Shepparton Cycling Club's Isla Shaw continues her remarkable rise after earning a host of prizes on one weekend.
Shepparton Cycling Club starlet Isla Shaw continued her remarkable rise as she claimed the 2026 BBB Cycling Victorian Junior Road Series title – before following this up with a double triumph at the Victorian Junior Road State Championships.
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It was a weekend to remember for the youngster from the Goulburn Valley, who has already taken the under-17 class by storm in 2026 with impressive displays on the track and the road.
Some of the highlights for the teenager in the past 12 months include earning a bronze medal at the AusCycling Junior Track National Championships in Brisbane, while also making it onto the podium in third at the National Track Elimination Race in Perth.
While enjoying success on to national stage, Shaw is also beginning to dominate her age-group in her home state, with her latest achievement coming in the form of the Cycling Victorian Junior Road Series crown.
After a gruelling battle of wits across five separate races in Victoria, the youngster was officially declared the Junior Road Series title-holder on the weekend of August 8.
However, her heroics did not stop there.
The 16-year-old then backed up her latest triumph by earning two gold medals at the Victorian Junior Road State Championship, taking the spoils in the U17 Women’s Individual Time Trial and the U17 Women’s Road Race.
It appears that Shaw’s talent on two wheels shows no bounds and her accomplishments are the source of significant pride at her Shepparton Cycling Club base.
“To win a state series is a huge achievement,” a social media post read.
Isla Shaw celebrates from the top of the podium to cap yet another incredible achievement.
“To then add two State Championship jerseys in the same weekend is something truly special and a testament to Isla’s hard work, dedication and determination throughout the season.
“Congratulations, Isla! Everyone at the Shepparton Cycling Club is incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. We can’t wait to see what comes next as your cycling journey continues.”
Shepparton Cycling Club president and Olympic gold medallist Brett Lancaster knows what it takes to represent the green and gold with distinction on the biggest stage of all – and he is tipping Shaw for a bright future.
“I personally started coaching Isla nearly a year ago now,” he said.
“Road cycling is a tough gig, especially the climbing side of it, if you come from a track background, but she has worked really hard this year.
“We knew we had state titles coming up and concentrated on that and especially the time trial that she won – she has improved a lot.”
Such is Shaw’s commitment to her craft that she often gets up at 5am for rides in the dark with some of her fellow cyclists, alongside fitting in training on the time trial bike, sessions on the home trainer and strength sessions on a weekly basis.
Her training during the weekends often involves driving to Euroa alongside her grandparents before hitting the peaks for 110km loops of the Strathbogie Ranges.
“We’re learning more and more about Isla and the way her body works and her feedback was that she felt ‘invincible’ on the day,” Lancaster said.
“Even if she didn’t win, she’s constantly improving and she’s getting better – that’s big as you’ve got to keep progressing and getting stronger.
“She gets those climbing metres in, along with her races in Victoria and in the rest of Australia, so it’s a massive commitment.
“She’s hitting all her targets and ticking all the boxes.”
With the national titles coming up five weeks from now on the Gold Coast, she has also been selected in the Australian team to represent her country in New Zealand for a tour.
“I realise she is still only 16 and you have got to be really careful of not pushing them over the edge, so it’s my job to make sure she’s healthy all the time,” Lancaster said.
“She has a massive drive and dedication, she doesn’t complain – her attitude is there and her physical attributes are really good too.
“The key thing is to keep her fit and healthy and enjoying it, then anything is possible.”
