Young road racers hit streets for tour
A record number of young cyclists will be hitting the streets of Invercargill today as they take part in the the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland.
About 130 riders from around the country are taking part in the threeday long event, which kicked off yesterday with the first stage beginning at Teretonga raceway.
The teenagers, between the ages of 13 and 19, will compete in six stages throughout the event, including an inner-city circuit from 8.30am tomorrow.
The competitors will race around Tay, Clyde, Forth and Nith streets as part of the fifth stage.
Tour director Danielle Ralph said the inner-city race was an exciting and popular part of the tour.
‘‘The riders get to show off their skills and speed right in the centre of town.’’
Cycling Southland general manager Mark Hotton said the junior tour was a great chance for young riders to get the experience of competition while having a supportive environment.
Hotton said it was about getting ‘‘an experience like this where they can ride against people their own size and ability’’.
Many of the country’s cycling talents have been involved in the junior tour throughout the years, including the likes of Eddy Dawkins – to the 2017 winner of the Tour of California George Bennett.
The junior tour is in its 35th year and has had a spike in entries for this year’s racing, last year having 97 entrants.
‘‘We’re seeing bigger numbers in cycling. There’s been a real focus on development in road cycling in the past two or three years,’’ Hotton said.
Ralph said the format had changed for some age categories, the under-13 age group in particular.
‘‘The U13 division is usually combined but because of the larger numbers, we’ve had to split it into boys and girls grades.’’
The rise in young cyclists had been noticed at local Saturday rides and the numbers of those attending had risen tenfold in three years.
Hotton said he still had concerns about the development of cycling.
‘‘There’s a real fear about bikes. There’s a fear that roads are more dangerous, but if more kids rode to school there would be fewer cars on the road [from parents] to make it safer.’’
Stage two Saturday:
Sunday:
Stage six:
‘‘The riders get to show off their skills and speed right in the centre of town.’’ Tour director Danielle Ralph