Finn Fisher-Black Photo: UAE Team Emirates
Returning from a potentially career-ending injury has cyclist Finn Fisher-Black excited about qualifying for the Olympics.
Fisher-Black recorded his best season as a pro-cyclist in 2023.
Riding for his UAE Team Emirates squad he won a stage on the Tour of Sicily and made the podium on a stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
However in 2022 his fledgling career came crashing down to earth almost as hard as he did when he fell during the Boucles de la Mayene in France.
He broke his femur close to the hip joint, possibly one of the worst places to suffer a fracture for a cyclist.
"It's one you don't want to have in your first year as a pro and a broken leg can sometimes end a career," he told RNZ.
New Zealand cyclist Finn Fisher-Black after surgery on his broken leg, 2022. Photo: Supplied
"So I feel I can take a lot from how well I've come back this year and so hopefully I can keep it going.
"I now feel I can cope with setbacks because I'm sure there will be a few more in my career."
He said the team was fantastic during his recovery so he never felt under any stress about not riding and they built a programme for him to build towards the Vuelta Espana.
"I came back (after ten months off) amped up to race again and I thought I'd return and just win.
"But it was a reality check in my first race back and I crashed and I thought okay I'm a lot further back than I thought I was and so it was just about building that confidence again.
However the 21 year old admits it wasn't easy at first and it took him some time to feel comfortable on the bike again.
"I was just scared I was going to crash again and break my leg but I think that was normal and with each race I just got a bit more comfortable in the bunch.
He does admit that 2023 had him on a good trajectory and he finished the season well at the Vuelta which will set him up for 2024.
Fisher-Black said he and his team are both expecting him to take another step up in his career.
"I feel like i've gained a lot of respect within the team this year so hopefully next year they can give me some leadership roles.
"So at some races I just have to say this is my day and go for a result and build from there.
While he accepts that if he's selected to ride with the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Adam Yates then he has a support role, but he's not going to just settle on being a domestique (team rider).
"Any 21 year old on the world tour wants to show themselves and get more of those leadership roles especially in the smaller races.
Finn Fisher-Black of UAE Team Emirates during Vuelta a Espana 23 Photo: AFP
"I really want to do another grand tour again as I learnt a lot from the Vuelta, it made a lot better rider both physically and with the experience."
He is also very keen to get to the Paris Olympics where New Zealand has been allocated two road race spots and one for the time trial.
"A grand tour I'd still consider an opportunity to gain experience as it's hard for me to get results, whereas growing up as a kiwi the Olympics is the biggest thing you can do in sports so its always going to be the main goal.
"I think the time trial would be good for me, I did ten of them this year and was given a good programme for them so it'll be good if I can get a few in in early 2024."
He does face some tough competition to gain the TT spot with New Zealand having a number of world class riders including Patrick Bevan and Aaron Gate.
Fisher-Black is based in Andorra but is currently back in New Zealand for christmas with his family including sister Niamh who is also a pro cyclist.
He's back in full training with his first race of the season the Tour Down Under in South Australia in January.
He hopes to share the leadership role there with UAE Team Emirates team-mate, Australian Jay Vine, who is the defending champion.
