Team UNO junior member
 
Alex Smyth
In 2004, In 2004, Alex was chosen as the Team UNO junior rider not only for his potential as a cyclist but also his approach and commitment to the sport. After competing in his first race only 6 years ago, at the age of 11, Alex took a silver medal in the Under 17 National Road Championships in Queensland in August 2004. Two months later, he won the Victorian Schoolboys Championship at Geelong.
Alex started the 2005 year by becoming the Victorian under 19 men's sprint champion at the state championships at Brunswick . This was only Alex's second ride in the under 19 category, and his first state championships as an under 19, having turned 16 the month before. The following week, at the continuation of the state championships, Alex finished 5th in the kieren and 6th in the scratch. Alex subsequently represented Victoria in the national titles in Adelaide 7-12 February where he made the final of the kieren.
In April, Alex competed in:
* the Tour of the Southern Grampians-Coleraine (9-10 April), finishing 4th in B Grade in general classification;
* the Tour of Canberra (16-17 April), which was also the U19 National Selection Races, where he finished 10 in the 117km Road Race, but snapped a chain while in leading group of 12 riders with 10 km to the finish of the 108km Road Race;
* Mario Giramondo Memorial Road Race (30 April) where he won the 90km handicap road race.
After a break over winter, Alex hit the track in October, and exceptionally preformed well in the State U19 Championships in Melbourne 16-18 December, where he:
* won the state kieren championship
* came second (to Leigh Howard) in the scratch
* came 3rd in the individual pursuit
* and 3rd in the time trial.
This culminated in Alex being selected for the state team to represent Victoria in Adelaide in February 2006.
In the Tour of Bright, Alex finished 6th overall, 2nd in the criterium and was 4th up Mt Baw Baw – more than a credible feat for a 16 year old.
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