There is a healthy southern presence in the New Zealand team names for the world junior track championships in Colombia in August.
Cycling New Zealand has selected a nine-strong group of promising teenagers for the event in Cali.
The eight endurance riders and one sprinter show the spread of cycling talent throughout New Zealand, with riders from Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Manawatu, Waikato and Auckland.
Half of the team won individual Oceania titles and eight of the team won medals at the Oceania or Australian championships, as well as dominating at the national meeting.
"This is an encouraging group of young riders, with five of them first-year juniors who could compete again next year," Cycling New Zealand spokesman Graeme Hunn said.
"After the disruptions with Covid, this year we have had the benefit of returning to competition across the Tasman, which has provided a solid litmus test for our riders, and also some understanding of international competition before they travel."
The only rider back from last year is Feilding’s Georgia Simpson, who competed at the junior world championships in Israel last year.
She won two medals at the Oceania championships in the points and Madison races, and joined in endurance competition with Meg Baker (Christchurch), who won four national titles, and Caitlin Kelly (Invercargill), who won two medals at the Oceanias as well as the national omnium and elimination titles.
The sole sprinter is outstanding Cambridge prospect Jodie Blackwood, who won the sprint title at the Australian championships, along with a silver at the Oceanias, in her first year at under-19 level.
The male endurance squad is headed by exciting Southland prospect Marshall Erwood, who won Oceania titles in the time trial, elimination scratch race and Madison race.
Dunedin rider James Gardner won Oceania honours in the points race and is a triple national champion in pursuit, omnium and points.
The trio of Matthew Davidson (Christchurch), Austin Norwell (Auckland) and Magnus Jamieson (Invercargill) complete the endurance team, picking up eight medals between them at the Oceania championships.
The team will be headed by lead coach Elyse Fraser, formerly of Otago, along with Andrew Williams (men’s endurance) and national assistant sprint coach Fionn Cullinane.
The group will be managed by former Olympian Rushlee Buchanan.
— Staff reporter
