No time for BikeNZ sprinters to relax in Europe
The BikeNZ track sprint squad have been press-ganged into action immediately upon arrival in Europe for their six-week campaign.
Coming back from a six-week layoff, the group of Commonwealth Games medallists Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell, Eddie Dawkins and Simon van Velthooven were put straight into their training regime including a two-day meet at the Germany cycling stronghold of Cottbus.
The competition did not fare well for big Manawatu sprinter Simon van Velthooven, who crashed heavily during the sprint eliminations. Coach Justin Grace expects van Velthooven will be out of action for up to two weeks with some shoulder damage.
“It was unfortunate for Simon who was racing strongly,” Grace said. “This sort of thing happens in track sprinting but it’s a pity that it happened the day after we arrived.
“The boys raced well considering they were pretty stiff and sore after their gym session. They all qualified into the top-12 in all of their events which was a pleasant surprise.”
Grace has taken his leading sprinters to Europe to undergo some intensive training and racing experience in some of the high profile events.
“The main focus is training. They have had a long break which they needed and will be training up to 30 hours a week on the bikes and in the gym. That’s pretty difficult to achieve to the intensity we really want in the winter weather at home.
“That’s the major reason we have come to get some great training done in the heart of track cycling here in Germany and Russia.”
They will also get to compete at a number of high profile events over the next six weeks.
“The racing experience will be invaluable. We do not get access to a lot of top level international racing. Here in Europe they get it virtually every weekend. I am sure our guys will race well but I am not looking for record times from them. They will be training right through all the competitions.”
They head to Russia later this week for a Grant Prix event in Tula followed by the prestigious Lesnikov Memorial in the super-fast velodrome in Moscow.
“This is the meet where the French team broke the world record three times last year and we understand they will be back.”
The squad will be joined by developing sprinters Matthew Archibald (Southland) and Henrietta Mitchell (Auckland), along with strength and conditioning coach Angus Ross for the final three weeks based back at Cottbus. This will include another Sprint Cup meet along with the Germany Sprint Cup at the end of June which will attract most of Europe’s best sprinters.