Calvin, 15, established himself as one of Australia’s premier mountain bikers when he competed at the Mountain Bike Australia National Series in 2015.

While he still holds a soft spot for the sport, the Wagga teenager was determined to try his hand at riding of a different kind, joining the Wagga Cycling Club in the middle of the year.

“Mountain biking is such an individual sport, you’re by yourself a lot,” Calvin said.

“But road racing comes with set trainings and group rides, which has been good because I wanted to be around people a bit more and get some help with coaching advice.”

The talented rider was thrown straight into the deep end soon after taking up road racing, competing in the NSW Junior Road Championships in Wagga and Wantabadgery this month.

While he struggled with “illness and inexperience” in the road race, he blew all expectations out of the water with his 13th placed finish at the time trials, beating out a host of competitors with years of experience.

Despite taking to road cycling like a duck to water, the young talent emphasised he would not neglect his first love.

“I definitely want to give the mountain biking nationals another go this year,” he said.