Youngsters take on the world
Manawatu duo on track for success
"I'm excited because it's always fun. It's going to be a hard few weeks, but it will be beneficial." Emily Shearman
Emily Sherman and Libby Arbuckle will be hoping to continue Manawatu’s good run at the UCI world junior track cycling championships.
The young endurance riders are in the New Zealand team heading to Montichiari, Italy for the world championships next month, the fourth year in a row Manawatu riders have been in the world championships team.
It is the first trip for Arbuckle, 17, but 18-year-old Shearman won a silver medal with the team pursuit team in Aigle, Switzerland last year.
Recently there has been Kate Stewart (2014), Jordan Castle (2014), Luke Mudgway (2014) Campbell Stewart (2015 and 2016), Michaela Drummond (2015 and 2016) and Shearman (2016), not to mention former Olympic cyclists Jesse Sergent (2005 and 2006) and Simon van Velthooven (2006).
Stewart won three gold medal and two silvers during his time, Drummond won two silvers and a gold and Mudgway won a gold and a bronze.
Riders aren’t told what events they will be riding until they arrive, but Shearman is likely to ride the team pursuit again in her second year at the event.
‘‘I’m relaxed in some ways,’’ Shearman said. ‘‘I also know what’s coming.
‘‘I’m excited because it’s always fun. But it’s going to be a hard few weeks, but it will be beneficial and I’m hopeful everyone goes well.’’
Shearman’s silver-medalwinning team-mates Ellesse Andrews (Cambridge), Nicole Shields (Clyde) and Kate Smith (Christchurch) are all back again
Because it’s road season they haven’t been had much competition on the track lately and have mainly been going to New Zealand training camps.
Arbuckle has been doing a bit of road racing lately, including the North Island secondary schools championships, where she won the road race and was second in the criterium. She felt her form was still improving.
‘‘I’ve still got a little bit to go before we head over to Italy. It will happen while we’re in camp.’’
She said she wasn’t nervous yet, but was excited to get over there.
Arbuckle is in her last year at Palmerston North Girls’ High School, while her former schoolmate Shearman has been studying part time at Massey University.
Shearman may move to Cambridge next year depending on what happens with the elite squad. She said she has been long listed for the Commonwealth Games next year, so she is hoping for a good junior world championships and then get a chance to ride at a senior world cup.
Arbuckle isn’t sure what she is doing post school, but could follow a similar path to Shearman.
They are heading to the International Track Series in Melbourne this weekend, then will be based at the national track cycling hub at Cambridge before they head to Europe.
The junior world championships were originally meant to be in China, but were shifted to Italy because it clashed with large event in China.
Levin rider Thomas Garbett, 17, was also selected to go to the event, but he pulled out once the host country changed due to cost.
It is his first year of eligibility, so he will be available for selection for next year in Switzerland.
The sprinter moved to Cambridge this year to be based at the national hub and is now going to Cambridge High School.
He will also ride the ITS meeting in Melbourne.