January Madness

Sitting down in Invercargill before we head to the awesome indoor Velodrome to firstly train and prepare new riders for racing on a first class facility and tonight they all race, many for the first time on a 250m indoor board track.

After coming back from Vineyards it was straight into the Canterbury Track Carnival. Last year was lacking in numbers and six months ago Syd Martin and I thought with the loss of the Grandstand (due to be red stickered post earthquakes) that track let alone the Carnival was not going to happen.

But to Syd's credit and assisted by Bruce Dawe, myself and some new blood on the track committee we got there in the end and put on the best Carnival many (inc some riders who have raced around the World at the highest levels) have ever been part of. We had 5 Olympians in Natasha Hansen, Eddie Dawkins, Simon Van Velthooven, Marc Ryan and Shane Archbold who all showed us why they are World Class and delivered superb performances every time they came to the line.

Bruce Wilson captured the excitement and intensity of the racing from both nights...

Mitchel, Luke and Max duke it out!

Kate and Christine get ready to race!

Olivia was undefeated on both nights!

Shane Archbold and Eddie Dawkins entertain the crowd before and during the racing!

The next weekend was NZ Elite Road Nationals where the Carnival Atmosphere transferred to the tar seal and again New Zealand's Elite Riders showed their class. Roulston, Bennett, Henderson, Bauer, Sergent, Oram, Vink, Kiesanowski, Lowe and many others showed just how strong we are as a Cycling Nation. Sam placed 5th in the Elite Men's TT and 20th in the Road Race while Mitchell went several laps in the Road Race.

Next week Reon (NZ Team) and Sam (Budget Forklifts) ride the NZ Cycle Classic. In two weeks time Maddi, Luke, Max, Ben, Angus, Andrew, Greg and Holly all do battle at NZ Elite/U19 Track Cycling Championships racing for Gold and National Selection to various events. Then there is Canterbury Track Cycling Champs, Age Group and Elite/U19 Omnium Nationals before we focus back on the road for Oceania Champs in Canberra, Tour de Lakes or TeA and focus in on Club Road Nationals.