WAGGA pocket rocket Bronte Stewart has only enhanced her hopes of representing Australia at this year's world championships after powering to a hat-trick of top five finishes at the Road Nationals in Ballarat.
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After coming fourth in Wednesday's junior women's time trial, the Tolland Cycling Club member snared a podium finish with third in Friday's gruelling criterium.
The 16-year-old had enough petrol left to finish fourth in Saturday's road race against older rivals, and justified her belief before the championships she could finish top five in all three disciplines.
The UCI Road World Championships will be held in Wollongong in September, and Stewart hopes her efforts will weigh in her favour when selectors choose the junior women's squad.
"I set the goal of running top five in every race, and I did that. Especially the road race (it was an important result), that's what the Australian selectors look at and I pulled out the result I wanted," Stewart said.
"It would be pretty cool to represent my country and the world's are in Australia this year. They take four or five I think, hopefully I'm a good chance."
Smaller than most of her rivals, Stewart focused on making life as tough as possible for her rivals, forcing them to earn their victories.
It was a strong start to her association with National Road Series team Sydney University Staminade.
"I thought the crit was tougher than the road race. I was one of the youngest there and I think I did a good job of putting myself in the race, and making my mark," she said.
"They were breathing pretty heavily next to me, so I knew they were struggling.
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"It was my first time on all the courses. it was a very successful week and a good learning curve as well.
"I'll take a lot of confidence out of it. I knew I was strong enough, but this proved I'm probably stronger than what I thought against these older girls.
"They came up to me after the race and said how hard I made it for them, and that's what I aim to do every time I race."
Stewart said she couldn't quite position herself well enough in the closing stages of the road race, which came down to a six rider sprint finish won by Blackburn's Sophie Marr.
"I knew my position wasn't that good coming into the sprint, I wasn't in a great spot," Stewart said.
"It will give me a lot of belief for next year when I compete in the same races."
Competing for National Road Series team Nero Continental, Bronte's older brother Myles capped a great week for the family by claiming the sprinter's jersey in the elite men's criterium.
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