Young Aussie brothers leading the way in USA

By Paul Verkuylen

Two young Australian riders, Angus Morton and his younger brother Lachlan, have shown their climbing potential by taking 5th and 6th in the pro category of the Mt Evans Hill Climb won by Discovery Channel's Tom Danielson. Danielson fell one minute short of taking the record time in the event.

The Morton brothers are no strangers to the event having ridden the race every year for the past three years as part of the 'Real Aussie Kids' development squad, which was set up to help young Australian riders gain experience with top level competition and support. Angus, 18, represented Australia at the junior road world championships in 2006 as a first year junior. This year he was not selected for the squad opting instead to concentrate on his year 12 Higher School Certificate.

Younger brother Lachlan, 15, is also showing some potential for the sport, by matching it with the best professional riders in the gruelling hill climb. Just two weeks ago the young star got the fastest time in the Sunshine Boulder Hill climb, beating the pros by six seconds, just ten days after having surgery to pin a broken wrist.