Cycling: NZ finally gets chance to play hosts

Eddie Dawkins training at the Avantidrome in Cambridge. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand has proven track pedalling power, but tomorrow the country's cycling fraternity will also showcase their event management skills at the second round of the international governing body's three annual World Cups in Cambridge.

Organisers expect 28 current world or Olympic champions to compete among 571 riders and staff from 39 countries in the gladiatorial atmosphere of the Avantidrome. Such events are the means by which qualifying points are earned for March's world championships and August's Rio Olympics.

Confirmation came in April when Cycling New Zealand boss Andrew Matheson said New Zealand riders' dominance on the world stage had paid hosting dividends.

"We had a milestone with the men's team pursuit winning its first rainbow jersey or gold medal at the world champs [at Paris in February]. That came off the back of the men's programme winning the [team] sprint the year before."

Sprinter Eddie Dawkins also earned silver in the keirin, Aaron Gate was fifth in the omnium, Sam Webster was sixth in the individual sprint and the women's team pursuit and team sprint were fourth and ninth respectively.

"We're seeing on a daily basis how successful the Avantidrome is for our high performance riders," Matheson said of the velodrome which opened in April 2014. A corps of tuned Kiwi pedallers will venture from the venue to Rio, aiming to add to the country's six Olympic velodrome medals. Gary Anderson's bronze in the individual pursuit was the first in 1992.

Sarah Ulmer's world record gold supplemented that at Athens in 2004, also in the now Games defunct IP. The remaining four medals have come at the last two Olympics as part of the legacy high performance director Mark Elliott is building. Diligence, inspiration and a taxpayer investment of $17.4 million this Olympic cycle suggests more are on their way.

"We reflect every day that taxpayer money holds us accountable to perform," Elliott said of a programme coveted internationally. "The key thing is we've got a lot of riders who want to be the best in the world. It's more about excitement than pressure."

Now the world's best will experience the epicentre of New Zealand's track programme. Most nations have sent their leading sprinters for this week's meet.

Expect the pedigree of Frenchman Gregory Bauge, Brit Jason Kenny, German Joachim Eilers, Australian Matthew Glaetzer and Dutchman Jeffrey Hoogland to feature prominently against New Zealand sprint stars Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster in the men's races. The Kiwi trio are looking to recover from their shock 16th at the last World Cup in Colombia.

The trio's closest sprint rivals - London Olympic Keirin bronze medallist Simon van Velthooven and Matt Archibald - will also be involved as part of a four-strong sprint group competing under the trade team banner 'High Performance Sport New Zealand'.

They will be joined by development riders Zac Williams and Jeremy Presbury.

The women's fields include German Kristina Vogel, the individual and team world champion when she partners with Miriam Welte. Vogel will face Australian Anna Meares, the current Olympic sprint champion. New Zealand are represented by Natasha Hansen and Katie Schofield.

In the men's endurance competition, Australia will be at full strength in the team pursuit with Britain and Russia also expected to challenge New Zealand's world champions. The Kiwis will be without the injured Dylan Kennett and Marc Ryan. Double Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston and emerging riders Cam Karwowski and Nick Kergozou have joined as cover.

Karwowski is also expected to contest the six-discipline omnium with former world champion Gate spelled after a heavy schedule as he builds towards the world championships.

Australia are also likely to be the team to beat in the women's endurance competition. World omnium champion Annette Edmondson leads their world championship winning line-up. Canada and the United States are also expected to be in the reckoning. New Zealand are represented by Rushlee Buchanan, Jaime Nielsen, Georgia Williams, Lauren Ellis, Holly Edmondston and Alysha Keith under new coach Brendon Cameron.