MOUNT Buninyong - it's a climb which triggers a feeling of dread for many riders who attend the Cycling Australia Road Nationals, but Luke Tuckwell views it a little differently.
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For Tuckwell the chance to test his legs on the notorious climb is something he can't wait to do.
The Bathurst Cycling Club and Western Region Academy of Sport cycling squad talent is set to make his debut at the open-age titles this week after graduating into the under 19s ranks.
He'll open his campaign in Ballarat with an 18.8 kilometre time trial on Wednesday on a course which features technical sections plus some short climbs.
But it is Saturday's 104.4km road race, one which includes 12 ascents of Mount Buninyong, that Tuckwell is most eagerly anticipating.
"I'm giving the crit a miss because it's just 12 hours out from the road race and if anything happens, I don't want to hurt my chances," he said.
"I'm licking my lips about it [Mount Buninyong], I absolutely love it.
"It's not the hardest climb, but it's just repetitive. I just love the climb and I can't wait to get into it."
I'm licking my lips about it [Mount Buninyong], I absolutely love it.
- Luke Tuckwell
While Tuckwell has not previously ridden at the open-age nationals, last year he attended the event as a spectator and has some idea of what challenges he will face.
It is something which has motivated him as he's put plenty of hours into training for the event.
"I went last year, the beginning of 2020, and checked out the course but I haven't fully raced it, so it's going to be a bit of a shock," he admitted.
"But I've been training well and I've been training for the right distances and intensity, so I'm taking a lot of confidence into it.
"It's been a lot of hours on the bike, it's been a big change to under 17s. It's been a lot of hills, a lot of kilometres, four-hour ride type things, really working on having that solid enduro base up to the last month.
"The last month has just been efforts to try and bring that intensity level, my numbers, all the way up."
Tuckwell will represent Team Rauland at the event, a National Road Series development outfit which is keen to promote young talents.
He won three gold medals riding for them at the NSW Team Time Trial Championships last November and is hopeful of earning a top 10 in Rauland colours at Ballarat.
Tuckwell points to his top 10 road race result at the 2019 National Junior Road Championships as an under 17s rider as something which gives him confidence.
He also hopes to draw on energy from the spectators.
"I'm keen, I went to junior nationals at the end of 2019 against the same group of people on a course at the Gold Coast which is pretty much quite similar to this and I got seventh there," he said.
"So I'm bringing in a lot of confidence to go, 'You know what? I've proved to myself I can do it once, so let's try and do it again now'.
"The road race usually splits quite drastically in the second half of the race, so the goal is to try and stay with the front and then in the last two laps to a lap, really try and pick up a top 10.
"The crowds down there are always great, hopefully COVID doesn't wreck that experience and everyone can come. It's outside so hopefully the numbers are quite large and I can have like a bit of a Europe experience."
