They’re Indy Deavoll, 16, and Rory Meek, 18 — pictured left — who then head to France for the first junior world cup of the year in Loudenvielle a week afterwards.
The UCI Oceania Continental Series, comprising five races in New Zealand and Australia, is a new feeder series into world cups — by winning, it allows Indy and Rory options to race in all the world cups next year, as well as golden ticket entries this year for results in individual rounds.
This year will be Indy’s first experience at junior world cup level, while Rory also competed last year but was hampered by a shoulder injury and mechanical issues.
The pair also enjoyed success at the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships at Queenstown’s Coronet Peak in March. Indy was the fastest downhill women’s rider in the elite division as well as junior level, and Rory was second fastest overall.
They were also fastest female and male at the local Coro 1200 race in March.
