THROUGHOUT his cycling career, Lachlan Norris has tackled plenty of hill climbs, usually on the beaten bush tracks.
But in recent weeks he has spent plenty of hours tackling climbs at Bright, Buninyong and Mount Alexander.
All of the hill-climbing is geared toward Norris’ campaign on the road with the Drapac Porsche team.
The Barkers Creek cycling star from near Castlemaine has earned monthly awards in The Advertiser WIN Television Sports Star of the Year, which is proudly backed by RegaionalOne Credit Union, the past two years.
First major hit-out in 2010 will be the national road championships at Buninyong.
Norris faces a great challenge as he moves from the under-23 division to open.
He will join forces with reigning national road champion Peter McDonald, as well as Bendigo’s own David Pell, Horsham’s Mark O’Brien, and Rhys Pollock for the Scody-backed 122.4km battle on January 9.
Although last year’s focus was predominantly on mountain bike racing and the lead-up to the world titles, Norris finished sixth in the under-23 national road race on the Buninyong circuit.
“The course is one of the toughest I have raced on,” Norris said after another gruelling climb at Mount Alexander.
“It’s 16 laps on a tough circuit, which has one really big hill climb.
‘‘The climb really tests you as the race goes on.
“A few of us trained at Buninyong last Thursday and will be aiming to do so again on Wednesday (today).’’
The lead-up to a big summer of road racing included 10th placing in this month’s Tour of Bright two-day classic.
Norris and Pell, who is contracted to Savings & Loans until New Year’s Eve, are two of the newest members of the Drapac Porsche team.
“There is a lot of racing planned for next year,” Norris said of pursuits on the road and the mountains.
A week after the national road championships, Norris will be on the hills near Adelaide to race for the open crown at the national MTB titles.
Norris was 11th in the under-23 race at this year’s world mountain bike championships held on Mount Stromlo near Canberra.
The world titles capped an extensive run of World Cup legs across Europe, North America and Africa.
The national and Oceania under-23 MTB champion in 2009, Norris moves to open class.
He was fourth in the opening leg of the national series raced in Tasmania.
“I am aiming to mix road and mountain biking commitments as much as I can,” said Norris.”
The Drapac Porsche team is giving me plenty of support to do so.”
When not cycling, Norris is kept busy studying science at Melbourne University.
Norris first started racing with Bendigo Mountain Bike Club and then with the Castlemaine-based Rocky Riders.
He has racked up thousands of hours and kilometres training, particularly in Campbells Creek Forest, and on the hills throughout the Harcourt Valley.
A long-term goal is to compete in the MTB action at the 2012 London Olympics.
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