Sport
28 July, 2022
Bailey top of podium
FORMER Camperdown cyclist Bailey McDonald finished top of the podium in last weekend’s Queensland Road Championships.
FORMER Camperdown cyclist Bailey McDonald finished top of the podium in last weekend’s Queensland Road Championships.
The talented 19-year-old, who headed north in March, is making the most of Queensland weather and excelling in his chosen sport.
Tackling the challenging 95-kilometre race in a field of more than 60 cyclists in Gympie last weekend, McDonald detached from the lead pack with two laps to go.
“I was able to get away from the pack and ran solo to the finish line which was pretty satisfying,” McDonald said.
“It was a nine-lap race over quite a hilly course so we were up and down all day.”
The event was a combined elite and under 23 state championship race – giving the teenager both titles.
“I’ve had a pretty good run lately; last weekend’s podium followed my win at the state time trials over a 30 kilometre course on the Sunshine Coast the previous week,” McDonald said.
The titles are reward for effort for the Camperdown-born athlete.
Training up to 25 hours each week, with rides averaging 100-120 kilometres a day, McDonald finds the Queensland terrain and climate “just perfect.”
“The weather is certainly a lot more conducive to outdoor sports than at home,” he said.
“I have a couple of recovery days each week where I only ride about 30ks.”
McDonald will head south this weekend for round three of the Queensland series in Tweed.