SHE'S got a national gold medal in her back pocket and Wagga Cycling Club's up-and-comers are relishing the chance to learn the tricks of the trade from Sophie Uden (nee Mackay).
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The 36-year-old, who shocked more full-time riders to win the Australian criterium championship in 2016, is taking the city's next batch of talent under her wing by helping out with coaching at the club.
Uden also assists with the Southern Sports Academy's recently-formed cycling program, which is headed up by Wagga Cycling Club's coach Cameron Oke.
"I feel COVID did bring a lot of people to cycling. We've noticed that at the Wagga club with the number of kids that have been joining," she said.
"You go down there on a Monday night and there's 20-plus down there keen to have a go.
"Our training at Wagga Cycling Club is very much skills-based because we're in a fairly confined area. We do some physical efforts as well, but it depends on the numbers and capabilities that turn up."
Uden aid the multi-million cycling complex currently under construction at Pomingalarna will only accelerate the recent boom in Wagga cycling.
Wagga Cycling Club's Zac Barnhill is currently in Europe competing, Tolland Cycling Club's Rebel Brooker has enjoyed success at national level in recent months and siblings Myles and Bronte Stewart are also competing at a high level.
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Bronte recently won the under-17 road race at the Port Macquarie Junior Tour.
"It (new complex) will give them perspective on the different types of cycling. I think that's a huge thing," Uden said.
"At the moment we've got the outdoor velodrome, which is a 425m relatively flat track, but when we move out to Pomingalarna it will be quite a steep track, which will give riders more of a feel for what a velodrome track is like in Sydney or Brisbane.
"With the criterium track out there as well, from a road cycling perspective it gives us more space, so when we have those larger groups of kids they can be split in different areas depending on their abilities.
"More space will give them more appreciation of the flow of the race, how to corner and the different types of cornering.
"When they walk into the bigger velodromes at Sydney or Brisbane it will be less intimidating.
"When you see someone from here with a similar background doing well it becomes more tangible. The kids see it and think 'why not me?'.
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