Commonwealth Games stars back on the track

Several Commonwealth Games medallists will be back in action as the road to the 2012 London Olympics begins on the track in Adelaide this week.

BikeNZ has selected a 33-strong team to contest the Oceania Championships starting tomorrow, which is the first event to attract qualifying points for London.

The team includes Delhi silver medallist Lauren Ellis and sprint medallists Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell, Eddie Dawkins and Simon Van Velthooven. Other members of the Commonwealth Games team to compete include Kaytee Boyd, Gemma Dudley, Jaime Nielsen and Shane Archbold.

Eighteen riders will contest elite competition with riders gaining UCI qualifying points for their country, which is a new system introduced by the world governing body.

“In the past the points have been accrued by the rider but this has now changed and has forced a bit of a rethink from our end on the make-up of the team,” said BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott.

“There will still be some important points available although our big target for London qualification will be the World Cups in Melbourne, Cali and Beijing and of course the world championships in the Netherlands in March next year.

“This is a good chance for our riders to get back into action in some strong competition and also important for the younger riders to put their hands up for consideration moving forward to the world junior championships and ultimately the 2016 Olympics.”

Competition includes the new events on the track for London including the omnium and women’s team pursuit.

The team is, elite:
Kaytee Boyd (Auckland), Sequoia Cooper (Invercargill), Gemma Dudley (Levin), Lauren Ellis (Ashburton), Alexandra Neems (Auckland), Jaime Nielsen (Hamilton), Henrietta Mitchell (Auckland), Jason Allen (Christchurch), Shane Archbold (Timaru), Matthew Archibald (Dunedin), Eddie Dawkins (Invercargill), Aaron Gate (Auckland), Cameron Karwowski (Blenheim), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Nathan Seddon (Dunedin), Myron Simpson (Auckland), Simon van Velthooven (Palmerston North), Sam Webster (Auckland).

Under-19: Racquel Sheath (North Harbour), Georgia Williams (North Harbour), Georgina Wilson (North Harbour), Paige Paterson (Auckland), Olivia Wieblitz (Christchurch), Peter Bulling (Invercargill), Jacob Junghanns (Christchurch), Matiu Kaihau (Palmerston North), Dylan Kennett (Waimate), Hayden McCormick (Te Awamutu), Hamish Schreurs (Christchurch), Tom Beadle (Invercargill), Kristoff Ford (Nelson), Mathew Noble (Wanganui), Tayla Harrison (Christchurch).

Manager: Murray Steele; Under 19 Manager: Ken Bewley, Sprint Coach: Stuart MacDonald, Damian Wiseman; Men’s Endurance Coach: Ross Machejefski; Women’s Endurance Coach: Mark Lucas; Physiotherapist: Rebecca Adams; Mechanic: Chris O’Connor; Sports Scientists: Kat Phillips, Lindsey Underwood; Under 19 Men’s Endurance Coach: Jono Hailstone; Under 19 Men’s Sprint Coach: John Rastrick; Under 19 Women’s Coach: Katri Laike; Under 19 Mechanic: Ben Simpson.