Liam Edwards

The decision to ditch boots for cleats paid dividends as Edwards was soon invited to join the Victorian junior state cycling team — an achievement that has landed him in the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame a decade later.

Edwards is one of six inductees into the Junior Sports Hall of Fame in 2025, with the now-25-year-old’s achievements on two wheels thoroughly deserving of a spot among the region’s long list of elite junior athletes.

His interest in cycling began when Edwards tagged along with his father Travis to the Shepparton Velodrome.

“I started (cycling) in about 2008, I came down to the velodrome and dad was renewing his racing licence and I thought I would give it a go,” Edwards said.

“At the time, dad was starting to race in triathlons and competitive cycling.

“I got more serious around 2012. At the time I was doing footy and then gave it up around 2014-15 to focus on cycling fully.

“The goal was to make the state team and race at the highest level.”

That aim was quickly achieved as Edwards’ ability on the bike shone through and he was selected in the Victorian junior team.

On Edwards’ side was the fact that the 2015 Junior National Championships were held in his home town of Shepparton.

Knowing the area like the back of his handlebars, Edwards said it was incredible to don the state’s navy blue and white on a national stage.

“Was a pretty special moment to pull on the big V and represent Victoria,” he said.

“It was pretty special being in the home town out at Dookie; it was awesome.

“I started moving up to the higher end of the age groups in 2017 and had a really good year where I got second in the nationals and I got top five or top 10 in the Oceanias, and then bit unlucky to not make the Aussie team, but it is what it is.

“I made the National Road Series team in 2018 and that was awesome, racing against guys you see on TV and some of the best domestic, if not the best in the world, for Australia that is.

“In 2019, went over to a tour of New Zealand and that was a great experience seeing riders who are now in the Tour De France.

“I made a few top 20s, and I think I was top five, or I was up there in the young riders classification.”

Edwards’ steep trajectory had him on track to turn cycling into his profession as he graduated from the junior ranks.

However, a shocking car crash on the eve of his 20th birthday in 2019 saw him barely escape with his life and lose four fingers from his right hand.

The injury set Edwards on a course different to the one he had meticulously planned during his fast-paced junior career.

“I was going into my last year of under-23s (when the crash occurred),” he said.

“I had a French team lined up in 2020 to go over for like a div two team to try and make the world tour.

“I had a pretty good year in 2019, I won the Victoria under-23 state titles and I think I got second in the overall in the men’s.

“I had two or three months off after the crash and didn’t know the extent of the hand injury and if I would ever ride again.”

While the accident sent Edwards’ life into a momentary tailspin, he said he soon decided to work tirelessly to get back on the bike.

An opportunity to compete in the National Road Championships Para C5 event in Ballarat in 2020 presented Edwards with a chance to hunt for the top podium spot once again.

“I knew I was going to do everything in my power to come back; if I could race that was another story,” he said.

“I pretty much had to start from ground zero with a lot of the medication I was on, it was pretty full on.

“I made it into the C5 classification and it was awesome to get a result after a couple of months of not knowing anything and thinking my world is going to change forever.

“It was awesome to get back on the bike in general.”

To achieve what Edwards did during his junior career, a glut of hours was spent each week on his bike as a child.

Missing birthday parties, holidays, time with friends and family and dismissing all other hobbies and interests is the story for most child sporting prodigies and one that Edwards resonates with.

Reflecting on his time trying to prove himself as one of the best junior riders in the country, Edwards said he felt immense pride knowing how hard he worked to achieve what he did.

“The training load was anywhere from 500-700km per week and in excess of two to three hours per day,” he said.

“Everything you do from your sleeping to your recovery to your eating is all towards your training and cycling.

“That was full on through juniors.”

Edwards’ time on two wheels has taken him all around Australia and across the way to New Zealand.

Looking back across his cycling journey — which continues as he prepares to compete in long-distance races such as the Melbourne to Warrnambool — Edwards said it felt special to be recognised in the GSSHOF among his Shepparton cycling idols.

“To be inducted or even be chosen, it is real special," he said.

“To see riders on the boards like Brett Lancaster and Stephen Fairless is pretty special really.

“I’m still connected and ride with a lot of the guys in the morning bunches, they have been awesome through my junior ranks, especially Stephen Fairless.

“He took me under his wing and I did a lot of training sessions with him and he is a very hard trainer, so a lot of the tenacity and training in general, I have got from him.”