2017 Perago recipient Sam Cook provides an update on his last few weeks:
I travelled to Tasmania for the Oceania Road Championships on the 21st of March. This was my first U19 race for the season.
I road well in the Time Trial however, just not strong enough on the day resulting in a 15th place.
The following day was the Road Race on a course very suited to me. After a tough 106km I was very happy to claim 3rd place in the U19 boys after breaking clear of the pack in the final kilometers.
This was a very good start to the season giving me great confidence after coming back from my knee injury.
Last weekend I travelled to the Hawkes bay for CHB junior tour. This being my second U19 race for the season I was looking to back up my performance in Australia.
Day one proved very tough with a 3km up hill time trial to start the day. I place 8th just 10 seconds behind the winner. The second stage of the day was a 95km road race. I placed 7th here after a tough day for me.
The following day consisted of a criterium around Otane in the morning and a 100km road race in the afternoon. I was very happy to take 1st place in the criterium gaining back some time that I had lost the previous day.
The road stage in the afternoon was very hard. I did my best to break clear but was unsuccessful. I placed 7th on the stage and 8th overall on GC. Not my best weekend but I am still happy with how I performed leading into nationals this weekend in Masterton.
I look forward to updating you again after Nationals and the Cambridge Crtierium.
Thanks again for your support,
Sam Cook
