Just weeks after notching a career milestone, Ararat cycling product Lucas Hamilton continues to tick boxes in his young career.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hamilton is competing for Australian cycling team Mitchelton Scott at this year's Giro d'Italia, now past its halfway mark.
It is the Ararat cyclist's first time racing at a Grand Tour event.
The Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana make up the Grand Tour, three of the most gruelling and prestigious cycling competitions in the world.
In early April, Hamilton recorded the first professional win of his career, carrying that excellent form into one of the world's top races weeks later.
Hamilton's role has been to support his team's frontrunner in Simon Yates, who sits in 24th place after stage 11 of 21 stages.
Hamilton sits in 61st overall, with his big challenge coming in the next stages.
Hamilton's strength is climbing, so he will have an important role in assisting Yates deal with the steep mountains and work his way towards the top of the leaderboard.
Despite competing thousands of kilometres away in a completely different time zone, Hamilton has had ongoing support from his hometown.
HIs family are in regular contact with the 23-year-old cyclist, keeping a close eye on how he is going.
"We can tell by the sound of his voice how he is travelling. He seems composed and relaxed," Hamilton's father Bruce said.
"He said he is enjoying every aspect of it. I think he can move up about 20 or 30 places by the end of the race but our main concern is he doesn't fall off. As long as he finishes while still on his bike that is all we care about."
Mr Hamilton said his son has a big job coming up in the next few stages - challenges of the like Lucas would not have taken on before.
"Mt William is about 800 metre. Soon he will be climbing mountains four times that size while travelling nearly 200kms," Mr Hamilton said.
"Lukey's job is to support Simon (Yates) to the max, help him on the climbs and be an all-round good guy pretty much. He is loving the challenge that presents."
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.