LOCAL cyclist Mark Paget has finished second at the National Veterans Road Titles held in Chidlow.

He competed against 18 others in the 50 to 54 age group.

They competed over a 74 kilometre road race around a 17km circuit.

“It was really good. It was a hard race at times, the pace varied, it was quite hilly and there were a lot of attacks. I tried it myself, I chased a few break aways down but the problem is once you get into national titles the competition is very even, we’re all very evenly matched ability wise.”

“One of my big aims in the race was to break the race up. I managed to get a few hangers-on break from the back which cuts the size of the bunch down which makes the sprint easier at the end.”

Paget said the race came down to a bunch sprint.

“The guy that won did a flier, down the outside of the bunch. He deserved to win, he worked hard and earned his victory.

“I got caught on the inside of the bunch and by the time I got out, the gap between me and him was too great for me to make up.

“I tried but couldn’t close it. He was definitely the better rider on the day.”

Paget has had a ssuccessful year in cycling.

In his last five starts, he has had two firsts, two seconds and a fourth.

“It’s pretty good considering I crashed out in the Tom Lowry Memorial Race.”

Paget said he is going to settle down for a while.

“I will just enjoy riding my bike for the while,” he said.

“But I have my sights on next year to fly to the Nationals, but I am not sure where it will be, probably on the East Coast.

“I am looking at riding the Menzies and putting in a quality Collie to Donnybrook because next year it’s the 85th, the big one.”