She has adapted quickly to track riding, where she has specialised as being the starter.
Petch broke the national record for the standing one-lap and has achieved world-class times as the starter in the women’s sprint group that broke the national and Oceania records.
On the New Zealand team for Paris, she is joined by fellow Te Awamutu Sports Cycling alumnae Ally Wollaston, Bryony Botha and Ellesse Andrews.
Andrews is the current world champion in the keirin, second on Olympic rankings and fourth in the individual sprint.
She joins Petch and Shaane Fulton in a team sprint combination that is currently seventh on Olympic rankings and continuing to improve strongly.
The women’s endurance quartet comprises Botha, Wollaston, Nicole Shields and Emily Shearman who are the top-ranked women’s team pursuit, second on Olympic rankings in the two-rider Madison and third in the omnium.
Full New Zealand track and road team
Track
Women - Endurance: Bryony Botha (Auckland), Emily Shearman (Palmerston North), Nicole Shields (Clyde), Ally Wollaston (Cambridge).
Women - Sprint: Ellesse Andrews (Christchurch), Shaane Fulton (Nelson), Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu).
Male - Endurance: Aaron Gate (Auckland), Keegan Hornblow (Nelson), Tom Sexton (Invercargill), Campbell Stewart (Palmerston North).
Male - Sprint: Sam Dakin (Auckland).
Road
Women: Kim Cadzow (Tauranga), Niamh Fisher-Black (Nelson).
Men: Laurence Pithie (Christchurch), Corbin Strong (Invercargill).
Reserves
Track
Female - Sprint: Olivia King.
Female - Endurance: Sami Donnelly, Michaela Drummond.
Male - Endurance: George Jackson, Nic Kergozou.
Road
Female: Ella Wyllie, Henrietta Christie.
Male: Finn Fisher-Black, George Bennett.
