Cyclist hits top gear in promising career
A young cyclist has taken the first step towards his goal of one day wearing the silver fern on his chest to represent New Zealand internationally.
Sam Cook’s cycling career already has caught a tail wind giving him the confidence he needs to take his favourite sport to an elite level.
The 15 year old lives in Cambridge but attends Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Sam tried triathlon but decided he wasn’t enjoying the swimming component.
So he decided to pursue road cycling as his preferred sport and it’s a decision which has already started to pay returns.
His achievements in his first year alone give a pointer to his strength and ability to succeed.
It included achieving third overall in the New Zealand Secondary School Individual Championships at Mount Wellington, Auckland, in September.
‘‘I was really happy with my results coming 6th in the time trials and 7th in the hill climb and just being five seconds off the winner in the time trial, and then to go onto winning the criterium,’’ Sam said.
Since then Sam, as as a mem- ber of the Hamilton Boys’ High School Senior A Time Trial Cycling Team, achieved a sixth placing at a competition in Fielding.
The next day he won second place competing in the individual road race and gained a third placing in the individual points race.
All of this gives him confidence as he looks to compete over the summer months in the Dynamo Team series consisting of six events which sees racing take place in various parts of the Waikato and includes the Cambridge Classic in January.
The first of these is the Marist Open in Hamilton on October 16.
Sam is hoping this will flow onto being able to travel to Australia to ride in one of the cycling series to gain some more experience in the New Year.
In Australia, he will be competing up a grade in the U19s.
Currently undertaking a strict training regime sees Sam clocking up 300 to 400 kilometres a week, along with a strengthening and conditioning programme.
Supporting Sam is his sponsors KBL Civil Construction and Landscaping which has been impressed with Sam’s determination to succeed in cycling and one day represent New Zealand.