At 21, Chris Hamilton will be on the younger riders when the peloton lines out in Buninyong for the 2017 Australian national cycling championships. The 2016 U23 national champion will make his Team Sunweb debut in the 163km race, showing off the new black, white and red kit of the WorldTour team.
Hamilton was aggressive throughout the opening night of the championships in the criterium, won by Orica-Scott's Caleb Ewan, but did so in a stealth black kit. On Sunday, he will be a little easier to spot and will also be on his favoured hilly terrain instead of the sprint friendly parcours.
Briefly back at home in Bendigo before making the one-and-half hour drive back to Ballarat, Cyclingnews spoke to Hamilton about his current form ahead of the race.
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"I’ve definitely upped my training from previous years but I wouldn’t say I am at 100 percent because, doing the nationals and Tour Down Under is a pretty big deal for an Australian but being my first season, and its going to be a big season, I think to at 100 per cent his early in the year for a rider like myself is a bit risky," Hamilton said. "My form is good and really happy with where I am at but I have a bit left up the sleeve. With my form, I think I can be in contention."
Hamilton will be one of several 'one-man teams' come Sunday and with recent history favouring solo riders in the race, he will be looking to make a move and ensure he doesn't finish the race wondering 'what if?'.
"Nationals is one of those races, I assume it’s a race that people to go to win, but you do have to be a bit realistic. I am still 21 and I wouldn’t normally be an elite but I think I’ll roll the dice and take a risk and see if it pays off. A podium would be great but you have to see what happens," he explained.
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