From the confines of a shed in Queensland's Central Highlands, a young cyclist will this weekend take on a gruelling sprint race in Europe.
Fourteen-year-old Harrison Ney is part of a group of young riders contesting the National Junior Road Series, which has been forced into the virtual world due to COVID-19 restrictions.
To compete in virtual races, cyclists connect Bluetooth sensors to their bikes, with the data driving the virtual riders through well-known circuits around the world.
The most recent round was in Belgium, featuring the course of the Tour of Flanders, which is usually held each year.
"It feels pretty similar to racing in real life; you can feel the hills, and you can draft," Harrison said.
"The last race, I managed to get third, which surprised me.
"It was 400 metres of climbing over a 16-kilometre course and one hill was an incline of 20 per cent, which I had to do four times."
His average speed for the race was 31 kilometres per hour, with an average incline of 12 per cent.
A great motivator
Like many aspects of life, cycling has been affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
But Harrison says the series allows him to continue to develop racing skills and improve his riding.
"It's really helped with my motivation, and if I wasn't racing I probably wouldn't be motivated to ride," he said.
"I don't know what I would be doing with myself."
While virtual riding and training is new for some, for Harrison, his location has meant it is a technique he has used in the past.
"We are in Moranbah, and my coach is in Mackay, so he gives me programs to do on the trainer," he said.
"I basically live and breath indoor cycling because the roads aren't too good out here.
"It's good, but I miss the feeling of the wind in my hair."
Rising star
Harrison has been cycling competitively for just 18 months.
"Dad did charity rides and one day I thought I'd give it a shot," he said.
From there the family has committed to regular trips to Mackay, hundreds of kilometres away, so that Harrison could compete.
"We get up at 4:00am and drive to Mackay to be there by 6:30am," said Harrison's father, Geoff Ney.
"We would race, pack up and then come straight home."
Despite his young age, Harrison has already claimed several podium finishes and took out third overall in the junior category for the Mackay Cycling Club last year.
The trouble with tech
Geoff Ney said while virtual riding all but eliminated the chance of injury, it was not without its challenges.
"In the first round the group was halfway through the race, and Harrison was doing well, with about 10 to 12 riders splitting away from the pack," he said.
"But then the Net dropped-out, and we lost the connection.
"In real life you get flats, and in the virtual world you get internet drop-outs."
