SCOTT DONALDSON <\/p>\n
Last updated12:40, March 1 2017 <\/p>\n
John Hawkins\/Fairfax NZ <\/p>\n
Sam Miller of Invercargill, is in the NZ U19 cycling team to ride in Australia. <\/p>\n
New Zealand under-19 cyclist Sam Miller is looking forward to testing himselfatthe 2017 Oceania Road Championships in Canberra. <\/p>\n
The Southland rider is attending the event as part of a 12-strong New Zealand under-19 squad. <\/p>\n
He previously enjoyed a taste of the Oceania Road Cycling Championships in theunder-17 event, along with the experience ofthe Oceania Track Cycling Championships, which have given him an idea of what to expect. <\/p>\n
EUGENE BONTHUYS\/SUPPLIED <\/p>\n
Southland rider Sam Miller on his way to finishing second in the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland. <\/p>\n
\"When I went over to the Oceania Track Champs it was like completely different racing to over here, a lot more aggressive and faster, so I am expecting a similar thing for the road,\" he said. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Promising southern cyclists named in Southern Performance Hub intake <\/p>\n
For Miller, the Oceania Champs includes a 25km time trial on Thursday March 9, followed by a 120km road race on Saturday March 11. <\/p>\n
\"It is a one off event, the race will be quite long, just two one off races and you get medals at the end of it,\" he said. <\/p>\n
While the 18-year-old picked up gold medals in the team sprint and team pursuit, along with a bronze medal in the points race at the 2017 NZ Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill, he prefers hitting the road. <\/p>\n
\"I find it more interesting biking around different places and up hills as opposed to around a velodrome.,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"I do quite like the speed of the velodrome though I guess.\" <\/p>\n
The architect puts his selection down to some promising performances over the last 18 months. <\/p>\n
\"They have a Calder Stewart series and we had a development team in that for the last few rounds of last year and I got a couple of good placings there because it was up against elite riders, I placed quite well in comparison to them I guess,\" he said. <\/p>\n
The Invercargill-based rider has plenty of goals in his second year as an under-19 rider. <\/p>\n
\"For track I am aiming for Junior Worlds this year, but that is up to selectors now,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"For the road it is to keep participating in these tours, and eventuallytowards the end of under-19, get picked for pro teams overseas or here and hopefully opportunities will come.\" <\/p>\n
He is also looking forward to his first chance to ride in the Tour of Southland, after finishing on the podium in last year's Yunca Junior Tour of Southland. <\/p>\n
\"I haven't been old enough, I am excited because I get to ride it this year,\" he said. <\/p>\n
-Stuff <\/p>\n
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Read the rest here: <\/p>\n
New Zealand cyclist Sam Miller looking forward to aggressive racing ... - Stuff.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SCOTT DONALDSON Last updated12:40, March 1 2017 John Hawkins\/Fairfax NZ Sam Miller of Invercargill, is in the NZ U19 cycling team to ride in Australia. New Zealand under-19 cyclist Sam Miller is looking forward to testing himselfatthe 2017 Oceania Road Championships in Canberra. The Southland rider is attending the event as part of a 12-strong New Zealand under-19 squad. Continue reading