Blake Agnoletto Claims 2024 Australian U23 Men's Criterium Championship

Written by Henry Yates | 6ft8photographer

Australian Cyclist Blake Agnoletto from ARA Skip Capital claims Victory in the 2024 Men’s U23 Road Criterium Championships in Ballarat.

Blake Agnoletto (ARA Skip Capital) roars to celebrates as he claims the U23 men's criterium title at the Australian Road National Championships in 2024. Image by Henry Yates| 6ft8photographer

Camera: Sony A7R4 | G-MASTER 200mm | 1/1500sec, F - 5.6, ISO 160

The U23 Road Criterium National Championships saw Blake Agnoleto take the title after a near perfect team execution by his teammates Declan Trezise and Oliver Bleddyn in the final 8 laps.

This year’s race saw 35 riders make it to the start line of the 30 lap, 33 kilometer hotdog track on Sturt Street in the centre of Ballarat.

The race was hot from the start with continuous breakaway attempts every time one was closed another opened. It was a race worth watching for the thousands of local and interstate spectators.

Declan Trezise (ARA Skip Capital) driving the break to set up Agnoletto for the sprint victory. Image by Henry Yates| 6ft8photographer

Camera: Sony A7R4 | G-MASTER 200mm | 1/1500sec, F - 5.6, ISO 160

With 8 laps to go a successful break was formed. It saw a group of 6 riders including Declan Trezise (ARA Skip Captial) and Jackson Medway (Team BridgeLane) who were instrumental in the breakaway’s success which led to the first successful break, and a 20 second gap between the peloton.

Medway’s recently claimed title of National Time Trial Champion, combined with Agnoletto’s teammate’s efforts saw him line up for a highly contested final sprint. Most notably, John Carter from Western Australia solo bridged the 20 second breakaway seeing him claim 3rd in the final sprint.

“It was amazing. The way the other boys rode with me and for me, it just shows how close we’ve come as a team over the last year. Spending a lot of time in Europe, we know how each other rides,” Agnoletto said.

Results: U23 Men Criterium

1. Blake AGNOLETTO (ARA Skip Capital)

2. Matthew FOX (South Coast CC)

3. John CARTER (X-Speed Australia CC)

4. Jackson MEDWAY (Team BridgeLane)

5. James FORBES (Carnegie Caulfield CC)

6. Declan TREZISE (ARA Skip Capital)

7. Oliver BLEDDYN (ARA Skip Capital)

8. Luke TUCKWELL (Bathurst CC)

9. Noah BLANNIN (NIPPO-EF-Martigues)

10. Jonathan FARLEY (Blackshaw Racing)

Full results