Promising Wagga cyclist Jake Brooker is hoping to reap the benefits of a new-found laser focus at the John Woodman Memorial Wagga to Albury Classic on Sunday.
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The Tolland Cycling Club young gun is expected be to be joined by more than 20 Wagga-based competitors, is treating 2017 as a cycling-dedicated gap year and said the decision had led to significant improvements in his abilities on the bike.
“Last year I had seven or eight hours of school every day, but now I have a full year to focus solely on riding and that has really helped,” he said.
Brooker, 18, is coming fresh off finishing second at Tolland Cycling Club’s 73km interclub road race in Lockhart on Sunday, also finishing with the fastest time of the day after clocking in at 1 hour, 43 minutes and 21 seconds.
The local teenager will start in the scratch group and said he would be happy to finish the race among his peers in the group.
“This is one of my longer races so it’s going to be hard work,” he said.
“It’s going to be a tough ask but I’ve been training hard for it, doing two 130 kilomeres rides a week to get ready.”
Joining Brooker and his Tolland teammates at the Wagga to Albury will be a host of Wagga Cycling Club competitors, including 2016 national criterium champion Sophie Mackay and young gun Myles Stewart.
The race is scheduled to start at 10am outside the Tolland Hotel and finish at Lavington Hall.
