Cycling: Games stars back on the track

Delhi silver medalist Lauren Ellis. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's road to the 2012 London Olympic begins in Adelaide this weekend as a 33-strong track cycling team contests the Oceania track championships.

The event is the first to attract qualifying points for London, and New Zealand's team includes several New Delhi Commonwealth Games medallists.

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

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott said the change from the previous system, where points were accrued by the individual rider, had force a rethink.

"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," Elliott said.

The Oceania championships were also important for younger riders to show their ability ahead of the world junior championships and the 2016 Olympics.

New Zealand's team to Adelaide 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.

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).

- NZPA