Cycling is a family affair for Aaron, Ross and Steven Liley. 72106
AFTER 27 races, over 2000km of racing, 208 competitors racing through the hills of the Brisbane Ranges and the flatlands surrounding the You Yangs, Tarneit’s Ross Liley has been crowned Footscray Cycling Club’s road aggregate champion.
The road aggregate winners needed to be consistent, show stamina and some true grit to top the list and take home the trophies, and 40-year-old Liley showed all those attributes in spades.
Liley took home the championship with 40 points, just edging out Werribee’s Mark Micallef on 39 points and Liley’s 20-year-old son Aaron on 28 points.
Asked how he felt about being pipped by his father, apprentice diesel mechanic Aaron said: “I’m really happy that dad won, it was a close finish in points and congrats to Mark for coming second.
“My goal during the road season was to learn and just to survive. I’ve enjoyed the fact that the older members of Footscray have been teaching me along the way during the season, so I would like to thank them as well. I am really looking forward to riding the upcoming crits, as I want to make my own mark at Footscray, or at least give the old man a smacking.”
Liley, who works in military aviation, was ecstatic to learn of his win, and puts his good fortune down to how racing has become somewhat of a family affair.
His sons Aaron and Steven, 15, both race in the same grade as their dad, and wife Michelle is out there every week supporting her boys as coach.
“The boys and I have been very lucky because we can race every week as Michelle does our marshalling duties for us’” Liley said.
“The family approach has worked for us, it’s something we can do together and we all look out for each other. Even though the three men compete against each other in a spirit of friendly rivalry, Liley says that he will enjoy getting one over on his boys.
“This will be good motivation for the boys to trounce me in the summer criteriums, they are both good sprinters and I can’t sprint, so I’m sure they will enjoy beating their old man this summer,” he said.
“I’m rapt but very surprised, this win is quite unexpected, as there are so many great riders in the club. This will really push me to get out there and my next goal is to be competitive in C Grade next year.”
