The New Zealand track cycling team take their first pedal-strokes towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games when they contest the UCI Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile starting on Thursday (NZT).
The kiwi track cyclists led all sports at Paris with five medals overall, and the two golds and a silver for Ellesse Andrews was the most by any rider at an Olympics. Over a year on, while those performances are proudly recorded on CNZ’s Walk of Fame at their training base, their focus has already turned to Los Angeles 2028.
While quality performances are a clear goal, there are half of the Paris team who are not in Chile for a variety of reasons - from time out, other cycling pursuits, injuries, and pregnancy – with several newcomers given their opportunities.
“This is year one of the cycle and we come to the world championships with a mix of experience and new faces as we give riders important experience to stake their claims when we look at the first Olympic qualification events next year,” said Cycling New Zealand High Performance Director, Ryan Hollows.
“It’s worth noting that we only have a men’s team pursuit here in Santiago and just two of them rode in Paris.
“With Rebecca Petch pregnant and Shaane Fulton in rehab after surgery, there’s no women’s team sprint. And likewise with Ally Wollaston ending her season after a head knock on the road, there is no women’s team pursuit.
“It is an opportunity to see riders in different events, and some new riders who will have their first world championship experience.
“We have no expectation or pressure on the riders, more a case of exposing them to world championship racing and providing an opportunity to stake claims for teams for next year.”
Leading the way is double Olympic gold medallist Ellesse Andrews who will contest both sprint and keirin, and has also added the time trial. This has been lengthened to the men’s distance of 1000m which has sparked Andrews’ interest with her endurance background.
She is joined by Paris Olympian Sam Dakin in sprint, after making significant strides in Paris.
Paris riders Tom Sexton and Keegan Hornblow are joined by the experienced Nic Kergozou and rising 20-year-old Marshall Erwood, who has been riding with success on the road with his MitoQ NZ Cycling Project team in USA this year.
World Tour rider Campbell Stewart is returning to the track, and in the absence of Aaron Gate, he will ride the key individual events of the omnium, elimination and scratch.
The pursuit team is rounded out with the inclusion of successful mountain biker and road rider, Ben Oliver, trying his hand on the track.
The women’s endurance team comprises the outstanding and experienced Bryony Botha along with two younger riders of real promise in Sami Donnelly, the reserve in Paris, and rising Auckland hope Pru Fowler.
The five-day competition begins on Thursday (NZ Time) with live action on UCI You Tube.
Track, Women: Ellesse Andrews, Bryony Botha, Sami Donnelly, Prudence Fowler, Emily Shearman. Men: Sam Dakin, Marshall Erwood, Keegan Hornblow, Nick Kergozou, Ben Oliver, Tom Sexton, Campbell Stewart.
