THREE sisters, three debutantes, three medals - Lara, Hallie and Sienna Allen made their first New South Wales Country Junior Road Championships an event to remember.
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While the siblings had previously contested junior state titles on the track for the Bathurst Cycling Club, when heading to Sutherland for last Sunday's road championships they were unsure what to expect.
As it turns out their excitement at the prospect racing transformed into excitement at being able to raise their arms on the podium.
"We've been riding with the club for four or five years and ususally do the track stuff, but with COVID-19 the girls have been doing a lot more road stuff, so we tried an away carnival," Scott Allen, father of the trio, said.
"They'd done a couple of track opens at Goulburn and Dubbo, but this was the first time they'd been to an away road race. It was a bit of a surprise they all had a really good day."
Riders from across the state did battle on a 900 metres course, with the total number of laps increasing with each age group.
In the under 11s twins Hallie and Sienna faced six laps and after the 5.4km battle, they both found themselves with a medal.
Hallie claimed the silver, but Sienna was right behind her to nab bronze.
"They finished right behind each other. It was unbelievable, I don't think the girls realised what they had done until they were on the podium there - they were pretty happy, that's never happened before," Scott Allen said.
Lara Allen raced over 10 laps and she crossed the line in third to mark a special moment in her cycling career.
"She was actually over the moon, it was the first time she'd received a medal from cycling so she was rapt," her father said.
The Allens were not the only BCC juniors to feature on the podium at the country titles, with Luke Tuckwell winning silver in the under 17s men's division.
Under 15s riders Ebony Robinson (fifth) and Cadel Lovett (top 10) also rode well and finished just off the pace.
"I've really got to thank Toireasa Gallagher for her efforts and lots of the other parents who ride with the kids," Scottt Allen said.
"The junior program that Toireasa has set out is great. The kids are all putting the effort in, they are all puffed at end of the day, but they are all having fun, it's a great atmosphere and the kids love it."
Meanwhile the BCC held the second round of the Renshaw's Pedal Project road series last Saturday.
In the A grade 30km event Will Hodges took the honours in a time of 41:07 after an impressive breakaway. It maintained his series lead.
Hodges' Oliver's Real Food Racing team-mate Tom Bolton won the sprint for second ahead of Craig Hutton.
Glen Carter (B grade), Dan Kirby (C grade), David Hyland (D grade) and Robyn Partridge (E grade) were the other victors.
