BAYERS Traders club team member Sandy Blechley is now a world champion after giving her all at the UCI World Masters Track Titles in Manchester in October.
Sandy entered her first world competition, representing Cleveland's Bayers Traders group, which poineered the Bayers cycling club, and managed to bring home three silver medals, a fourth and fifth.
"(At registration) I was allocated number one which was a bit of a surprise, but hey, if this was a sign of things to come this would be a special week," she said.
She said her first race was the point score which was a 10km (40 lap) race with four sprints.
"I realised pretty quickly that there were a few riders who were downright dangerous, so I found the safest position was on the front, which is where I sat for most of the race," she said.
"After racing, another Aussie in the race, Cheryl Hulskamp commented how dangerous the bunch was and how she was almost taken down a few times."
Sandy ended up with a fifth placing at the end of the day before entering a 500m time trial two days later.
"I think I did as well as I could have possibly gone in the time trial final. I was a bit 'iffy' about my back (it had caused pain earlier on in the week)," she said.
"I beat my personal best by more than 0.25 seconds to get a mid-38 second ride. The girl who won, did so convincingly, so silver for me and I am happy with that. I was able to get my team, Bayers, on the podium."
On day six of the event, Sandy entered the Masters two and three division event and competed against 18 women aged between 35 to 44.
"The one thing I noticed was how erratic three of the riders were. I stayed out of trouble and once the attacks started, I found myself in the front four of the bunch," she said.
"While I was out there one of the American riders came down, but she was the only rider that fell."
Sandy said on the final two laps she was overtaken and unable to keep up.
"I realise what I did wrong in that race, but my main focus was simply staying out of trouble," she said.
In day seven of the event, Sandy entered the sprint and during round one was up against an Irish rider.
"I left her standing with about a lap and a half to go," she said.
During the semi final, Sandy was against Alisa Gianchino from South Africa and beat her easily in straight heats.
"I was up against Alison Chisholm from Great Britain in the final. I went into this knowing I had at least got a silver medal," she said.
"I was happy with that, (but) I won the first round, but then she beat me in the following two rounds to get the best of three."
During the final day Sandy entered her most anticipated event, the individual pursuit.
"This is the one I really wanted to do well in, but I misjudged it and was chasing my tail for the rest of the pursuit. Luckily I was through to the gold medal final," she said.
"I went out quicker in the final, being up by about 20m on my opponent, Mindy Simmons from USA, until the last lap. She had a very strong finish and crossed the line 0.326 seconds ahead."
Finishing the world champions with three silver, a fourth and a fifth, Sandy said she would be having a much anticipated break before getting back into training in the new year.
Sandy is also a member of the Wynnum Redlands Cycling Club and trains regularly with cyclists around Redland and Chandler.
Email a friend