New Zealand junior track cycling team make return to world stage

The New Zealand team make a return to the world stage at the 2022 UCI Track Cycling Junior World Championships in Tel Aviv starting tomorrow.

It has been more than two years since New Zealand junior riders have tasted international competition, while European and Asian nations have managed to continue competition through the covid-hit environment.

Coach Elyse Fraser said the squad are excited to be back on the track world stage, but recognise that there are few expectations given the lack of competition.

“It is exciting for them to learn and take the experience forward with them for the rest of their careers. It will be good to see the flow-on effect with the knowledge they will take home to their peers and the next generation of junior riders coming through.

“The other challenge has been the health of the squad through recent months, with most dealing with illness. They appreciate that the perfect lead-in to a big competition is rare, especially in these times, but focussing on the controllable is the best way to ensure you are doing what you can to be fit and ready.”

The build-up comprised camps around Cycling New Zealand’s National Track Series in Invercargill and Cambridge.

“The final camp was an opportunity for the riders to get an insight into what high performance is and set themselves up for the racing, with cycling New Zealand doing a great job in making the team feel welcome and supported.”

The racing will be held at the Sylvan Adams National Velodrome in Tel Aviv, the lavish new facility although will offer challenges for New Zealand riders with its shape and conditions, with open sides which will factor into decisions on wheel-choice with breeze.

“It has been an interesting experience already for our young riders as Israel is a fascinating country with language barriers and the Shabbat offering an interesting and enjoy able experience.

Competition gets underway tomorrow for the 42 nations competing, starting with men’s team sprint and team pursuit, with the women’s team pursuit on day two.

“The campaign is an adventure and a learning opportunity so we want to see each team member challenging themselves, soaking up the experience and reflecting well on what they have learned and can use in the future, said Fraser. “The experience off-bike is just as rich as what they learn on the bike – there self-awareness, how they give to the group and what they are learning about themselves to make them better, well-rounded people.”

The championships run through to Saturday local time

The Cycling New Zealand team is:

Female: Georgia Simpson (Feilding), Amelia Sykes (Christchurch), Bee Townsend (Auckland).

Male: Kyle Aitkin (Cambridge), Luke Blackwood (Auckland), Liam Cavanagh (Hamilton), Joel Douglas (Auckland), Lewis Johnston (Hamilton), Jaxson Russell (Cambridge), Oliver Watson-Palmer (Queenstown), Edward Pawson (Auckland), Jaxon Whyte (Timaru).