2014 Oceania Track Champs

Another pilgrimage to Invercargill for Oceania Track Cycling Champs and before that the first ever UCI Tier 1 event held in New Zealand.

Olivia Podmore and Holly Edmondston were riding for NZ in the U19 Woman's grade and Andrew Ward and Mitchell Podmore were riding for Canterbury.

Despite being a regular on the top step of the podium at Nationals over the last three years it was the first time Olivia has worn the NZ colours in competition and she showed the hard work that has gone on over that time winning 4 Gold Medals taking out the 500m TT (PB), Team Sprint (PB for standing lap), Sprint (PB in flying 200m) and Keirin despite being boxed in at the bell.

Holly was part of a Teams Pursuit that were first U19 women and established a New Zealand record for the 4000m 4 rider format. Andrew continued to develop his Keirin racing with solid rides at the Tier 1 and Ocea's. Work is still needed on his Kilo and Flying 200m. Mitchell learned about the need for a big aerobic base mixing with top Elite riders from Australia and NZ in the Scratch, Points and Madison.

Now we go back to building more base, strength for Olivia and Andrew, and miles for Mitchell and Holly.

Pushing Liz Steel into the flying lap round of Omnium

Liv after her U19 Woman's Sprint Win

Calling lap times for Mitchell

Holly riding the IP.

Holly riding the flying 200m in Sprints

Liv on the Podium winning U19 Woman's Sprints

Throwing Liz Steel into the Scratch Race round of Omnium

Giving instructions to a NZ composite U19W Teams Pursuit

Even Moar Success

Seems never ending!

WORLD ROAD CHAMPS

Maddi's sadly flu affected road race power file and GPS. Shows the severity of the course and her power was down from what we know she was capable of.

WORLD MASTERS TRACK CHAMPS

Harri Rajaniemi placed 6th in the 40-44 750m TT and 7th in the Match Sprints.

CANTERBURY TRACK CYCLING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The track season has started at Denton Park and we have also started the Development Programme for Junior Cyclists to get started in the sport. I have led this programme for several years (and also in 1993) and it is a great fun watching riders come through and many like Olivia Podmore and Christine Lambley go on to become National Champions!

BIKE NZ LEVEL 1 TRACK COACHING COURSE

Have been contracted by BikeNZ to deliver content on coaching, track cycling physiology and track riding technique up in Te Awamutu on the 19-20th of October. I did the level 1 course myself in 1995 and the level 2 in Sydney in 1997. I taught numerous level 0 courses and a couple of level 1 course back then. It is great to be back delivering information to new coaches!

TRANS_PROVENCE

Jamie Nicoll finished an excellent 6th in this multi day Enduro event in France. He now heads to Italy for the final round of the Enduro World Series.

YUNCA JUNIOR TOUR OF SOUTHLAND

Christine Lambley 2nd in U15 Girls on GC. Olivia Podmore won the Sprint Ace in U17 Girls. Holly Edmondston 5th in U19 Women on GC and 2nd in Sprint Ace. Lucy Timmings 3rd in U19 Sprint Ace.

SOUTHLAND JUNIOR TRACK CARNIVAL

Some top class racing. Olivia won the Invitational Women's Keirin and was part of a NZ squad that beat the Australians in an Italian Pursuit. Holly was dominant in the U19's women's racing. Was down in Invercargill on behalf of Canterbury Track Cycling so ran a session to bring everyone up to speed and then provided support to all Canterbury riders while the racing was going on.

Track Carnival Night One

Track Carnival Night Two

MELBOURNE TO WARRNAMBOOL

This is one of Australia's biggest and historical single day races and is now part of the Australian NRS. It was a main target for Sam Horgan and having never raced for 7 hours before required some extra planning and nutritional guidance. Sam took his good form from winning the Benchmark Series and Great South Coast Tour and his preparation and converted potential into a HUGE VICTORY!!!

It was also a great success for the Budget Forklifts teams demolishing the top class field to take a never achieved before 1-2-3 in the event. 

Moar success!!!

WORLD ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Maddi Campbell joined a positive and ambitious NZ team in Italy for 2013 World Road Cycling Championships. The NZ team came home with one Silver Medal thanks to Linda Villumsen in Elite Women's TT. Maddi rode the U19 women's ITT and Road Race. We had prepared for the savage hilly road race so the TT was an opportunity to get the competing at a Worlds drama out of the way and Maddi was very happy with her ride.

Unfortunately the day after she started to feel unwell and by the day before the road race she had a full-on flu and was even unsure of starting. She did start and didn't achieve the desired result being withdrawn coming through the bell after the time limit with fellow Kiwi Devon Hiley. She was gutted but resolute that she can perform at this level and will benefit from experiencing World Championship level racing and cheering the Kiwi Elite riders on in their races.

Accreditation, numbers and skinsuit. Ready to go!

Individual TT

Front row thanks to Sophie Williamson's 4th last year in Holland.

On one of the never ending climbs in the race.

 NZ SCHOOLS CYCLING CHAMPS

U16 Girls Team Time Trial

Bronze medal to Phoebe McCaughan and Sarah McLeod with their Villa Maria Team Mates Emma Smith and Olivia Reiber

U16 Girls Road Race

Silver Medal to Phoebe McCaughan

U17 Boys Road Race

Silver Medal to Rhys Jones

U16 Boys Points Race

Silver Medal to Josh Smith

BENCHMARK HOMES ELITE CYCLING SERIES

Sam Horgan takes out the overall Elite Men's Cycling series. The series takes all season and includes 6 rounds. Sam was very consistent all season riding for the Benchmark Homes team and won the Hokitika Round.

After leaving series co-leader Tom Hubbard well behind Sam only had to finish one place ahead of Joe Chapman. Mission Accomplished. 

YUNCA JUNIOR ROAD TOUR

After two days of the tour Christine Lambley sits in 2nd on GC in U15 Girls, Olivia Podmore holds the U17 Girls Sprint Ace and has won two stages. Lucy Timmings sits 2nd in the Sprint Ace in U19 Women.

Olivia adds another win to a long list!

Lucy just keeps on improving!

2013 European Masters Track Cycling Champs: Newport, Wales.

Harri Rajaniemi headed from Finland to Wales to compete in the 750m TT and Match Sprint in the 40-44 age group.

The TT was not ideal as he false started and was 500m into his ride before Commissaire's signalled him to stop. He only had one heat before his re-ride.

In the Match Sprints he qualified 5th, lost the first round ride, won the repecharge, lost the 2nd round, won the repecharge, lost the 3rd round and placed 2nd in the repecharge leaving him in 5th place in a competition that was opened up to include 4 35-39 age group riders.

It was his first competition at this level and sprint competition on an indoor track so given us lots to work on for World Masters Track Cycling Champs in early October.

Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling Series Queenstown Round

Round 5 of the Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling Series was held in Queenstown on the course used for Club Nationals and last years Oceania Champs. A cool crisp morning turned into fine day which highlighted the amazing scenery. The racers all came to put on a show and early aggression paid off in all races. 4th place for Sam Horgan was sufficient to put him in the Elite series overall lead. Hopefully his Team Budget Forklifts commitments will allow him to ride the final round to seal the win. Lucy Timmings completed her first Benchmark race and was the first U19 woman to finish.

Check out rickoshayphotos excellent pics of the event!

Lucy attacks the Littles Rd Climb

Sam (L) keeps an eye on the series leader on Little Rd Climb

Mitchell (R) on Lake Hayes Road Climb

Riders head down towards the start of the Littles Rd Climb

Sam takes the Elite grade lead with 1 race to go!

Maddi Campbell

Flight delays in Sydney withstanding Maddi is on her way to Italy to compete in the World Road Cycling Championships riding the U19 Women's Time Trial and Road Race. The TT is on a dead flat course while the road race course has been described as the hilliest course in history featuring a 4.5km climb that the U19 women ride 5 times and a 600m that ramps up to 16% gradient as it goes over the top.

Naturally we have been hitting the hills pretty hard looking for more power and power sustained over several efforts to prepare her for the unrelenting ascents she will face in Tuscany!

Maddi Campbell heads to Italy for World Champs

World Champs Website

5 x Mt Pleasant Rd with excellent power each rep!

2013 Timaru Tour

A weekend of great racing on the roads of Timaru was in store for riders from U17 to Open Riders.

Maddi Campbell took an excellent win in the U19 Women's grade from Alice Bennett. Holly Edmondston won the 1st stage and Maddi won the final 3 stages including a solo victory after going clear up the tough Taiko climb. Olivia Podmore was in hot form sprinting to U17 Girls wins in stages 1, 2 and 4.

Olivia smacks out another Sprint victory.

Maddi goes clear on Taiko

Maddi wins Stage 5 to seal her Timaru Tour U19 Women's Victory