FOLLOWING in the footsteps of world champion cyclist Steph Morton - it might seem like a big challenge but that's what is planned is for Bathurst duo Kalinda Robinson and Tyler Puzicha.
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The Bathurst Cycling Club and Western Region Academy of Sport squad riders have been selected to take part in Cycling Australia's emerging riders program for 2020-21.
It is a program designed to develop and prepare riders to not only represent Australia at a senior level in the future, but be podium contenders as well.
Bathurst Cycling Club and WRAS coach Marian Renshaw said it is an exciting step for the pair.
"They've been performing for quite a while ... so it's a nice end result for them to get into the high performance squad, but in saying that, they still have quiet a number of years ahead of them before they reach their full potential. It's a slow pathway," she said.
"Kalinda and Tyler, basically they'll take over from where Steph Morton and the others are at now. In the scheme of things they have athletes coming up through the ranks to take over from the other ones, so it's quite good."
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The Bathurst duo were selected based on a number of criteria including performances, testing data plus demonstrated hunger and ambition over the 2019 and 2020 period.
They join fellow WRAS squad members Dylan and Kurt Eather and Danny Barber in being New South Wales Institute of Sport representatives as part of the program.
"It's a great result, once again that's the aim of WRAS especially, to get the children into the elite performance squads. So it will hopefully be a big year if things come about," Renshaw said.
"Basically Kalinda and Tyler have a great grooming as far as WRAS goes because they do know what is expected and they have been able to train with the elite NSWIS squad down at Dunc Gray, they have both been under Sean Eadie down there training.
"They do have a good insight as to what is expected, so hopefully they can go on."
Both riders were selected for their efforts in the sprint discipline, with the program a vital part of helping them transition from the junior ranks to competing alongside Australia's elite females.
"Kalinda is a year ahead of Tyler, but this year they'll go head-to-head against each other as they'll both be in 19s," Renshaw said.
"Kalinda still has options as far as the endurance side of things ... Kalinda is very fortunate in that way where she can do both because once they get out of 19s, women go straight into the elite ranks and there is quite a massive gap.
"You are looking at least a three-year gap for the under 19s to the elite world of cycling they need to make up, so if you are endurance as well it does come out a little bit better."
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Former BCC member and WRAS graduate Emily Watts has also been named in the emerging athletes squad as one of its endurance riders.
She said she was "psyched" and "humbled" to receive news of her inclusion.
"This is another step in the right direction for me and everyone that has been a part of my journey," she said. "I plan on taking full advantage of this opportunity, let's get to work."
