Under 23 Oceania Road Champion James Whelan became the second Australian to stand atop the podium at the under 23 Ronde van Vlaanderen in Belgium, Saturday April 7.

Robert Stannard in third and Cyrus Monk the under 23 Oceania silver medallist in 10th gave Australia three riders in the top 10 and James Fouche (New Zealand) continued the Oceania success in 28th.

Whelan’s result follows in the footsteps of 2015 winner and former Oceania Track Champion Alex Edmondson and 2010 runner up Michael Matthews who claimed the overall UCI Oceania Tour victory the same year.

“On behalf of the Oceania Cycling Confederation I extend our congratulations to James on this impressive result becoming the second Australian to win the Under 23 Tour of Flanders,” said Oceania Cycling Confederation President Tracey Gaudry.

“Having witnessed his performance at the 2018 Oceania Road Championships in Tasmania last month it is exciting to see him continue to progress and win against the best of the world in Europe.

“It shows the importance of the Oceania Championships in preparing riders for racing and succeeding at the highest level across the world.”