With the New Zealand high performance team focussed on key upcoming UCI World Cup competitions offshore, the focus is on the emerging talent at the Cycling New Zealand Track Championships in Invercargill.
There are 130 riders competing across nine grades including para-cyclists along with 50 riders in Masters competition at the Southland Velodrome starting on Sunday.
Eleven of the elite riders have emerged through Cycling New Zealand teams that competed in the UCI Junior Track World Championships over the past two years – 2024 in China and last year in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
The young riders will be looking to lead the way in the chase for national titles next week, as they make their push towards the elite squads and selection for global competitions.
Riders with world championship experience include 2024 world championship riders Jodie Blackwood (Cambridge), Lucas Bhimy (Auckland), Alex Schuler (Cambridge) and local Southland riders Caitlin Kelly and Magnus Jamieson.
Last year’s junior world championship riders competing this week include Canterbury’s Jesse Thompson; Hunter Dalton from Auckland, Joshua Grieve from Auckland with Shuler a dual championship competitor. For results head to: https://www.tracknationals.nz/
