Western Australian rookie wins Australia's richest wheel race

Stunning start to National Grid Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals

By John Michael Flynn at Latrobe, Tasmania

Jayden Veljacich, a training partner of the multiple Junior World Championship winning Meyer brothers, yesterday produced the performance of his life to win Tasmania's famed Latrobe Wheel Race.

In the process Veljacich pocketed the winner's share of a twelve and a half thousand dollar cash prize pool and caught the eye of the race handicapper, who will be well justified in penalizing the Perth teenager heavily for the remainder of the prestigious National Grid Tasmanian Christmas Carnival Series.

"Oh that was awesome, everyone comes here to win Latrobe, and that was what I wanted to do, win Latrobe," an emotional Veljacich told Cyclingnews after burning off his rivals in the finishing straight. "I've been going well; I've been training hard to come here, so it's a relief to pull it off. I'm stoked."

Stoked, not only to win one of the most prestigious wheel races on the Australian track cycling calendar, but also to claim the 1000 metre men's handicap, staged earlier in the day. All up a thoroughly impressive performance.

For full coverage of the National Grid Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals click here.