Starting on Thursday, Hone will compete in the under-19 time trial, a 20 km race against the clock, before taking part in the 83km under-19 road race on Saturday.
A strong performance in the Oceania championships is certainly indicative of elite talent — last year’s junior road race winner, Oscar Chamberlain, was given a contract by UCI World Tour team AG2R-Citroen to ride for its under-19 team in Europe this year, while junior time trial winner William Eaves represented Australia in the 2022 World Championships alongside Chamberlain, placing inside the top 20 in the time trial.
On Sunday, Hone will compete in the National Road Series Tour De Brisbane, 111km road race.
Hone enters 2023 in good form after enjoying somewhat of a breakout year in 2022, during which he was named the Junior Road Series Victoria under-17 champion last August, earning him a spot on the Victorian squad for the Junior Road National Championships which were held in Wollongong in September.
In what was his first national championships ride for the Victorian team, Hone nabbed a top 20 finish in the road race, crossing the line 17 seconds behind the leader.
Hone is also the current Echuca Moama Cycling Club A-grade criterium champion, having won the title last Friday night at the Moama criterium track.
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