Cycling: NZ team ready to shake off cold

Unseasonably cold weather, bouts of the flu and missing bikes have unsettled the New Zealand team's preparations for the world track cycling world championships in France.

The championships, starting in Bordeaux on Thursday, will feature eight New Zealand riders.

They settled into Bordeaux this week, with Jo Kiesanowski the last to arrive after being delayed by bad weather following a stage win in her latest road race in Holland.

While some bikes went missing in transit, they have since been located, although coach Terry Gyde has been more interested in the plummeting temperatures.

Gyde described the venue for the championships as the coldest indoor velodrome he has ever been in, and he has adjusted his team's training schedule accordingly.

"So far and for the rest of the week we are practising in the mornings between 10 and 11.30 each day as that is the time most of our guys qualifying races happen.

"We are taking humidity readings and monitoring the cool temperature and track so the riders know what to expect on race day," Gyde said.

The first of the New Zealanders competing on Thursday is Alison Shanks in the women's individual pursuit qualifying race, followed by Tim Gudsell in qualifying for the men's points race.

Three New Zealanders will compete on Friday -- Jason Allen in the individual pursuit qualifying round, Kiesanowski in the final of the women's 25km points race and Dave Cresswell in the men's 1km time trial final.

The teams pursuit and men's scratch race will be the focus for the New Zealanders on Saturday, with the team to be decided from Tim Gudsell, Hayden Godfrey, Marc Ryan, Sam Bewley and Jason Allen.

"Whoever does not ride in the teams pursuit will ride in the scratch as it is the same day," Gyde said.

"We will decide nearer the race as to who is in the team, as Allen has the individual pursuit the day before and Gudsell and one other in the madison the day after so fitness and form will be taken into consideration."

With only 1-1/2 seconds between the top eight teams, Gyde is confident New Zealand have as good a chance as any of taking a place on the teams pursuit podium.

Kiesanowski will ride the women's scratch race final on Sunday when New Zealand will also contest the men's 50km madison.

- NZPA