Ararat’s Alice Culling has pulled on the green and gold uniform for the first time at the under-19 Oceania Cycling Championships in Melbourne on Wednesday.
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The championships see the top junior Australian and New Zealand riders compete against each other.
Culling said it was a special moment to represent Australia for the first time.
"They are a good group of girls that I am racing with here,” she said.
"Most of the Australian riders I have raced against plenty of times already but having the New Zealanders here adds that little bit extra to test ourselves against.”
The four-day event at the Darebin International Sports Centre has kept Culling busy.
"I have got races every session of every day to hopefully make the finals,” she said.
"The team pursuit is today today then tomorrow is the individual pursuit and points race.
“Friday will be the omnium and the scratch race is on Saturday.”
The event is a Cycling Australia event, which means selectors will be keeping a close eye on results across all races.
"It is a selection event for the racing team to go to the UCI Junior World Championships,” Culling said.
It is a great feeling to put the green and gold on for the first time
- Alice Culling
"All the races are a pretty high standard, so you have to be at your best to do well.”
Culling said wins would be desirable, but there were other goals she wanted to achieve during the event.
"I am not expecting any big results or race wins,” she said.
“My main focus is just to set some new personal best times and get my name out there to different people at this level.
"I just want to get that experience at this level which will be good for my cycling future.”
Culling went into the event in good form after she won warm-up events in Ararat two weeks ago.
She also claimed the gold medal in the individual pursuit at the Australia Junior Track National Championships earlier this year.
The championships started on Wednesday and will finish on Saturday.