Description
Hi, I am Annamarie Lipp and I have been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Junior Track Championships in Aigle, Switzerland
I am 17 years old and going into my last year of High School. I attend Catholic Cathedral College and I’ve been riding for about 4 years now, having started cycling in my first year of High School as part of the New Zealand School’s Cycling programme. I started quite a bit later then other children my age so found the racing really hard when I first started, but that only gave me the drive to work hard and train to become better. Being one of only two road cyclists at my school, has meant that I have to be really focused on what I want to achieve as there has been no school team to support me. I am competing in both road and track cycling. On road last year I had my first taste of elite racing in my trade team, Benchmark Homes Womens’ team, who I have signed with again this year under the new name of Velo Project Womens team.
I love racing with my team and am grateful for the level of support that they provide (such as cycling kit, helmet and race entries to some local competitions), as womens sports do struggle to get the same level of recognition as the mens sports.
This is my last year as a Junior Cyclist before heading in to the elite age group and I really want to make the most of every opportunity I can. I recently competed at elite and U/19 Track Nationals and came 3rd in the Individual Pursuit and Omnium, 2nd in the Points Race and 1st as part of the Canterbury Teams Pursuit Team in the Open Womens’ grade.
Junior World Track Championships is the highest level that you can perform at as a Junior Cyclist and is what I have been working towards for many years, as it is something I have dreamed of doing. This would be my second time racing overseas as part of the New Zealand team (the previous time in Tasmania at the Oceania Road Championships) and my first time on the track.
