Mountain Biking: Taylor hopeful of pro future after joining National Performance Hub (+video)

Young Rotorua rider Taylor Johnston is aiming for a professional future in mountain biking after being targeted by Cycling New Zealand.

Johnston, 17, was chosen by the national cycling body last month as one of 13 initial riders to join Mountain Bike National Performance Hub in Rotorua.

It is one of a potential eight hubs that underpin Cycling New Zealand's strategy to foster and grow young cycling talent, and increase the quantity and quality of riders feeding into the National High Performance Programme.

Johnston, a Year 12 Western Heights High School student, said his selection came as a "big shock". He is now focused on competing on the international circuit.

"It's such an exciting time to be involved in riding in Rotorua and to be selected is an achievement which I had worked towards.

"I feel very proud but now the hard work starts. The new hub is set up to help us younger riders get to the international cycling circuit and compete."

The initial intake for the hub was selected after a training camp at the campus of major hub sponsor, Toi Ohomai (formerly Waiariki/BOP Polytechnic) in October.

Hub coach Sam Thompson said the initial group would come into Rotorua on a regular basis for training camps and also receive training programmes for both on and off the bike, sports science and nutrition.

"This is a great pathway and for me living in Rotorua it means that with regular training camps riding with rivals and training alongside faster riders it will definitely help me improve quickly," said Johnston.

"Rotorua also has a larger network of trails which gives the riders a training facility which provides everything for the riders to train and develop."

Mountain biking is very much a family affair for Johnston with older sister Amber, 21 and brother Nathan, 19, both competing at past World Championships and younger brother Connor, 15 also taking part in the sport.

"I grew up around bikes," Johnston said. "It's what our family does. I first took interest in riding at a young age through watching my father and siblings because they all loved it."

Johnston trains up to 20 hours a week - mostly in the Whakawerawera forest but only started competing competitively three years ago.

The talented rider has already finished second in the under-19 New Zealand National cup series and in the top four at the under-19 Oceania and National championships.

The Rotorua racing member's most recent success was winning the Huka Steamer 60km division at the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge at the end of November, with Connor finishing second.

For the near future Johnston is aiming for success at junior World Series overseas events with an end goal to become a professional rider.

"I want to continue making my mark at junior level - with a lot more events abroad, I really want to compete in Australia more and make it over to Switzerland," he said.

"My long term [goal] is to make a career out of cycling. It really would be a dream and something that I am working hard to achieve."

Mountain Bike National Performance Hub - Rotorua (initial squad):

Cross-Country, under-23: Gareth Cannon (Woodville), Ben Oliver (Rangiora), Craig Oliver (Rangiora).

Under-19: Eden Cruise (Wellington), Taylor Johnston (Rotorua), Jessica Manchester (Auckland), Phoebe Young (Wanaka), Jack Wilson (Tauranga).

Downhill, under-19: Charlie Makea (Napier), Billy Meaclem (Christchurch), Josh Oxenham (Auckland), Shania Rawson (Tauranga), Sam Robbie (Queenstown).

Further riders will be added to the hub at a later date.