One of the country’s most promising young riders, Finn Fisher-Black will join the new academy established by the Dutch-based World Tour team, Jumbo-Visma.

The Nelson 17-year-old, who broke the junior world individual pursuit record on the track this year, is the only non-Dutch rider to be named in the first intake to the new Academy team which begins in 2020.

After a successful Oceania campaign where he won the under-19 time trial and road race double, Fisher-Black joined Dutch amateur team Willebrord Wil Vooruit and recently won a two-day race in Great Britain.

He joins the first academy team for Jumbo-Visma, who have Kiwi and fellow Nelsonian George Bennett on their World Tour team.

The academy is part of a new initiative that aims to get more young people involved in cycling ánd to develop talent into a successful professional cyclist. The plan includes school projects, club support and the new development team for emerging road and cyclocross riders.

Fisher-Black is one of an initial seven riders named with a further five to join them, led by former German road race champion Robert Wagner with the ambassador role to be taken up by exciting young prospect and three-time cyclocross world champion Wout van Aert.

Fisher-Black returns to New Zealand next month to complete final preparations for August’s Junior Track World Championships in Europe.

CAPTION: Finn Fisher-Black wears his national champion kit on the way to winning the under-19 men's time trial at the 2019 Oceania Road Championships in Tasmania. (Photo credit: Caitlin Johnston).