BikeNZ cyclists climb new heights for World Cup

New Zealand track cyclists are going to new heights to step up their Olympic campaign this week.

They are in the mountain city of Cali in Colombia for the second round of the UCI Track World Cup starting on Friday (NZ time).

A 13-strong squad will compete in the three-day meet with selectors bringing in most of their track stars from the Delhi Commonwealth Games to compete at Cali, which sits a kilometre above sea level. The World Cup carries qualifying points for the London Olympics.

Six riders competed at the first World Cup in Melbourne earlier this month comprising the men’s team sprint trio of Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins and Ethan Mitchell who won a silver medal in Australia, keirin specialist Simon Van Velthooven, surprise Omnium winner Shane Archbold and Lauren Ellis.

They have been joined by Delhi medallists Alison Shanks, Joanne Kiesanowski, Jesse Sergent, Marc Ryan, Wes Gough and Sam Bewley along with national road champion Rushlee Buchanan.

“Half of the squad competed in Melbourne but for the other half it’s their first hit out with our major focus being the next World Cup in five weeks time in Beijing,” said BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get some valuable qualifying points and also a further chance to develop the omnium for men and women and the women’s team pursuit, which are new events for London.”

Archbold (Timaru) will again attack the omnium after his victory in the Melbourne World Cup, while experience Christchurch campaigner Joanne Kiesanowski will have her first introduction to the new Olympic event that incorporate the 250m flying lap, scratch race, elimination race, individual pursuit, points race and time trial over two days.

The BikeNZ contingent will also compete in the women’s team pursuit, welcoming back Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alison Shanks who will ride the individual pursuit and team pursuit where she joins with Ellis and Buchanan.

Sergent will ride the men’s individual pursuit and link with his world champion silver medallists Bewley, Gough and Ryan for the team pursuit.

The competition begins on Friday morning (NZ time) and continues until Sunday.

The BikeNZ team is: Shane Archbold (Timaru), Sam Bewley (Rotorua), Eddie Dawkins (Invercargill), Westley Gough (Waipukurau), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Marc Ryan (Timaru), Jesse Sergent (Feilding), Simon van Velthooven (Palmerston North), Sam Webster (Auckland), Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu), Lauren Ellis (Ashburton), Joanne Kiesanowski (Christchurch), Alison Shanks (Dunedin).