It’s good to be the king. Just ask Sam Warren.
The Melton teenager was crowned King of the Mountain after being the overall winner of last weekend’s Cycling Australia Junior Mountain Climb Championships under-15 event.
Sam, 13, came second in the individual eight-kilometre time trial category and won the gruelling 23-kilometre road race up Mount Buffalo by one minute and 43 seconds.
His combined results in the two races earned him the title.
Sam took up the sport three years ago after being inspired by his father, who also cycled competitively.
He said he learnt a lot from his dad, including how to ride a bike.
He’s come a long way since those days and Sam now prepares for his races by training five times a week, alongside his father. They ride on average 40 kilometres per night.
Sam Warren, 13, has been crowned King of the Mountain. Photo: Joe Mastroianni
“It’s good to get out on the bike and have a chat on the road,” Sam said.
He admits the training can be intense but said he managed to juggle training and school.
“It’s pretty tough,” he said.
“I get home from school and go for a ride, do what I need to on the bike and then come back, have dinner and get my homework done, then go to bed early.”
The year seven Bacchus Marsh Grammar student said he looked forward to riding in more competitions and hoped to qualify for the Victorian cycling team and eventually the national team.
“I’d love to go to the Commonwealth Games one day,” Sam said.
