In just two years Kim Cadzow has pedalled her way from her first international race, the 2022 Oceania Championships to become one of the top riders in the women’s peloton.

The New Zealander began her career as a swimmer and then moved to triathlon. The decision to try cycling would prove to be a good one with her rapid progression, though it was initially not her favourite sport.

“I was a swimmer, then I wanted to try something new, so I began triathlon but quickly got injured from running. Although it was never really my favourite sport that I’ve tried,” said Cadzow.

“I really enjoyed the cycling part, so I entered NZ Age Group nationals and quickly began to love it from there. My coach at the time Patrick Harvey introduced me to all the cycling around the world and I was amazed to find out about the sport and how popular it was in Europe.”

With her interest piqued, she quickly found success winning the Under 23 New Zealand time trial title in early 2022. Two months later it was time for her first taste of international racing at the 2022 Oceania Championships.

“I was just really excited to be there. It was my first time competing overseas one of my biggest ambitions, so it felt already a big privilege. “I just wanted to perform as best as I could, one thing I still say now that I just want to do a performance that I can be proud of,” she said of her expectations.

Cadzow would claim silver in the Under 23 time trial a result she says gave her confidence ahead of heading to Europe.

“I think they were very important to build my confidence before coming over to Europe. It’s a massive jump from NZ and AUS racing to European racing so I really see it as a stepping stone on the way.

A stint of racing in Europe saw several top 20 results in France before finishing off with fifth at Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenges and a World Tour contract for 2023 with Team Jumbo-Visma.

With Cadzow’s first season in Europe full of solid results including a top 20 overall in a World Tour Race and a World Championships debut.

A move to EF Education-Cannondale for 2024 has only seen the now 22-year-old establish herself as one of the top young talents in the women’s peloton.

This year in addition to the New Zealand time trial title, Cadzow won Trofeo Ponente in Rosa before claiming top 10 finishes at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Vuelta España and the Tour de Suisse, all UCI Women’s World Tour Races.

“Yea I think it’s a season that I really only could have dreamt off so far. It’s just been so exciting, and I’ve been given so many opportunities in races, so I’m ecstatic with how it’s going so far and I hope to keep the progression continuing for the rest of the season.

The 2023 season is far from over and she will represent New Zealand at the Paris Olympic Games, something that was never on her radar three years ago, as well as line up at a second World Championships.

“I never ever thought I’d be selected for the Olympics and if you told me this three years ago, I would probably have laughed and not believed it.”