BMX rider Michael Bias will represent New Zealand in the world champs as an Elite rider.
The 21-year-old from Titirangi, Auckland, says he was surprised to get the email from Cycling New Zealand as his riding had been hindered after he broke his scapula, a shoulder joint and some ribs in May last year.
The injury was not properly diagnosed until February.
“It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t ride, I just took the pain,” he says.
“It’s very cool to be finally selected.”
Bias had an appeal for world championship inclusion thrown out by the Sport Tribunal last July.
He had argued he had a better world ranking and better results at a number of events than another rider who was selected.
But that is now in the past as the North Harbour BMX Club rider will be one of four NZ Elite men’s riders at the UCI BMX World Championships in Colombia on May 29.
“[The selection] was pretty unexpected with the lead up this year,” he says. “But I was really happy, obviously.”
Bias is the only non-High Performance rider selected and has to fund his own way to Colombia.
To help him get there, a quiz night fundraiser will be held at the Albany Community Hall on May 6, from 7.30pm.
– Stuff
