Road or track? That's the burning question for many talented youngsters when they find themselves at the crossroads of their cycling careers.
Take the wrong turn and the chances are they could become roadkill.
Suffice it to say the Cycling Central Hawke's Bay pair of Regan Gough and Luke Mudgway have opted for the track soon after returning from Seoul, South Korea, as junior world champions last week.
"It's pretty easy. Obviously to develop track is the way to go forward," says Gough, of Waipukurau, who is the points-race junior world champ.
"Ultimately, road is where the money and contracts are," says the 17-year-old CHB College pupil.
Adds Mudgway: "You have to be an elite cyclist on the track rather than going out on the road because if you're not properly developed you will get smashed.
"In New Zealand, that's where the support is for the young riders," says the former Lindisfarne College pupil who clinched gold with Gough in the Maddison event in Seoul.
The Mayor of CHB Peter Butler officially welcomed the teenagers back to the district last Saturday after their accomplishments at the Junior World Champs.
The cycling club staged a welcome-home parade in Waipukurau from Kitchener St into Ruataniwha St up to the roundabout before worming its way back to the starting point where the mayor presented the champions with the key to the district.
Gough, Mudgway, Nick Kergozou and Jack Ford also stood on the podium in Seoul for bronze in team pursuit.
Gough, who Ivar Hopman of Hastings coaches, added a silver to his spoils in the 4000m individual pursuit.
"It was awesome. It was a good crowd and I don't know a lot of people there but it was awesome to see them there," says Gough, pleased the rain held off for about 45 minutes although it was "pretty cold".
The podium experience in Seoul has left an indelible mark.
"It was pretty incredible to carry the New Zealand flag, hear the national anthem and to see our flag fly higher than anyone else."
Mudgway, who lives in Palmerston North with mother Juliet Chrystall and sister Kelsey, 19, credits father John, of Waipukurau, for his steely constitution.
"He was a runner, too, and a national champion but didn't make the cut to the Commonwealth Games."
Rod Gough, the father of Olympian Westley Gough, was Mudgway's first coach but after two years recommended him to a more qualified coach.
Blair Taylor, of Cambridge, coaches Mudgway who sees a cycling career as one shot while he has a whole life to attend university or find a job after graduating from Palmerston North Boys' High School this year.
"I'll be racing back and forth overseas [mostly Europe and Australia] to develop as a rider and become stronger."
Regan Gough and Mudgway are on the cusp of realising their childhood dream, on the arduous journey to making the cuts for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
They will compete in the 58th SBS Bank Tour of Southland in Invercargill and Queenstown from November 2-8 in a field of 20 six-man teams.
"It's the first year I've become eligible so it's pretty exciting," says Gough, who will ride with the H&J Outdoor World team.
"It's a young team so there's not much pressure on us to perform," he says, enjoying his three-week break now.
Mudgway will huff and puff with the Barrie Stewart Builders team whose members are predominantly Kiwis based overseas.
Michael Torckler is their team leader and the bay's Josh Page is an organiser.
"It'll be an incredible first year but it won't be easy for the both of us [Gough] so we'll learn a hell of a lot," says Mudgway.