The New Zealand track cycling team begin their campaign on Monday as the final week of the Tokyo Olympics gets underway.

The talent-laden squad has settled well on the super-fast boards at the Izu Velodrome with team bosses checking the form of potential rivals given the nations not engaged in meaningful international competition for over 18 months.

That will be answered to some degree with qualifying for both male and female team pursuit on the opening day, while the first medals will be decided on day two for female team pursuit and team sprint for both male and female.

“We are pretty happy where we are tracking from a training point of view but we are uncertain how other countries have been tracking in that time,” said male endurance coach, Craig Palmer.

“From a Team Pursuit view it is still a time trial, so it is about focussing on our process and executing well to deliver the fastest that that we can. That will land where it lands.”

All five riders in the male team pursuit have been world champions – Regan Gough in team pursuit, Campbell Stewart and Aaron Gate in omnium, Jordan Kerby in individual pursuit and Corbin Strong in Points race.

“Selection has been challenging for such a deep squad. I keep being told it is a good problem to have. As a coach I beg to differ with some very challenging selection decisions about who to put on the track and when,” said Palmer. “Whoever rides on that first day will mean we are leaving out some riders who are just as good and international class.

“We have good cover across a range of positions which is cool. We have amazing depth in the programme which has given us some challenges in terms of selection but is exciting for this competition.”

While the men’s team pursuit has one race per day, the women have qualifying on day one with both first round and medal round on day two.

“The best thing about our group is that we have five strong, fit riders,” said women’s endurance coach, Ross Machejefski. “A lot of nations only have four so this is a big positive for us.

“I expect we will use all five which is a big bonus with the luxury to rotate riders especially on the second day when there are two rides in two hours.”

The squad is a mix of experience with three-time Olympians Jaime Nielsen and Rushlee Buchanan along with Kirstie James mixed with the youth of Bryony Botha and Holly Edmondston along with team pursuit reserve Jessie Hodges.

“The last year or so has been positive for us in that they are fitter and stronger than they were. We have come here and improved. We don’t know where anyone else is, but we will find out tomorrow.

“We have to go out and do what we can do. It is going to be really fast times here with the low air pressure which you can move through a little bit faster than at sea-level. You will see some really fast times from everyone.”

Machejefski said the squad have become a close unit, taking advantage of being based at home.,

“The group are tight and this has come a long way in the last 12 months. Spending time at home and training camps in New Zealand has strengthened how we are off the bike.

“Also the younger riders have had time to gel into that group which has been awesome.”

While team sprint has been the focus of New Zealand teams at the last Olympiad, there is a new-look with Sam Dakin joining the three-fold world champions Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell.

Joining them is multi-junior world champion Ellesse Andrews who is a bright talent at just 21 years of age, competing in sprint and her major goal in the keirin, where she may surprise more experienced rivals.

“I am very much looking forward to this,” said Mitchell. “It has been a long time coming. We have a different order with Sam in the team and I am excited to share the experience of the third Olympics with Sam and myself with Sam Dakin’s first Olympics.

“The velodrome is incredible. We raced here at a test event three years ago. To get out there this week and feel how fast it is, to see all the other nations, and see those Olympic rings on the track has brought the Olympic feeling back pretty quick.

“With team sprint it is almost a race against yourself like team pursuit. Our prep has been around how we become the best team we can so that goal is irrespective of what any other nation does.

“I am lucky to be part of a very, very strong New Zealand cycling team with multiple world champions and medallist and I think the way we have operated over these last two years has reflected in what we get from our environment.”

CAPTION: The New Zealand track cycling squad at their cycling village base in Izu.