Sam Cook enjoys success in International Cycling Circuits

I just thought I would update you on how I am going overseas.  I raced Tour de l'Abitibi (Junior Nations Cup) in mid-July. My goal was a Top 10 on the general classification and a podium. I am very proud to report that I finished 4th overall just 2 seconds behind 3rd and 22 seconds behind 1st after 650km of racing in 6 days. I also placed 2nd on Stage 2 and 1st on Stage 6! This was a breakthrough race for me and I can't really believe I smashed my goals like that on the world stage against teams such as the USA and France.

I then had a small trip to NYC and have just raced Tour de la Matapedia which is an elite race. I placed 6th overall here, 3rd Under 23 and placed 2nd on Stage 1. 

I have now been officially selected as part of a 3 man team to represent New Zealand at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria late next month. This again was a goal I had set at the beginning of the year and it really is crazy to think that I have actually achieved it. It is something that every upcoming road cyclist dreams of and I am very grateful to be given this opportunity. 

I am now training at the Canadian National Cycling Centre in Bromont, Quebec with some of the Quebec riders. My final race in North America is Green Mountain Stage race in 2 weeks time in Vermont. I will then fly to Belgium on the 6th of September where I will complete my final preparations for worlds before travelling to Innsbruck on the 22nd. 

This, however, means I will not be back to school until the first day of Term 4. I have been keeping up with my school work over here. And believe it or not, I look forward to getting home, putting my bike down for a while, and focusing on my school and study before exams.

Thank you so much to Mrs Hassall and to HBHS for supporting my co-curricular goals alongside my academic goals this year. It has allowed me to achieve in both my sport and academics and has also allowed me to find a great balance between the two.

I have attached a couple of photos of me winning Stage 6 where the national anthem of New Zealand was played! What an honour. It gave me goosebumps.

This link is to the small movie that was made from my stage win:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6WgSWV2P0&authuser=1

We thank Sam for letting us know how well he has been getting on, and we will follow his progress as he builds towards the World Championships.  We very much look forward to celebrating his success when he returns in Term 4.

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