In December of last year, Chris Hamilton was entertaining thoughts of representing Australia at the Rio Olympic Games in mountain biking. At the conclusion of the Australian summer of racing, the 20-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting young prospects in the country following his U23 Australian national title, a call up to the Tour Down Under with the UniSA-Australia wild card team and the best young rider's jersey at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
"Yeah, it's pretty surreal. It's everything I've ever wanted and more," said Hamilton who rode with the KordaMentha Australian squad, rather than his Avanti IsoWhey Sports trade team at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
"Obviously, Nationals was a massive focus just for me. I'd never really targeted it properly because mountains have been me focus for the last few years and to come out and win that was unbelievable. Getting a call-up for Tour Down Under, that was amazing, and it's just snowballed on from there. It's been an amazing start to the year."
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Fourth place on the queen stage of Jayco Herald Sun Tour elevated Hamilton from 12th to eighth on GC, securing his first classification victory as the best young rider.
Having tackled the Willunga Hill queen stage of the Tour Down Under last month, finishing in 11th place and 14th on GC, Hamilton explained the differences between the two queen stages of Australia's premier stage races.
"This climb is definitely a lot steeper, and I think it's a bit more aggressive. Willunga goes quite quick because it's a gentle gradient and it's pretty easy to sit on the wheels where this one, you don't get a lot of benefit sitting on the wheel," he said. Especially on the switchbacks and that where it is so steep, it's a super punchy climb, and you just have to pray you have good legs at the end of the stage.
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