Wānaka’s Carter Guichard (15) has achieved a New Zealand road cycling first with his selection to a world junior reserve road cycling team.

Carter’s selection to the AG2R under 19 team follows an impressive 2022 season where he recorded ten wins in his grade including the national road series CHB tour in Hawkes Bay and stage wins at the Tasman Tour. 

He also recorded wins and placings in highly competitive races in France during the European summer.

“Joining the AG2R under 19 development team is a dream come true for me,” Carter said.

“It’s a privilege to be selected, and I need to continue to get results.”

The squad Carter is joining forms part of the AG2R-Citroen World Tour team in France.

AG2R-Citroen is one of the oldest teams at the highest echelon of pro peloton, with an impressive roster of top level riders, including Tour de France stage winners Ben O’Connor and Bob Jungels, U23 World Champion Benoit Cosnefroy, and Olympic gold medallist Greg Van Avermaet.

The junior team has selected 20 riders aged 16 and 17 from around the world, with a mix of French riders alongside overseas riders from Belgium, Norway, Australia - and now one from Wānaka.

Carter will continue as a student at Mount Aspiring College in 2022 and race with the New Zealand based Southern Junior Development team under the guidance of AG2R. 

He will return to race in Europe with AG2R U19 from April to August next year.

PHOTO: Supplied