HE captured the first Australian title up for grabs in Ballarat this week but Scott Law could hardly remember the last time he had claimed a win on the road.
The newly crowned national under-23 men’s criterium champion holds the Australian scratch and omnium titles — both which he will seek to defend at the track nationals in Adelaide next month — but a win on the road was something special.
“It’s unbelievable ... I haven’t won a road race in years,” Law said.
The 20-year-old waited patiently to make his move in a bunch sprint to the line at last night’s MARS Cycling Australia Road National Championships criteriums.
His brother and training partner Jackson worked hard to chase down late race leader Thomas Palmer, who was caught on the final corner swinging back up Sturt Street, but Scott Law had the power at the finish, proudly pointing to the New South Wales branding across his chest after he crossed the line.
Queenslander Jay McCarthy won the silver with defending road criterium champion Ben Grenda (Tasmania) in third around the 33-kilometre (30-lap) course.
“I stuck to the big boys, the big names in Ben Grenda and Palmer, towards the last couple of laps and got myself into the perfect position,” Scott Law said.
“This one was a big focus, especially with my track background.
“I had high hopes.”
Law’s training partner Aaron Donnelly (NSW) broke off the front and, with strong support from his Jayco-AIS teammates at the head of the peloton, looked a major chance to capture victory with four laps to go. But the most consistently dangerous rider was ACT’s Mitchell Lovelock-Fay. The 19-year-old dominated the intermediate sprints, winning seven of the 11 up for grabs to snare the sprinter’s jersey last night.
Lovelock-Fay tore away in an early break, by lap 10, and remained a threat to the finish. He skipped the Bay Criteriums earlier this week in a bid to overcome illness and improve his chances at nationals – but, now a climber by trade, his main focus is on tomorrow’s under-23 men’s road race.
“I wasn’t sure how my form was going so I thought I’d attack the race and see how I went,” Lovelock-Fay said. “I actually prefer the hills. I used to really dislike them but with hard training and weightloss that’s my strength now.”
Lovelock-Fay was initially meant to be racing in support for Jackson Law but instead capitalised on his lead and was proud to deliver his team the sprinter’s jersey.
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