NZ Schools Nationals a catalyst for improvement

Vaughn Pretorius - Paraparaumu College

Oct 11th, 11. Insights into the importance of the NZ Secondary School Championships from one of the 700 riders who raced in the Manawatu over the last three days.

In May he was dropped within 15mins in a key age group event. One week ago, 17 year old Vaughn Pretorius raced to 3rd place in the Lake Wairarapa funride against many A grade senior riders. 

The recent result was not a one off. Over winter the teen has worked hard to turn his form around - and he has won three of the six races of PNP Cycling Club's Balfour Pennington Series races, all from the break group. 

He felt he was in the best form he could be in leading into what had become his goal event, the NZ Secondary Schools Nationals.

After this weekend's championships, RoadCycling.co.nz invited him to share his story.

"Being 17 and a student at Paraparaumu College, the NZ Schools Nationals is the biggest school event in New Zealand - of course there was going to be a lot of pressure to perform.

"Getting a top placing means an opportunity to be noticed not only by peers, but by the New Zealand selectors and trade teams," he said.

Although he was keen to put some previous poor performances at this level behind him, Pretorius also acknowledged that just being able to race against schoolmates and have a good weekend was a great opportunity too. 

"At the beginning of the year I entered the U19 NZ Club Road Nationals, where most of the Secondary School boys were racing. After getting dropped from the field at the 15km mark and then getting lapped an hour later, it wasn't very fun or a motivational experience.

Sprinting (in blue) at the Lake Wairarapa funride ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"But by staying in the race and persevering I caught the eye of Greg Taylor from Wellington's WheelWorks cycling team. I talked to him after the race and I managed to get my first proper coach."

Pretorius then worked hard and raced countless club races in the Kapiti Coast and Wellington where senior riders gave him the nickname 'pocket rocket' thanks to his powerful sprint. He took onboard their tips, and enjoyed their lead outs.

"With a goal of finishing in the Top 10 at at the Schools Nationals in my head, and after four months of hard training and mental preparation, it all came down to a bunch sprint and a finish placing of 7th," he shared.

"Just being able to stay with the same riders who dropped me four months earlier was an achievement in itself. All in all, the School Nationals were a huge success this year with hard, true racing and even a good result. But is all about improvement."

Pretorius' next big event is November's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, but his main goals are 2012's age group races where he hopes to continue his improvement and look to podium finishes.

Nick Bain from MacLeans College in Auckland won the NZ Schools Nationals U20 road race 3sec ahead of William Tremlett from Saint Kentigern College, also of Auckland. Matiu Kaihua from Palmerston Boys High School placed 3rd a further 1sec back, Pretorius was 7th with the same time.