Elite Series for Southland
Riding in the South Island Elite Series is an important steppingstone for cyclist Mitchel Fitzsimons.
The Southland Boys’ High School student is hoping to compete at the Junior Track World Championships in Egypt in August and the road series fits in nicely with preparations.
‘‘The Elite series is definitely one of my goals and it would be awesome to get a good result,’’ Fitzsimons said.
‘‘It’s a good challenge.’’ Fitzsimons, 17, is in the eightmember Transport Engineering Southland team, managed by Steve Keast, that will take on some of New Zealand’s best in the first round, in eastern Southland, on Sunday.
Keast said the series would be a valuable learning experience for Fitzsimons, with him riding alongside high calibre teammates, including Matt Zenovich and Fraser Hewitt.
The 141-kilometre eastern Southland circuit starts and finishes in Wyndham and takes in roads in Gorge Rd, Glenham and Seaward Downs.
‘‘It’s a challenging course, quite rolling and exposed [in places] . . . local knowledge will
‘‘It’s a challenging course, quite rolling and exposed [in places] . . . local knowledge will help.’’ Steve Keast, Southland team manager
help,’’ Keast said.
The five-round series is held this year on four circuits throughout the South Island. Keast is rapt Southland is holding a round for the first time in the event’s 15-year history.
He had been trying for three years to secure a round in Southland.
Keast said factors in gaining it included the backing from
Cycling Southland and the high number of volunteers to run it.
Southlanders Tom Scully, who has ridden twice in the Tour de France, and Corbin Strong, a gold medallist at the World Track Cycling Championships in Germany recently, have competed in the Elite Series.
It will be a busy weekend for cyclists as the 89-year-old Gore to Invercargill Classic is being held on Saturday. Some riders will back up in Elite Series on Sunday.