Lone Kiwi is taking on the world's best

May 28th, 10.  She's the only Kiwi racing the UCI Junior World Road Championships and 18 year old Ashleigh Neave is heading to Europe to give herself the best possible buildup.

The UCI Junior World Road Championships are being held in Offida, Italy on August 5-8.  Neave is racing both disciplines, the road race and her speciality, the time trial.

With just over two months until race day, Neave and her coach, Kiwi based European Ivar Hopman, have developed a plan to get Neave in the best form for the Worlds where they, and the NZ selectors, have high hopes for the Napier teenager.

New Zealand hasn't sent any rider to these championships for a number of years making Neave's nomination impressive.

"Ashleigh has been on the competitive landscape for the last few years and has made a real impact in the Junior Women's racing scene," BikeNZ Junior Selector Hamish Ferguson told RoadCycling.co.nz.

"She displays a gutsy 'from the front' style of racing that will make her competitive in Europe. Her real strengths are in her time trial ability and this is where we are expecting a Top 6 performance in the time trial at Junior Worlds in Italy. This was the criteria for her nomination to the event."

"The Bike NZ Road & Track Development Team wish her and Ivar the best of luck for her preparation, top performances in Italy, and to come back to New Zealand and use the experience gained to make the transition into Elite Women's racing," Ferguson said.

Neave is aiming to be at the very top of Elite Women's racing.  The NZ U19 Time Trial Champion has her goals firmly set on the Olympic Games in London 2012.

Hopman believes international racing is a key component towards achieving this end goal.  "Coach", as Neave calls Hopman, knows the European scene well.  He raced there himself when he was a competitive cyclist.

Hopman and Neave currently work together up to 15 hours a week whether cycling, weight lifting, stretching or working intervals on the indoor trainer. The emphasis is on an holistic approach, therefore the regime also incorporates testing, massage, nutrition and sport psychology.

Together the two have developed a six week plan to prepare for the Worlds.  After racing the Women's U19 Tour of Canberra in Australia at the beginning of July, they will be based in Belgium where they have secured starts in local races.  

Neave's good friend and training partner, 19 year old Jeremy Stephens, is going to Europe to train and race at the same time.  As well as racing, Stephens, Neave and Hopman are also traveling across Europe to visit and train on the Worlds' course in Italy - their trip just happens to cross paths with a stage of the Tour de France which will no doubt add to the general motivation!

Neave has never raced in Europe before but told RoadCycling.co.nz she's, "Looking forward to a peloton full of aggressive girls."

She's used to a bit of aggression. Neave likes to challenge herself by racing with the B Grade men at her local club, Ramblers.

"I am competitive and motivated by the B Grade guys at Ramblers. I have to train hard so that after the flats I can put them back in their place up the hills!" Neave said when asked about her motivation.

"The harder you train, the harder you can race. Some days you wonder why you didn't become passionate about piano or something, but you do it coz you can," she said.

And she can.  Neave has amassed an impressive list of results this year already.   She's won three U19 Women's tours and stood on the final podium of two Open Women's tours.  She's also the Hawkes Bay and NZ U19 Women's Time Trial Champion.

The last word goes to Neave, "If anyone wants to get rid of some cash, all contributions towards my fundraising efforts are gratefully received. If 12,000 people each gave me a dollar I'd be there - any ASB Bank branch, account is called 'Road to Gold'."

Photos provided.