Cycling: Cyclist leaves world arena

Matt Randall is retiring from international riding after a 10-year career that started in the individual pursuit at the junior world championships in 1996.

Since then he has competed in regular Oceania championships, won a team pursuit bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and a World Cup pursuit team gold.

His final international outing was in New Zealand's disappointing 10th and last place qualifying effort at the Athens Olympics.

"I'm still going to be involved at the local level and I'm still going to ride the [Southland] tour at the end of this year, but my time in the New Zealand track team has come to an end."

Randall said he hoped to coach at elite level, but his immediate aim was to work with the province's youngsters.


He said the creation of New Zealand's first indoor cycling velodrome would lift the sport to new heights in the province.

- NZPA