CYCLING: McClure back for a hometown ride in the Ballarat classic

BALLARAT'S Ange McClure held her own against a star-studded women's field in Buninyong.McClure worked hard to stay in the peloton, finishing five minutes, 45 seconds off German winner Trixi Worrack.A member of the new Bundaberg Sugar team, McClure only found out a week ago she had an invite in the world championship prelude.McClure had been off the bike and in the gym for five weeks after five months riding for Webcon in the United States."You can't say no to your hometown," McClure said.The elite field did not bother McClure, who had become friends with most during her US stay.This included American Katheryn Curi-Mattis (fourth), who housed McClure for the five-month visit."I said to her I'd been racing on her territory for so long and now it was time to race on mine," McClure said."It was a good experience for the girls in my team. You're not only racing against the world's best, but you're racing against the world's best at their best, their peak."That's a scary thought but good to have that challenge even if a lot of the girls held their cards up to not give much away before worlds."McClure wished she had known about her invite to the classic earlier to have properly prepared and launched attacks before a home crowd.The now Adelaide-based university student has turned her focus to a return to Buninyong in the January national championships.Ballarat cyclists Chloe McIntosh, Pat Shaw and Rhys Gillet were also in the world class mix as wildcard entrants at Buninyong.Gillet featured in an early breakaway, which was quickly devoured by the peloton in the men's event.