Cycling: Powerful squad named for World Cup

Sam Webster in action on his way to victory in the men’s sprint at the Oceania track cycling championships in Invercargill. Photo / Envious Photography-BikeNZ

BikeNZ has selected a powerful 13-strong squad for next week's UCI cycling World Cup in Cali, Colombia, when they will get a good gauge of just how good their riders' form is in the countdown to the London Olympics.

The Kiwi cyclists set a number of records at a hugely impressive performance at the Oceania track cycling championships that finished in Invercargill last night.

The squad made an early exit from Invercargill this morning and will fly out of Auckland for the long haul to Cali later tonight.

The squad comprises the men's and women's team's pursuit, men's and women's omnium and a men's sprint group.

The women's pursuit team is the same combination that went within 0.2s of the world record this week, comprising Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen.

The men's pursuit quartet that set the fastest time in the world this year to date is Jesse Sergent, Sam Bewley, Aaron Gate and Marc Ryan.

World omnium silver medallist Shane Archbold has been selected, along with Joanne Kiesanowski, who is expected to travel despite withdrawing from the second day of the omnium yesterday on a precautionary basis after feeling unwell.

Four sprinters are heading to Cali, comprising Sam Webster, Simon Van Velthooven, Ethan Mitchell and Eddie Dawkins.

"We wanted the riders to be in form for the Oceania Championships and we are pleased they responded with such good times on what were receptive conditions at the ILT Velodrome,'' said BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott.

"The squad going to Cali mirrors those performances and those riders have put their hands up for selection. The riders not selected for Cali will have an opportunity at the World Cup next month in Beijing and at the camp in the New Year.

"We will be collating that information before selecting the team to compete at to the London World Cup in February and the World Championships in Melbourne in March.

"It is all part of the pathway programme that we have mapped out for our riders many months ago to ensure we leave no stone unturned within our resources to achieve the best possible results for the London Olympics.

"There's real depth and competition for spots inside the programme which is encouraging and we have to ensure all those riders have an opportunity to prove themselves. We have an objective and precise sports science programme to capture that information both in training and competition.''

BikeNZ are expecting the riders' form to hold for the Cali World Cup, subject to the rigours of 30 hours travel and the open-air environment at the track.

"Many of the leading nations will have full-strength teams at Cali, so it will provide a reasonable litmus test on how we stack up.''

The squad for Cali is: Shane Archbold (Timaru), Sam Bewley (Rotorua), Eddie Dawkins (Invercargill), Lauren Ellis (Hinds), Aaron Gate (Auckland), Joanne Kiesanowski (Christchurch), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Marc Ryan (Timaru), Jaime Nielsen (Hamilton), Jesse Sergent (Feilding), Alison Shanks (Dunedin), Simon van Velthooven (Feilding), Sam Webster (Auckland).