Danny Barber has become the first Dubbo cyclist to take out the Men’s Under 17s National Junior Track Series after the final event at Adelaide last week.
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The series sees the leading cyclists from across Australia and New Zealand compete in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, accumulating points toward the title.
The series tests across seven different races: Enduro Openers, Derby Sprints, Madison Race, Scratch Race, Paced Scratch Races, Elimination and Keirin Race, with Elimination races leaving the last-placed rider eliminated each lap, and the latter six laps behind a motorbike and two laps of frenzied sprinting.
So dominant was Barber’s win that he finished 141 points in front of his nearest rival, after taking out the first event in Melbourne and leading after each subsequent event.
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In the final round at Adelaide, he won every heat and final that he rode in.
Dubbo Cycle Club teammate Dylan Eather also finished on the podium, claiming third position overall in the series despite missing the Adelaide event.
“This was my last National Junior Track Series as I move up to U19’s next year,” Barber said.
“It is very hard to win as you need to be on top of your game against some of the country’s best riders.
“I am lucky because I am able to race against very fast and experienced riders every week at Dubbo Cycle Club racing and that definitely helps when racing at these events.”
The event held in Adelaide last week was part of the Tour Down Under Cycling Festival and had coaches and riders from the Australian Elite Cycling Team on hand to watch and give pointers.
Many of the National elite team have previously ridden in the NJTS, and were very generous with their time giving encouragement to the younger riders.
World Champion sprinter Matthew Glaetzer was on hand to congratulate Barber and present him with the winner’s jersey.
“It was fantastic meeting Matthew and the other Australian elite cyclists, as well as touring the training facilities the national team uses,” Barber said.
Barber trains under coaches Gus Dawson and Vaughn Eather, and is just the latest in a long line of riders the mentoring duo have guided to state and national titles.
The teenager expressed his gratitude for their guidance.
“The first time I road on an indoor velodrome was as a first-year, under 15 rider,” Barber recalled.
“I was very nervous and spent most of the time at the back just trying to stay upright.
“Gus and Vaughn were very patient and told me to stick with it, and are usually on hand whenever I go away to race to make sure I do my best.”
Barber and Eather both raced as part of the Western Region Academy of Sport’s team in the series, alongside under 15 men’s winner Ben Anderson, of Orange.
Combined, the WRAS team was able to secure second place overall in the team classification – a remarkable achievement considering the size of some of the teams from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
