The Sports Carnivals Association of Tasmania has reported a substantial number of cycling entries for this year's Basslink Tasmanian Christmas Carnival Series.
At this point of receiving nominations there are 120 senior male cyclists, 50 female cyclists and 60 junior cyclists; a review of a Latrobe Carnival Program a decade ago will show approximately 95 senior male cyclists and 50 junior cyclists. The big standout however has been the women's cycling which continues to grow, last year the carnival had 35 cyclists but this year it is expected to be up around the 50. The organisers are encouraged by the growth of attendance.
The standard of the women's competition also continues to improve with a number of elite cyclists competing.
Champion Victorian cyclist Sean Finning has been confirmed for the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals. The 22 year-old won the gold medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games 40-kilometre points race when he put up an amazing performance to lap the field five times.
Finning is a champion road and track endurance cyclist, and while much has been said about the sprint events at this year's carnivals Finning has the ability to break up all the major scratch endurance race events at the carnivals. Organisers expected him to continually attack the competition in an attempt to wear them down.
"We are delighted Sean has agreed to compete as we know he is a champion who never stops applying the pressure throughout the races," said a press release.
