Cycling sets sights on world champs after successful cup weekend

New Zealand cyclist Natasha Hansen, right, in action during the women's Keirin at the UCI World Cup event being held at the Avantidrome near Cambridge. Photo / Alan Gibson

Hosting a future world championships is part of Cycling New Zealand's long-term vision after the weekend's World Cup.

The event is understood to have lost money but the peripheral benefits of investment in the local economy, the rising profile of the sport with full crowds most sessions, and the less tangible element of community wellbeing, give the case cause for consideration.

New Zealand has hosted pinnacle rugby, cricket and rowing events in the past six years, all underwritten by the government.

The most recent, the Cricket World Cup, is estimated by a PwC independent study to have boosted the economy by $110 million, created more than 2000 jobs, sold more than 78,000 tickets to overseas visitors, and presented myriad marketing and promotional opportunities to an estimated 1.56 billion TV audience.

But multiple venues spread the risk. New Zealand would need to host more cycling World Cups first, so hosting a world championships before 2020 seems unlikely.

The velodrome's capacity would need to extend beyond 1500 (involving significant engineering spending) and more permanent car parking (rather than the St Peter's School grounds) would be required.

The Government is sympathetic to such causes, and having Olympic gold medallist and chef de mission Rob Waddell in cycling's corner as a contracted commercial manager and original advocate for the velodrome means they have an ally with political clout.

Cycling New Zealand chief executive Andrew Matheson was thrilled with the event's execution.

"This needs a full debrief but the initial feedback is that it's one of the best World Cups people have attended. We've built a good blueprint and a world championships is just a longer and larger programme.

"Events like this bring a lot of money into New Zealand. We've got to demonstrate how that works so we have a clear story to tell central or local government about the true economic impact beyond just sport.

"We're a bit stretched on seat capacity but we've got an independent person assessing how the facility is affected by a World Cup load."

Matheson said public, athlete and team enjoyment of the event was paramount to its success.

"In terms of an audience, we had a mix of die-hard cyclists and a general public who were just curious. When they come in, you see their eyes light up with the phenomenal racing. It's in front of their noses, it's a gladiatorial environment and we're educating them bit by bit.

"New Zealand does big events well. We get the right mix of a precise delivery with a friendly face; teams don't feel like we're pushing or bullying them. Schedules were followed and they get good accommodation, meals, transport and a great place to race."