With a strong tailwind-turn-crosswind, Eather, who started alongside Ryan in chopping block or the second last group at 32 minutes, outsprinted five other riders to record a memorable win in the Keegan Downes Memorial Sundowner Handicap, a 110 kilometre trek through hilly terrain from Coonabarabran to Gunnedah.

Ryan finished the event in 13^th place, 19 seconds behind Eather.

Ryan’s time for the 110km event was two hours, nine minutes and 26 seconds.

“I … just got on the right wheel coming into the sprint,” Eather said.

The reigning Australian under-17 road race champion hopes to compete in the junior world championship next year, and then the Olympics.

“Yeah, it’s looking pretty good,” he said of his future. “Hopefully big things can happen.”