Ko te kaieke pahikara piki maunga nō Rotorua, ko Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (Te Arawa) kua whakanuia mō te nui o āna ekenga i tēnei tau, i tana whiwhinga ki te tohu o Te Tama a Ranginui i Ngā Tohu Tākaro Māori 2019 ki Manukau inapō. Ka hono atu ia ki ngā toa o mua, pērā i a Reiko Ioane, i a Nehe Milner-Skudder, i a Storm Uru.
"How to describe it, I'm full of pride and happiness. Everyone at home is very proud of my achievements this year and it’s been a big year. I’m focused on moving up to the pro level next year, so I'll put in more training and keep going but I am very humbled to get this taonga," tā Pene kōrero ki Te Ao i te Vodafone Events Centre.
18 tau tōna pakeke, nāna i toa ai te mētara rauwhero i te UCI Mountain Bike World Championships ki Canada i te Mahuru, hei whakamutu ake i "te mutunga kē mau mai o te tau" e ai ki a Sam Thompson, te toihau o Cycling NZ.
"It's pretty cool to see him handle what is a brutal and physical course here at Mont Sainte Anne," te kī a Thompson ki a Stuff i taua wā.
Ka nui te mihi a Pene ki tōna whānau, nā tā rātou tautoko ia i tino angitu ai. Koia tāna ki Te Hērora:
"As a junior rider, let's be real, it's much harder to be able to travel, race and afford the expenses. But because of the people that support me, it has been much easier.
"Therefore, I'm more focused on my goals. I'm not going to lie, I've slacked off every now and again but just having that ear full from my partner, my whānau and friends - I stayed on track.
"Definitely having a good support crew wherever you race will benefit you. In this sport, everywhere I've gone I've made friends that become whānau. That is what helps me feel more comfortable being away from my home Aotearoa."
Ko te mea whakaharahara o te tau ki a Pene, ko tana otinga tuatahi i te UCI Mountain Bike Ipu o Te Ao ki Itāria. Kua kīa, ko taua tauwhāinga te mea uaua rawa o ngā tauwhāinga katoa.
I hoki a Pene ki te kāinga, ki Rotorua i te marama ki muri nei, ā ka toa i a ia tana taitara kairangi tuatahi.
Ki te hāngai pū ia ki te mahere, ka whai wāhi ia ki te whakataetae anō ki mua i tōna hau kāinga hei te Kohitātea, i te whakapuakitanga mai a Cycling NZ, ko te Whakataetae Oceania ka tū ki Ōtepoti.