‘First of many’: Junior star ready for next step at cycling world champs

One of Launceston cyclist Hamish McKenzie’s closest coaching confidantes says his looming road world championships campaign will be the “first of many” for the teenager.

Launceston’s Hamish McKenzie, pictured after winning silver at last year’s junior world championships, has been chosen in Australia’s under-23 team for this year’s world champs. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

AusCyling state manager Phil Leslie says Hamish McKenzie’s selection for the cycling world championships is ‘the first of many’, as Tasmania’s star crop of youngsters continue to impress.

Still just 18, Launceston product McKenzie is the youngest rider chosen in a five-man under-23 Australian team to race in the road events at Glasgow in August.

It continues a boom period for the state’s young talent, with Hobart’s Felicity Wilson-Haffenden selected to represent her country at both the junior road and track world championship events later this year.

Launceston’s Sam McKee has also been chosen for the junior track world championships as well as the Commonwealth Youth Games.

McKenzie won time trial silver at last year’s junior world championships in Wollongong, after earlier securing the under-19 time trial and criterium double at the nationals in Ballarat.

Leslie believes McKenzie’s under-23s selection is designed to help him dip the toe in the water at the next level, and learn off the team’s more experienced riders.

Australia's Hamish McKenzie heads to the silver medal in the men junior individual time trial at last year’s junior road world championships. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

“He’ll have a team role, for sure. What that is would be internal, but being a young age it’s no pressure at all,” Leslie said.

“Just go and learn, enjoy the experience.

“He’s already a world class athlete, a silver medalist at the junior worlds in the time trial. Those medals aren’t handed out, you have to work for those, and his work ethic is right up there.

“It’s not an easy team to get into. Hamish is going away to learn a lot, and for him it will be one of many.”

Leslie is rapt at the impact the state’s junior talent is making on the world stage.

“Tasmania always produces high level cyclists across all the disciplines, and it’s really nice to see this next generation coming through,” he said.

“It’s a very strong generation. We’ve always been blessed with strong cycling foundations, that’s a lot down to the strength of the clubs supporting these young riders.

There’s good mountain biking depth as well, and the reigning national champion is Sam Fox.

“Proportionately for our population, repeatedly sending away world class juniors through to elite juniors is something to be very proud of as a state.”