WHETHER it’s on the bitumen or the dirt, Barkers Creek cycling star Lachlan Norris has a hectic few months ahead.
The Drapac Porsche cycling team heads to Ballarat tomorrow to contest the 44km criterium on day one of the Mars Australian road championships.
The major focus for the rider in red will be the 163km road race on the Buninyong circuit on Sunday afternoon.
Norris was fifth on the Buninyong circuit near Ballarat a year ago and is looking forward to being back on the hilly and testing course.
“The circuit is one of the toughest I have raced on, but suits my style of racing,” Norris said.
Strength on the hills is tested by a daunting climb the cyclists must do 16 times.
Because of many racing commitments on the road and mountains in 2011, Norris said his preparation for the nationals had been different to previous years.
“This year’s preparation was a lot shorter, but I have done more racing, so the strength and fitness is there,” he said.
The lead-up was derailed slightly by Monday’s crash while training near Trentham.
“I landed heavily on my right hip, but, hopefully, everything will be right by Thursday.”
The titles action begins with the criterium on the Sturt Street circuit in Ballarat.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of the crit, but my main focus is the road race,” Norris said.
This Sunday’s field is the strongest to vie for the national title in many years.
“It’s an awesome line-up,” Norris said of racing the likes of Stuart O’Grady, Jack Bobridge, Cameron Meyer, Simon Gerrans, Michael Rogers and many more.
Drapac Porsche’s squad includes Bendigo-based Darren Lapthorne, who won the national title in 2007.
Last month’s Tour of Bright capped a great year for Norris, whose campaign included racing the Tour of Colarado for HTC Colombia, as well as contesting the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, the world mountain bike titles in Lucerne, Switzerland, and many of the world cup rounds on the MTB circuit.
“The Tour of Colarado was a massive highlight,” Norris said.
“To be given a chance to race with HTC Colombia was amazing, as well as racing against Cadel Evans, the Schleck brothers, and many of the Tour de France stars.”
Once the national titles are raced, Norris will prepare to contest the Tour Down Under in South Australia.
The UniSA-Australia team to contest the tour from January 15 to 22 is Rohan Dennis, Jay McCarthy, Lachlan Norris, Tom Palmer and Steele Van Hoff.
On the second-last day of the classic, Norris will celebrate his 25th birthday.
Norris’ feats in mountain bike racing have earned monthly awards in the bankmecu-sponsored Bendigo Advertiser-WIN Television Sports Star of the Year award.
Runner-up in the men’s elite cross-country race at last year’s national MTB championships, Norris is striving to gain selection for the London Olympics.
“All of my racing the past three years has been geared towards Olympic selection.
“The national championships at Eagle Mountain (near Adelaide) will be important,” he said of the February contest.
Even more important will be the Oceania MTB titles in Rotorua, New Zealand from March 9-11, and the World Cup rounds.
For the next few weeks though, Norris is focused on the road.
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