Silver Fern too expensive to wear
Cyclist Sam Cook would love to be on the New Zealand team competing at the Tour de l’Abitibi in Canada.
But the high costs involved in being part of the Kiwi outfit prompted the Cambridge cyclist to accept an opportunity to join the Montreal-based Stingray Elite Racing Team.
It means he will compete against his New Zealand team mates at the international event in July.
The 16-year-old said New Zealand cyclists were expected to pay all costs associated with an event like the one in Canada up front.
‘‘Travel is just one cost, but there’s associated costs with accommodation and a shared arrangement with team members for coaching staff, all comes from team members.’’
The Canadian team approached Cycling New Zealand, requesting a class rider for the Stingray team. Sam’s New Zealand coach John Rippon put the Canadians in touch.
‘‘Financially this is a better option as the costs are lower but I am more than happy to be com- peting,’’ he said.
Departing New Zealand July 9, Sam will be expected to recover quickly from any jet lag as he will be straight into competition, just two days later.
First up will be a criterium in Montreal and then a drive to l’Abititi to start the seven day cycling tour mid July. He will then return to Montreal for another Criterium before heading home.
In October, Sam said his goal was to wear the Silver Fern which he had achieved several times this year.
This year the teen, now into his second year of road cycling, was a member of the New Zealand U17 Development Team which competed in the national series over the summer.
In May as part of the New Zealand U19 team he competed in the 2017 Mersey Valley Tour in Tasmania.
‘‘The Australians used this tour to select their national team so we were competing against their top riders,’’ he said.
Sam’s Cambridge coach Logan Griffin said he is constantly improving ans is excited to see what he achieves and how he improves his skills in Canada.