Cycling: Schoolgirl lines up for the big three

Rebecca Spence is confronting a big challenge. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Rebecca Spence has never baulked at a challenge, but even she must be wondering whether she has bitten off too much in being selected in the New Zealand team for the junior world cycling championships in Belgium.

On their own, the championship time trial and the individual road race would be manageable for the super-talented 17-year-old.

But it becomes a lot more of a venture into the unknown with those championships book-ended by the world duathlon and world triathlon championships in which she will start as the favourite.

"It [the cycling] is a challenge for sure," said Spence. "But a good one. I've always wanted to do it."

While she was good enough to win the Auckland intermediate schools cycling championships a few years ago, she turned to multisport from a running and swimming background.

"I haven't counted myself as a cyclist, but when the chance came along for me to try out for the team, I thought why not."

Backed with "absolutely no training", Spence headed to Australia for a three-day race. She surprised herself first up when she was just 2s slower in the 16km time trial than fellow-New Zealander Rushlee Buchanan, who had won silver at the junior world track championships.

Surprised by that, Spence further amazed those around her when she finished the tour's longest stage - "90km all uphill" - with the front bunch.

That was followed by a hair-raising descent.

"I got up to 100km/h, which is the fastest I have gone," said Spence. "It was scary, but I descended quite well. It was a case of hold on or be dropped. I held on."

She continued to impress. Her selection was certain.

But before she puts her new bike on the start line in Belgium, she must defend her world junior duathlon title in Canada on July 30. That will not be easy.

"I have seen a profile of the course. It is the hardest I've seen. It's all uphill."

The opening 5km run is uphill, the 20km cycle course "hilly", and the final 2.5km run uphill.

Given her strength, Spence should be right in her comfort zone.

She will then return to Triathlon New Zealand's base in France to prepare for the August 14 cycling championships before heading to Switzerland and the World Triathlon Championships, where she will attempt to go one better than the silver she won a year ago.

"Again, the course is very, very hilly, which will suit me." But not the defending champion from Portugal. "She is not a strong runner."

The Rangitoto College seventh former will have little time to relax as she will be taking her books. "I have to study hard while I'm away."

Asked if it would be difficult to switch off and on to the demands of the different disciplines, Spence said it would be a challenge. "But I feel I'm good enough to do all three."

Coached by Australian-based New Zealander Brendon Downey, who will join her in Switzerland, Spence has continued a rigorous training routine which demands working at two of her three disciplines every day.

The big incentive is to win the triathlon title, which would guarantee her a grant from the New Zealand Academy of Sport.

Spence knows she will need that assistance if she decides to forgo her junior status next year to join the elite ranks and chase a place at the Beijing Olympics in a sport in which New Zealand continues to impress on the international stage.

Rebecca Spence

Born: September 19, 1988, Auckland.
School: Ponsonby Intermediate, Rangitoto College.
First represented NZ: 2004 World Triathlon Championships, Madeira, finished 11th (as 15-year-old).
Other results: 2005, won world junior duathlon title; second world junior triathlon championships.
Other titles: NZ secondary schools triathlon champion (2003-04-05-06); national junior sprint triathlon and duathlon champion.