He might be – in his own words – an accidental cyclist, but Luke Deasey is on the road to a promising career.
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The Tamworth teenager has been signed by Dhuez Racing to be part of their development team for 2019.
It is a first for the Newcastle-based team who have also added a women’s team to their roster for next year.
The news that he had gained a spot on the team left Deasey “speechless”, which he joked is “pretty hard for me” and says a lot about what it means to him.
“It’s a good stepping stone and a huge opportunity,” the 16-year-old said, adding that it will be good to “learn off the more experienced riders”.
Especially about the art of racing as part of a team, something he doesn’t have a lot of experience of.
Also a state level swimmer, Deasey has only been riding competitively for around two years, but from the moment he first put his feet in those pedals he was hooked.
“I started riding though triathlon,” he said.
“Then my parents got me a road bike and I discovered that I don’t like running but I loved cycling.”
“I love the social side and the adrenaline of racing.”
And pushing himself to his limits, both mentally and physically.
Earlier this year, when the then 15-year-old placed 19th in the 70-kilometre Blayney 2 Bathurst road race against open age competitors, his coach Sam Spokes described Deasey as one of the most dedicated riders he’d seen.
It is one of the things that has most impressed him about his young charge.
Deasey has been working with the former professional cyclist ‘officially’ for about 18 months, and said his cycling has “sky-rocketted” under his tutelage.
He has been pretty happy with his results in 2018, among the highlights second in the time trial at the Port Macquarie Junior Tour. Most recently he was 14th in the time trial at the junior nationals.
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Next on the radar is the Road National Championships in Ballarat in January, where Deasey will step up to compete in the under-19s.
“That will be fun,” he said.
He hasn’t put too many expectations on himself.
“It’s not a course that suits me – it’s quite hilly,” he said.
That isn’t really his forte.
“I think of myself as a strong man. I’m not fast and I don’t go well up hills but I don’t mind riding into cross-winds,” he said.
It will be his first race in the Dhuez colours, although he won’t be racing as part of the team.
His first race with the team will be the Wollongong criterium in February.
