Flash keep wheels clicking over

took several down there over summer to get accustomed to riding on the steep walls of the Cambridge velodrome; previous competitive outings having all been in road racing.

“For them to have achieved what they have achieved is outstanding against such elite level riders,” Gibbs said.

The majority of the field was made up of vastly more experienced riders from Auckland and Waikato who had regular access to the Cambridge facility.

Of Wikaira’s result, Gibbssaid that even aged only 13, she was breaking into the ranks of the top 10 riders in New Zealand aged under 15.

As usual, the Far North Flash team’s neon pink uniforms and distinctive van turned heads as much as the performances and attitude of the girls themselves.

“How they competed was just unbelievable,” said Gibbs, “They did really well, made themselves, their schools and our community proud.”

Gibbs laughed at remembering how vocal his young charges were supporting their teammates during racing.

“The respect that these girls had from these other elite girls . . . They actually gravitated towards my girls, came over for a bit of chit chat. That gave me a bit of a buzz. Coming from ‘outside’, people don’t expect us to do anything, don’t expect us to achieve anything. If these girls had what they [elite riders] had, their potential would be just limitless.”

The troupe of Far North cycling enthusiasts has a couple of road trips planned for the upcoming school holidays, including the 100km Rotorua Taupo Flyer road race, followed by the national age grade road racing champs in Carterton which will also be the deepest south many of the girls have been.