Echuca Moama Cycling Club is producing a golden generation of cyclists, with a number of young members making their way to the front of the peloton at races far and wide recently.
Lenny and George Griffiths can count themselves part of that group, as the brothers have recorded some exceptional results.
Lenny, 15, who describes himself as “not a pure climber, but not a pure flat rider either”, is currently racing in the Victorian Junior Road Series, and is extremely well-placed after three rounds.
The young gun has taken out the general classification in the two most recent events, the three-stage Ararat Junior Tour and the four-stage Broadford Junior Tour, also claiming a stage win in each.
The older of the two brothers, Lenny appreciates the toughness of a stage race, where the contest is not purely physical.
“It was good, very tough though,” he said of the latest win at Broadford.
“Stage races are a bit better, because there's fatigue in the legs, and that's when you have to really work hard.
“It just makes it harder for everyone, so if you can push deeper than everyone, it's a bit easier than when everyone else is fresh.”
Two rounds remain in the Victorian Junior Road Series, and after his latest triumph, Lenny cut the lead between himself in second and the first-placed rider to just 14 points.
The title was taken out by EMCC’s own Levi Hone last year, and Lenny is keen to join him on the honour roll.
“There's two rounds left I think, and it'll be tough, but we'll give it a crack to take it out,” he said.
On the King’s Birthday long weekend, Lenny took to the road alongside younger brother George at the Melville Caves Classic handicap race in Bendigo.
Despite Lenny recording the fastest time, it was George who claimed the win, making it back-to-back victories in the race after claiming the title in 2022.
“It's a very good race,” George said following his triumph.
“It's quite hilly, with a hill finish too, but it's a good handicap race, I do like it.”
Despite being beaten out by his younger brother, Lenny was more than happy to see George earn success.
"It's good to see him go well,” he said.
“He got the win and then I got the fastest time, so it's good.”
George, 14, is an accomplished rider himself, currently sitting inside the top five of the VJRS standings for the under-15 A division, finishing sixth in the most recent Broadford Tour.
“It's a tough race, there's some good cyclists that raced it who were very fast, and some quick descents too, but it was also really hilly,” he said.
“I'm probably not as good on the climbs, because there's no hills in Echuca, but I go alright at it.”
The two are obviously in possession of talent, although there remains a clear distinction in how they approach their cycling.
Super focused, Lenny has moved to Ballarat, boarding at Ballarat Grammar in a bid to further his cycling career, with the pro cycling tour still a dream for the Year 10 student.
“Yeah, I would love to do that,” he said of competing in Europe.
“I reckon I'll give it a crack if I get that opportunity.”
In complete contrast, George takes a very laid-back approach, with the Year 8 Moama Anglican Grammar student not keen on following his brother to Ballarat due to the weather.
“I'm not sure if I'll go down to Ballarat, it's pretty cold down there,” he said.
“I'm not sure really (what the future holds), I'll just keep riding my bike.”
Despite the stark differences in how they approach the sport, the two are quite similar in their abilities on the bike, riding strongly across all formats and terrains without specialising in one area.
Unsurprisingly, when asked if there was a rider they modelled their style on, they went for the two most versatile professionals in the pro tour peloton at the moment.
“Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert,” Lenny replied in an instant.
“They're a bit bigger, not skinny as, but they can still climb with the best and sprint with the best.”
Lenny and George will both be in action at the Eildon Junior Tour from July 7-9, as both look to climb up the rankings.