Australian road racing legend Henk Vogels says Buderim teenager Alastair MacKellar can mix it with the best in the world, with a bit more experience.
The 18-year-old has signed as a development rider with high profile professional team Israel Start-Up Nation and will be based in Girona, Spain.
He’ll live with fellow Sunshine Coaster Taj Jones, who signed with the team in September.
Former Tour De France rider Vogels, who has mentored MacKellar as a sports director at Pro Racing Sunshine Coast, said the all-rounder is a “super talent”.
“He is a naturally gifted time trialler and climber.”
“I think he can be the kind of rider that can mix it with the best in the world once he gets a bit more racing under his belt.
“I think they (the team) will nurture him really well. They’ve got a great program and the main thing for him is just getting the racing in.
“I’ve seen some of his program for next year and there are a lot of hilly races and hard events so it will suit him really well.”
MacKellar will train with some big names of the sport, including Chris Froome and Michael Woods.
“He’s in the same organisation as some of the world’s best climbers so that’s a great thing, just to see what kind of dedication and training they do to get to the top.”
“We like to think we flog them here on the Sunshine Coast hinterland but it’s another step up, going into the Pyrenees and riding with a five-time Tour De France winner (Froome), so it’s really exciting.”
Vogels expected MacKellar to make an impact among the young riders.
“I think he can be one of the best climbers in the world in the under-23 category.”
MacKellar raised eyebrows earlier this year when he broke the Queensland under-19 individual pursuit record and reached the podium in the national time trial and road race.
He was among a packed ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast team that competed at the recent National Road Series’ National Tour and Champions Cup in the Tweed Valley.
Their men’s team finished in fourth place, from 15, after the nine-day race, while their women’s contingent was third of six teams.
The men’s race was brought to a premature end after day eight, when there was a multi-rider crash, including Pro Racing Sunshine Coast rider Cameron Scott, who collided with a police motorbike.
“We are wishing Cameron Scott a speedy recovery,” the team said on social media.
