Teens set for Europe

NICK TOLERTON | 16th December 2009

Two top Christchurch teenage cyclists have won contracts with a leading Belgian team for next year.

Pursuit champs Michael Vink and Ruaraidh McLeod have both signed with Isorex for the 2010 European road season and leave in March.

"It's been in the pipeline for a while and it's awesome to know it's all confirmed," said McLeod, who has just finished at Cashmere High School. "We are super excited! It will be a great experience."

The 18-year-olds will be based near Ghent.

They've both already shown their ability on the international stage.

McLeod finished fourth in both the individual and team pursuits at the world junior track championships in Moscow in August, and Vink was in the New Zealand team that won bronze at last year's junior track worlds in South Africa.

And they had a successful short visit to France, finishing 1-2 in an under-19 selection race in a field of 140 riders.

Their coach, Terry Gyde, said the Belgian deal was a "massive opportunity" for both to fulfil their ambitions of becoming professional road cyclists.

Isorex would give them opportunities to race in Belgium and France, and to develop.

"From there we already have two solid team options in 2011 - one is to race for a top French team, and the other is to race for a continental professional team in Belgium, and we are in communication with them.

"It will depend on how well the boys progress."

Ultimately Gyde hopes they will be good enough to be taken on by Columbia, the team that Greg Henderson has ridden for for three years and Hayden Roulston recently signed for.

McLeod said they would be in Europe six months and hoped to qualify for the world senior road championships in Geelong at the end of September.

They have the elite road nationals in Christchurch from January 8 to 10 lined up before they go overseas.