Inspired by Cadel Evans' courageous and dazzling Tour de France victory, Team Jayco-AIS member Richard Lang has his sights set on winning the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland this week.

Lang, 22, first rose to prominence in the 2009 five-day Gippsland Tour, winning the tough 75.3km stage from Trafalgar to Walhalla, and is part of the next generation of future cycling stars with the U23 Jayco AIS Development team.

Lang wants to represent Australia in the Under 23 road race at the world championships in Denmark in September and sees the Gippsland tour as an important step in his preparation.

"I was off the bike for six weeks with a knee injury but I would love to get my name on the honor board as a winner of the Tour of Gippsland," Land saig.

"I'm definitely inspired by what Cadel achieved," Lang said.

"I think the whole of Australia is.

"It just shows if you put in the hard work, one day the results will come and your dreams will come true."

The seventh Tour of Gippsland, backed by five municipal councils and Tourism Victoria, will start on Wednesday, 27 July at 11am with a 33km criterium in Wonthaggi's town centre.

The 520km nine-stage tour has attracted a top-flight field of 156 riders from all Australian states and territories, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Last year's winner Patrick Shaw (Genesys), South Australian mountain bike star Chris Jongewaard (Jayco 2XU), New Zealanders Louis Crosby (Pure Black Racing) and Rico Rogers (Lakes Oil) and dual New Caledonian road champion Gael Bonnace will provide Lang with stiff opposition.

Source: http://www.cycling.org.au