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Bates to miss Oceania Track Championships

published 19 November 2006

By Greg Johnson An in-form Katherine Bates will miss next weekend's 2007 Oceania Track Championships...

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Aussie Katherine Bates (Image credit: John Veage)

By Greg Johnson

An in-form Katherine Bates will miss next weekend's 2007 Oceania Track Championships in Melbourne, instead opting to focus on her form for the upcoming World Championships at Majorca, Spain in March.

"No, I'm going to go back to basics and get fit on the road. Ian [McKenzie, coach] and I will decide how I progress from here," explained the Australian when asked if she was taking part in next weekend's event.

Bates took what she described as a surprise victory in Friday's Women's 20 kilometre points race at the UCI World Cup opener in Sydney, Australia.

"I certainly didn't go in with the expectation of winning, I wanted a podium – at least I wanted top six to qualify for the worlds," she said of the narrow one-point victory.

While the 24 year-old has placed herself in prime position for a World Cup attempt it's uncertain whether she will take place in the next championship round in Moscow.

"I've indicated that I'd be interested in Moscow, but whether Ian decides to take me there or not do any more until the worlds – he's the master, I need to follow his advice," concluded Bates.