Cycling Southland's poster girl Kate Dunlevey paved the promotional headlines as the pin up for the 2012 Junior Worlds Track Champs and now Liam Aitcheson is continuing the trend as the poster boy for 2013.
The campaign for the 2013 Junior Worlds, featuring Liam, was on display with a promotional stand at Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the weekend at the UCI World Cup.
Liam, hailing from Central Otago, was one of five Cycling Southland members competing in the 2012 champs in their home velodrome in Invercargill and, as a first year U19, is likely to be one of the first selected for 2013, along with Jeremy Presbury, from Invercargill. Fellow 2012 team members Sophie Williamson, Tom Beadle and Kate Dunlevey have all now graduated to elite track ranks.
Liam will be hoping to step up from some great results during this year's event after winning silver in Men’s Team Pursuit, setting a new NZ U19 record in 4:08.124 and finishing runner-up to Australia on opening night of competition at the Stadium Southland Velodrome in August and also finished fifth overall in the points race.
With Presbury, joined by Josh Haggerty, Mike Culling and Laura Heywood to all be named in the New Zealand U19 squad for next week’s Oceania Champs in Adelaide, there is a very high chance of another strong Southland contingent at next year’s Junior Worlds event.
To be held in Glasgow 7-11th August, 2013 at brand new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – venue for last weekend’s UCI World Cup.
Liam's imagery follows in the tradition of 2012 team-mates Kate Dunlevey and Tayla Harrison who were the “poster-girl and boy” for the most recent event and it will be used internationally for promotional and marketing purposes over the coming year.