Invercargill’s Marshall Erwood is still processing a whirlwind year on the bike, capped by a bronze medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Santiago, Chile. The -year-old cyclist, who rides for MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project, recently received a nomination for Team of the Year at the Halberg Awards alongside teammates Tom Sexton and Nick Kergozou, recognizing their success in Chile.
Erwood, Sexton, and Kergozou, all hailing from the Southland region of New Zealand, were part of the team pursuit squad that secured bronze in Santiago, defeating the United States with a time of seconds. The achievement marks a significant step forward for the young rider, who is now setting his sights on the and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and, the Olympic Games.
“It’s put a bit of a fire in my belly,” Erwood told The Roar Podcast, as reported by Southland Tribune. “I was standing next to the world champs on the podium, the Danes, and I was looking at their medal and their jersey, and I was like, ‘I’d like one of those eventually.’ It’s definitely put a fire in my belly for the Olympics. And yeah, to stand on the podium or even win, that would be a cool idea.”
The road to the World Championships was paved with success at earlier competitions. In , Erwood demonstrated his versatility by excelling in both track and road cycling. He was selected for the UCI World Junior Track Championships and finished as runner-up in the New Zealand under-19 men’s national road championship. At the national track championships, he won the trophy for the most points by an under-19 rider, securing victories in the 1000m time trial, scratch, and elimination races, as well as contributing to a team sprint win with Jesse Willis and Magnus Jamieson. He also placed second in the senior men’s team pursuit alongside Jamieson, Willis, and Tom Kerr.
Erwood’s talent extended to the Oceania Championships in , where he won the U19 kilo time trial and paired with Maui Morrison to win the U19 25km madison. He continued to build momentum in , earning a silver medal in the team pursuit at the Oceania Track Championships in Brisbane and another silver in the elimination race.
The recent flurry of competitions – the NZ Criterium Championships, Tour of Southland, NZ Road Nationals, and Oceania Track Cycling Championships – all within four weeks, has been demanding. However, Erwood appears to be thriving under pressure. He acknowledged the strong support from his home region of Southland, stating, “Everyone in Southland just froths it when you get a medal or do well overseas, so I would love to get a result there.”
At the Oceania Track Cycling Championships in Cambridge, Erwood recently added another victory to his resume, winning the Elimination Race. Despite a two-month hiatus from track cycling, he felt “amazing” during the team pursuit. He also praised the performance of teammate Tom Sexton, noting, “He’s on fire.” Sexton secured wins in both the Individual Pursuit and Omnium events at the same championships.
Looking ahead, Erwood’s schedule includes World Cup events in Hong Kong and Malaysia in , followed by training in Invercargill and a road competition stint in the United States. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow remain a primary focus, with Erwood expressing a particular desire to win the Elimination Race. His recent success and growing confidence suggest he is well-positioned to contend for a medal on the international stage.
Erwood’s rapid ascent in the cycling world is a testament to his dedication, and talent. From his early successes in junior competitions to his recent bronze medal at the World Championships, he has consistently demonstrated his potential. As he prepares for the challenges ahead, he carries the support of his community and a renewed determination to achieve his Olympic dreams.
