International rider for top Southland track cyclists

International assignments are next on the agenda for Southland track cyclists Caitlin Kelly, Marshall Erwood and Magnus Jamieson.

The three SBS Bank Academy Southland riders were all members of the New Zealand junior world championships team earlier this year.

Caitlin, a bronze medallist in the keirin at the junior world championships, is heading to Australia for the Austral Wheel Race in Melbourne on December 15 and 16.

The Austral Race, first staged in 1887, is thought to be one of the longest-running track cycling events in the world and past winners feature legends of Australian cycling including Anna Meares, Shane Perkins, Cameron Meyer, Leigh Howard and Jack Bobridge.

Caitlin was in good form at the recent Southland championships, winning the keirin and 500m time trial, along with a silver in the sprint. She’ll take part in the sprint events in Australia.

Magnus will also be heading across the Tasman to compete in Melbourne at the national madison and omnium championships.

He’ll race in the elite grade for the madison and under 19s for the omnium.

The Southland championships saw him win the under 19 1000m time trial and finish second overall, third in the elite scratch race, followed by wins in the 3000m individual pursuit and elimination races. He was the top qualifier and winner in the keirin and finished as the top under 19 rider, and fourth overall, in the points race.

“In the first couple of months of 2024 I will be racing at the Oceania track cycling championships and then the New Zealand track cycling championships. These races will be a great opportunity to race the best of the cyclists from around the country and across Australia.”

Marshall has swapped the SIT Velodrome at the Southland championships for the Cambridge velodrome and his first New Zealand Grand Prix starting on Saturday.

“For me, Southland champs was great, it was also good to get back on the track after having a bit of time off since worlds and then spending most of my time training for the Tour of Southland,” he said.

“But coming off the tour and having a bit of time off I didn’t expect anything - hitting some pretty quick times and smashing pbs was a surprise. It has given me some targets to aim for at nationals and Oceania’s coming up next year.”

Marshall will return from Cambridge in time for a team camp in Central Otago and then travels to Australia for more racing ahead of an exciting programme in 2024.

“Next year is pretty packed. I’m studying at SIT and travelling over to America for an amazing racing opportunity with my team MitoQ New Zealand cycling project,” he said.