Cycling: Thomas off to Austria for Masters bid

CAPITAL cyclist Claire Thomas will fly to Austria tomorrow, seeking to add a World Masters road race title to the victory she recorded at the British Championships earlier in the season.

With the event taking place on Thursday, the Edinburgh RC rider, who completed her build up with a win in the Glasgow Ivy road race at Balfron on Sunday, will have only a brief opportunity to study the challenging route for the 40 kilometre race in St Johann.

The circuit includes two steep climbs, the first after less than five kilometres, and Thomas has done her best to simulate the hills she will encounter by testing herself over similar terrain in the Borders.

And, although she has not competed at world level before, Thomas has also done her homework on her likely rivals and believes she is capable of challenging for a top-three spot.

"I'm hoping for a podium finish," she explained. "I'm not going to have much time to look at the course but it always comes down to a sprint finish so I'll be trying to get away on the first climb. It seems that the Italians are the strongest riders, so I'll be watching them."