Young riders keen on the challenge

ROAD RACERS: Jamison Buckley and Elmer Buckland prepare for the Mount Gambier Cycling Club's junior road race at Penola.

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MOUNT Gambier cycling Club junior riders made a welcome return to the road for a 15km race as a prelude to the main event, the Banks Thargo 35km race.

The six riders were a mix of Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15s and relished the opportunity to race on the flat course of Maaoupe Road near Penola.

First to begin were Kirra Harpham with Eddie Buckland, given a four-minute head start on the

group of Freya Miller and Molly Opperman.

Finally the group of Jamison Buckley and Elmer Buckland were given the orders to begin the chase, a further three minutes behind.

By the halfway turnaround, the frontrunners had been caught by the second group, with Eddie Buckland trying to hold on past the turn.

Buckley and Elmer Buckland rode strong to chasing down the leaders.

In the end, the race came down to a sprint between Opperman and Miller, with the former taking the

chocolates this time around.

Buckley finished well with the fastest time, but it was not quite enough to peg back the girls.