Over the weekend of July 6-7, eight students represented St Paul’s at the North Island Schools Cycling Championships.

Based at Lake Karapiro, the event attracted over 600 riders who competed in three races - a team time trial, a road race and a criterium. 

On Saturday morning, Riley Wills (Year 10), Toby Finlayson (Year 11), Oliver Galpin and Jackson Dwyer (both Year 9) formed an under-16 team time trial squad with Thomas McAdams, Lachlan Coleman (both Year 12), Oliver Larcombe and Isaac Reay (both Year 11) riding as an under-20 team.

Both teams rode well and gained valuable experience for future racing.

In the afternoon, students competed in the individual road race. Oliver Galpin rode 36km in the under-15 race. Riley Wills, returning from Tihoi, had a 45km race in the under-16 age group race. Just returning to road cycling he did well to come 27th, with Isaac Reay and Toby Finlayson also competing in the same race.

Thomas McAdams and Oliver Larcombe had a 55km race in the under-17 age group, with Thomas placing 10th and Oliver 16th. Both rode exceptionally well to finish in the leading group in a Tour de France-like mass finish with just two seconds separating the fourth placegetter from the 24th .

On Sunday, the riders took part in a criterium where they sprint around a 1.6km tight winding course over multiple laps, often riding shoulder to shoulder and cornering at speeds that the lead car struggles with. Oliver Galpin, Riley Wills, Isaac Reay and Thomas McAdams all rode well, finishing their races strong and gaining valuable experience for the upcoming national events.