THERE will be an international flavour this weekend when the NSW Junior Cycling Tour returns to Port Macquarie.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Belgian brothers Wolf and Pepijn Nuyttens will line up in the under-9 and under-11 divisions after the family moved to town 12 months ago.
They had called Dubai home since they were born before dad Michael decided the time was right to move to the Hastings.
"I have an import business in carpets and soft outdoor furniture so it's a practical location between the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney where I can drive," Mr Nuyttens said.
"If I need to go to Melbourne or Adelaide I can fly, it's easy for the family, the schools are really good and we still don't have any traffic jams so far.
"It takes a lot of pressure away from being in a big city."
Nine-year-old Pepijn admitted he had enjoyed the move to Australia.
"We moved to Port Macquarie 12 months ago because dad said if I didn't move then I wasn't going to be ready for the real world," he said.
"Over in Dubai everyone's very soft."
He has his sights set on a podium finish in the three races to take place on Saturday.
"I don't think I'm going to win, but I think I'm going to do well," he said.
"I've been riding for about five years; I started learning when I was four because Belgium is really mad about cycling, so it kind of made sense."
Joining the Nuyttens' will be Port Macquarie siblings Alani Cockshutt and brother James.
Alani will eye a position at the next level with the under-15 and under-17 races doubling as state selection trials.
She will give up to two years worth of experience to her rivals in the under-17 girls division.
"(At this age) you've got people who tend to drop off and it becomes people who are serious about cycling or this is pretty much their one sport," she said.
"It definitely becomes more intense (as you get older), but with the experience I get better as well."
The 15-year-old will use the home course advantage and wants a top five finish after narrowly missing out at Goulburn two weeks ago.
"I definitely want to get top five overall by the end of the three races," she said.
"I got sixth at Goulburn by four seconds a few weeks ago and four seconds is nothing over four races.
"It definitely helps that I've got my own course that I'm used to riding."
The Percival Property NSW Junior Cycling Tour will start at 8am on Saturday and Sunday at the Port Macquarie Cycle Club on Burrawan Forest Drive.
What else is happening in sport?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.