers with one lap to go.
From there Stewart decided to dictate terms by going to the front, but the 23-year-old had to fend off a strong challenge in the closing stages from Launceston's Lauren Perry (70m), with Western Australia's Dharlia Haines back in third.
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After rain forced the abandonment of the women's wheel at Devonport 24 hours earlier, Stewart said the victory at Burnie was a great end to a week of racing that also saw her win the Launceston Wheel.
"Devonport is something that is close to my heart being my hometown and last year I was going for the win but had a puncture," she said.
"Then to be rained out on Monday night was really frustrating for me.
"This has definitely made up for Devonport and I wanted just one more win this series to prove the hard work has been paying off.
"Lauren was on my hip coming into the last lap and I went to the front a bit too early and I honestly thought she was going to come around me."
The Burnie Men's Wheel saw an emotional win for Western Australian rider Stephen Hall, who emulated the efforts of his dad, Murray, in 1981, by claiming victory at West Park.
Hall and Latrobe Wheel winner Godfrey Slattery were the only two scratch riders left on the last lap after a torrid pace had been set.
The 29-year-old made his move down the back of the course and was never headed, triumphing from Penguin's Jacob Langham and Queensland's Declan Trezise.
"I've dreamed about winning the race for a long time," Hall said.
"My father won here 38 years ago and every time I come to Tassie they ask me if I'm Murray's son.
"I just hope in 30 years time they are asking my kids if I'm their old man.
"I just wanted to build a legacy for what I've been working my whole life towards, and on the top of that list was winning at Burnie from scratch.
"Some guys come and win in their first year and then you get stories like me - I think this is my eighth time and I finally get a major wheel.
"It's a fairy tale in a different way and it shows people that don't always get it straight away that it is worth fighting for."
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