CYCLING

National Under-23 Champion Signs Pro Continental

By Sports Media NZ

Two-time national under-23 road champion Hamish Schreurs has signed a two-year contract with the Pro Continental-bound Israel Cycling Academy team.

Schreurs will be the fourth addition to Academy’s revamped squad which is preparing for its first pro continental season based in Europe. The team has already signed Benjamin Perry (CAN), Zakkari Dempster (AUS) and Tyler Williams (USA).

He impressed this year for continental team Klein Constantia, the development organisation for Etixx-QuickStep, including his third place in the Under-23 Paris-Roubaix and overall GC victory in the Carpatian Couriers race where he also gained two stage wins.

The Canterbury rider had his season cut short with a hand injury following a crash while riding as a trainee with Etixx-Quickstep, which ruled him out of the recent world championships.

“I think I surprised people this year. I just love it that they (Israel Academy) decided to give me a chance to go with them to the next level,” Schreurs said.

Cycling Academy Team Manager, Ran Margaliot expressed confidence that the Kiwi will be able to deliver. 

“We believe he is an exceptional rider and he is so versatile: He can ride the pave in the Classics so well, but he can also manage the climbs in tour races. He has a good sprint, and, first and foremost, Hamish has proved himself as a rider with very high race intelligence. 

“Put it all together with his self-motivation and an ability to adapt after coming from New Zealand to Europe, and we concluded that we have here a really exceptional talent.”

Schreurs earned the following of a number of teams but was interested in the Israeli team.
“I have followed this team with its multinational riders, an Israeli team with a mix of so many cultures. I am a curious person and it fascinates me to be part of it.”

Cycling Academy was founded in 2014 as Israel's first professional cycling team with the clear vision to help Israeli Cycling and develop young riders. They recorded wins in races over three continents in the last 20 months and are backed by Cannondale, Lazer, Hertz Israel, and Verge, as well as the Israeli Canadian philanthropist Sylvan Adams.

Schreurs is expected to compete in January’s national championships, which will be his first in the elite ranks.