Last year Jarred Treymane, 18, had a staph infection, caused by a small scratch in his ankle, that nearly ended his cycling dreams.

It started with a scratch.

A small one, like a tiny paper cut, on the inside of Jarred Treymane​'s ankle.

It was so small he didn't even realise he'd scratched his leg while retrieving his bike gear when he landed at Invercargill Airport.

So small that the 18 year old didn't notice it while he competed in the Elite and U19 Track National Championships, or again, when he joined his Cambridge High School team for the cycling leg of Coast to Coast.

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When he was fighting for his life in Waikato Hospital, he couldn't remember the scratch when doctors asked if he'd suffered any cuts or scrapes lately.

"I had scraped the box down my leg, but I just disregarded it. Thankfully, it was dad that picked up on it."

In February 2017, after competing in cycling events down south, Treymane​'s health started to deteriorate.

But the excruciating pain wasn't anywhere near his ankle - it was coming from the left side of his hip.

DOMINICO ZAPATA/ STUFF The Cambridge-based cyclist didn't know whether he'd be able to ride again.

He couldn't walk, had a high fever and was vomiting. His speech was slurred and he was losing control in his hands. His already-lean frame of 62 kilograms had dropped 10kgs in 10 days.

The doctors were baffled.

There was no redness or swelling around his hip and scans and tests revealed nothing.

Initially doctors told him he was dehydrated, worn out and needed to rest. They said the vomiting was due to a stomach bug and he'd possibly just hurt his hip whilst competing.

That did make sense: he'd had a big week cycling and had enjoyed competing in the individual and team races.

During his Coast to Coast ride he'd felt a twinge in his hip, but had stretched it out and thought he was good to go.

Still, the scratch never crossed his mind.

A week later in hospital, an MRI scan showed two pockets of pus had formed between his pelvis and his glute. He had two surgeries to flush it out.

After a series of questions, doctors confirmed he had a staph infection from the scratch on his right ankle.

"The staph gets into your blood system and just looks for a weak point," Treymane​ explained. "I could have pulled the muscle or something around racing and that became a hot spot - and that was the host for the bug.

"I thought, am I going to be able to ever ride my bike again? Let alone compete."

He was put on antibiotics for five weeks, and then ordered to rest for another five more. No school, and nothing that would increase his heart rate.

In May, he slowly began to get on his bike, riding twice a week on the rural roads near his parents home near Hinuera.

"I think I only rode two kms. I just couldn't stop smiling, I was just so happy."

He got back riding for the Te Awamutu Cycling Club and also for the Waikato BOP Performance Hub.

In July, he was back competing at the North Island Secondary Schools championships and the Oceania Track Championships.

In March, it was announced he had made the New Zealand UCI Junior World Track Cycling Championships in Switzerland.

Out of the squad of 14, four were picked from the Te Awamutu Cycling Club.

"I didn't think I'd be back so early. I thought it would take a lot longer to get back to where I was, but the more I did, the more possible I thought it was."

With half a year of training, Treymane​ has put back on the10kg he lost and is now back into full training mode, roughly six days a week including on the road, track and in the gym.

He is now preparing for the World Champs in Switzerland in August.

"I feel good, I feel like I'm back to where I was."