News: Brenton Jones Starts 2020 at Bay Crits

Australian circuit race champion Brenton Jones (Canyon DHB) begins 2020 at Bay Crits in Victoria (Australia)

News: Brenton Jones Starts 2020 at Bay Crits

Australian sprinter Brenton Jones is relishing the defence of his national criterium crown in Ballarat next month. The Victorian rider will gear up for that battle with a return to the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits – and event with a special place in his heart – from January 3-5.

Brenton Jones on the wheel of the Bay Crits series winner Ian Bibby in 2017

Jones, who won the three-race series in 2014, has joined British UCI Continental outfit Canyon dhb p/b Soreen for 2020. His sponsor DHB have designed him a bespoke national champion’s jersey to launch his campaign in Geelong.

DHB have also partnered with the Bay Crits organisers to supply leaders’ jerseys and Jones can’t wait to renew acquaintances with some of the finest crit racers on the planet. The 28-year-old who rode for Delko Marseille ins 2019 said: “The Bay Crits are a fantastic season opener for the top Australian and international pros to fine-tune their form ahead of the Aussie summer. The race has an impressive history and honour roll, so everyone comes out firing – with elbows locked and heads down to the finish”.

“It makes the racing great to watch and for me personally, fun to be a part of. Winning the series was so special because I’d been part of the construction and event crew as a young boy. I helped JT (race director John Trevorrow) and my mum, Karin, run the event, so to go on and win it years later meant a lot.”

“I’d been trying for years and I was so motivated to win in 2014. The emotions of those days still give me goosebumps!

Robbie McEwen is a six-time winner of the Bay Crits, while other former world-class riders such as Baden Cooke, Graeme Brown and Mark Renshaw have lifted the trophy. A hat-trick of victories for Caleb Ewan sandwiched Jones’ win in 2014 before Ian Bibby became the first – and only – British champion in 2017.”

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After a break in 2018, Austrian Marco Haller and Italian Valentina Scandolara won the men’s and women’s titles this year. Now sights are set on 2020 and who will top the podium in dhb’s Aeron Lab jersey this time around. And Jones is thrilled at the prospect of pulling on the green and gold again.

He added: “This will be my first outing in DHB colours, wearing a brand that will support my team for 2020 – Canyon dhb p/b Soreen. A specially designed national criterium champion’s jersey has been made and I cannot wait to wear the green and gold at my favourite event of the Aussie summer.”

“It will be one of the last times I get to wear the jersey before I defend it in Ballarat, so I’m thrilled dhb could pull it off in time for me.”

DHB’s support of Canyon dhb p/b Soreen in 2020 marks a third year in partnership with the British outfit.