06.09.12

Junior Worlds wrap up - After what has been a long, exciting and intense 2 months of build up to the Juniors track world champs I am now home for more than 5 days...

After what has been a long, exciting and intense 2 months of build up to the Juniors track world champs I am now home for more than 5 days for the first time since June and am reflecting on what was one pretty memorable experience.

The endurance team had an amazing near month in Trexler town in the United States. Then we came home to be back in a full team camp down in Invercargill for our final team build up to the Juniors world track champs. We had the support of a huge management team and were only getting quicker as the days went on. Team and race selections were made on the Thursday before racing and I had quite a mixture of emotions when I found out what I would be riding. My main goal was to be in the teams pursuit team and sadly I didn't make the cut to be in the team because I wasn't coming on as quickly as the other girls were and with 5 girls going for 3 spots there was always going to be 2 who missed out.

I was really gutted to be told this because its always hard hearing that you cant do what you had set your sights on doing, but on the other hand I was lucky enough to be selected to ride the individual 2km pursuit which was the other race I really wanted to do. After shedding a few tears of disappointment and nerves I quickly realized that the opportunity to race my favorite race at a junior worlds for the second year was something I was really proud of and it meant that all I had to do was focus on myself. Racing all started on Wednesday the 22nd and that was the Teams Pursuit day so when the girls were all on their taper and bringing their freshness levels up I was training my guts out still to make sure I was as fit as I could be in the day of racing.

Sunday seemed to take its time to come around but when the day finally arrived I was feeling super ready to get on my bike and race. Training had been going well and the track was feeling quick and hot. I had a huge support crew behind me and I was feeling quite nervous and hit the first km of the race at a pace which was quite a bit quicker than what I was able to hold for the whole race so although I did a PB time for the year I didn't go under the 2min30second mark which is what I was aiming to do and i did a 2min31second which put me in eighth place (exactly the same as last year). Being part of the most successful junior worlds team that NZ has had is something that I feel very lucky to be a part of and I am so proud of every one in the team for what they have achieved.

I'm sorry I couldn't bring home any gold silver or bronze wear home around my neck again this year its been one tough year. I can honestly say that it has made me even more hungry to have the rainbows around my neck so lets hope it can be done at a senior level this time! And thank you so much to everyone who helped support me and get me to the champs especially My parents, my coach and my sponsor Avanti Bikes, and everyone who contributed to getting me to this trip. I couldn't have these opportunities without you.

AVANTI RIDERS