Launceston cyclist ready for back-to-back major overseas events

Launceston teenager Sam McKee is confident he has built the miles in the legs to tackle two major overseas events, starting with the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

Launceston cyclist Sam McKee is preparing to race in two major events overseas. Picture: Andrew Trovas

Launceston cyclist Sam McKee has no doubt he’s put in the work to tackle a rigorous elite international schedule.

McKee began his Youth Commonwealth Games campaign in Trinidad and Tobago in frustrating fashion after a mishap ensured he didn’t finish the time trial early Sunday morning (AEST).

In wet conditions, McKee crashed after hitting a puddle around the 5km mark and attempted to continue, but soon called it quits.

“The weather made it interesting. Unfortunately I crashed on one of the corners into a puddle which put me out of the race,” McKee said.

“I’m really looking forward to the road race on Monday (Tuesday morning Australian time) and having a good crack at that. I’m also keen for the track coming up.

“It was always going to be difficult in the weather and it would have been nice to know where the puddles were on the course beforehand, but it’s all part of learning.”

McKee still has the road race and a strong track schedule in the West Indies, before he heads to Colombia soon after for the UCI Junior Track World Championships.

The 18-year-old is trying to make the adjustment from Tasmania’s chilly climate to the hot and humid conditions in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We’ve done a bit of heat work like hot baths to try and prepare. I didn’t come totally unprepared, but it’s a shock to the system,” McKee said.

“It’s a pretty big schedule but the legs are feeling good, and I should get through it fine.”

McKee is competing in track events at Colombia, and was set to do the same at the Youth Commonwealth Games before a late withdrawal opened up a spot on the road squad.

“I trained specifically for track, but I should still have pretty good legs for the road as it’s only 60km and not very hilly,” he said.

“Someone dropped out, but it was a pretty easy decision to do it as well. I think I can handle the extra race days.

“If I can survive the heat I’m hoping it (road race) will come down to a sprint. It’s not the toughest course in the world, but not everyone will still be in the bunch at the end.”

McKee is racing endurance events on the track and rates the pursuit, points race and the scratch races as his best chances.

“I’m pretty excited and raring to go and am looking forward to it,” he said.

“I’m going to have a solid crack at all of them. There’s some races I’m convinced I should do better at, probably the scratch race I have a good feeling about.

“In the road race we’ll see what we can do there, and the points race as well.

“It’s a lot of racing, but I’ve done a fair bit of work in the lead up to this. I’ve worked on building a big base and have been training with more intensity coming into it.”

The road race will be held in the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST), before McKee turns his attention to three days on the track.