Ben Trades Hard Hat For Cycling Helmet
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday April 10, 1996
WHEN Cremorne Point's Ben Litchfield began a mechanical engineering degree at the University of NSW, he never dreamed he would swap his hard hat for a cycling helmet.
But, after joining the university cycling club on a whim and becoming involved in intervarsity competition, Litchfield, 23, was hooked.
"I got really keen and started doing a lot of training and, all of a sudden, I was doing more racing and less uni," he said. "Then it became all racing and no uni at all. I never finished my degree.
"I went overseas instead and raced in Holland, Germany, Spain, Belgium and then New Caledonia to finish off. It was a big trip and I loved it."
Litchfield is one of two northern riders from the Bicisport cycling club to qualify for the national road cycling championships being held in Sydney from April 17 - 21. The other is Middle Cove's Nadia Frischknecht .
Results from the national titles, which include the criterium, road-race and time-trial events, will be used to determine the final make-up of the Australian cycling team for the Atlanta Olympics.
While Litchfield modestly gives himself only an "outside chance" of snatching a medal, his recent results and excellent fitness make him confident of performing well in his favoured events, the road-race and time-trial, which are being held in Centennial Park.
But he faces stiff competition from the nation's top riders, such as Brett Dennis, Matt White and Damien McDonald.
"I didn't do a lot of long-distance training over summer - I mainly did short stuff in Sydney," he said. "I've been doing the long roadmiles over the last two weeks and I feel really good - no injuries - and I think my form should be about right on the day.
"I've had pretty good time-trial form lately - I finished sixth in an AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) time-trial against all the institute riders, which was a good result.
"I also know the road-race course well and it suits me a lot. There are no huge hills and it's a small circuit - 4.2 kilometres, which we do 50 times.
"Plus, I've got every motivation to do well because the championships are being held right in the middle of Sydney and I'm a Sydney rider.
"I frequently train in Centennial Park and I'll have lots of friends there. I think if I can get into a top 10 finish, that will be a good result for me."
After only four years as an elite cyclist, Litchfield has progressed rapidly in the sport and is looking to establish himself further by competing in one of the big, end-of-year races such as the Herald-Sun Tour in Victoria or the Commonwealth Bank/Pacific Power Tour through NSW.
Litchfield rides as an amateur and is sponsored by his employers, Turramurra Cyclery, in competition. He also receives assistance from Bicisport's sponsor Johnson & Johnson.
Bicisport is a new club on the north side and has a membership of around 40 dedicated riders.
According to club secretary Mike O'Reilly, the club is not trying to be part of the "mainstream", but wants to target serious or elite cyclists.
The club competes regularly around the Mona Vale, Berowra and Gosford areas. The courses there are perfect for road-races because, Mr O'Reilly said, there are "nice hills and no hassles".
"I think our biggest challenge is not to find the right terrain but to get out of people's faces," he said.
"Drivers tend to get very agitated if they are held up for more than five seconds."
© 1996 Sydney Morning Herald