Top NZ Juniors head to Switzerland

New Zealand 18 year-olds Shane Archbold and Lauren Ellis depart this weekend for a 12-week training scholarship at the UCI's World Cycling Centre, based at its headquarters in Switzerland.

Archbold and Ellis were selected to attend a track cycling training course run by the UCI that is designed to "increase the quantity and quality of young athletes throughout the world." The course is run by seven-time track world champion Frederic Magne and will see Ellis and Archbold train with around 20 other talented junior riders from around the world.

"I am really pleased and excited to be going," said Archbold, who is relishing the chance to train in Europe. "I am looking forward to getting some European racing under my belt as it will be perfect preparation for the track worlds in August."

The pair both won silver medals at the 2006 Junior Track World Championships and have again been selected in the New Zealand team for the junior track world championships being held at Aguascalientes in Mexico from August 5-12.