Sebastopol rising stars turn heads at national road titles

THE future is bright for two of the Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club’s rising stars following exceptional performances at this month’s Auscycling National Road Championships in Perth.

Alistair Forsyth and Lachlan Morris, who are both 17 years old, did the club and themselves proud with high-calibre efforts in the under-19 ranks.

Forsyth claimed a podium finish, riding his way into third spot in the national road race, just 18 seconds behind the winner Benjamin Coates, from the Manly Waringah club.

Considered more of a surprise, Morris finished 11th in the 77-rider field, two minutes and 50 seconds behind the winner.

Forsyth capped a big weekend with a silver medal in the individual time trial, while Morris also raced the tough criterium course.

BSCC president Tim Canny said the club could not be prouder of the pair’s achievements in Perth.

“It’s really good seeing some of the younger guys who are coming through performing on the big stage and taking it up to the best riders in Australia and posting great results,” he said.

“It’s sensational and really exciting.

“We are proud that they have come through all of our junior programs and are now racing against the adults, even though they are only 17 years old.

“The development is paying off and they are taking the next step.”

Year 12 schoolmates at Ballarat Clarendon College, the two talented youngsters are close neighbours.

A part of the WestVic Cycling Program, Morris is coached by former cyclist Pat Shaw, whose career highlights included victories in the 2013 Melbourne to Ballarat Classic and 2010 Scody Cup National Road Series.

Forsyth is coached by international road cyclist Liam White and rides for Australian international team Brennan’s junior development team.

 

In a brilliant result for Team Brennan, his teammate Patrick Eddy upstaged his more fancied rivals to claim the elite national road crown.

A top three finish for Forsyth has him eyeing a spot on the Australian team at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal in September.

His selection, if it eventuates, would be the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

“He’s been coming through the ranks for a long while and has been strong in his age group for a long time,” Canny said.

“We’ve always had big hopes for Alistair and lofty expectations.

“Lachlan performed incredibly to finish only two minutes, 50 behind the road winner.

“It was remarkable. It wasn’t that long ago that Lachlan had a broken arm … about 12 months ago … and he was struggling to recover from that.

“Somehow, he managed to cram his training in for nationals and it certainly paid off.

“The club is understandably rapt for both Alistair and Lachlan.”

A crucial year study-wise shapes every bit as pivotal to the pair’s cycling development.

For Forsyth, that will mean an extended period in Europe at the end of term one of school

Beyond that, he hopes to convert his silver and bronze at this year’s road nationals into a pair of golds at next year’s championships, to again be held in Western Australia.