The BikeManawatu and WCNI track programmes have developed some great track riders over the years and 2015 is no exception.
At the U19 and Elite track cycling championships in Cambridge our riders really stood out, bringing home many team and individual medals to the Mighty Manawatu.
Outstanding performances at these Championships and throughout the season resulted in three of our BikeManawatu riders being selected in U19 national track teams. Michaela Drummound and Campbell Stewart were selected in a small team of seven to compete at the Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Astana, Kazakhastan. Michaela, who won the national Scratch race title not long ago will be apart of the four strong Under 19 women endurance team alongside Bryony Botha, Madeline Park and Holly White. This womens endurance team will be competing in the Team Pursuit and individual bunch races whilst Campbell will be the only male competior in the team and will compete in the Under 19 Men omnium, which consists of six events over 2 days. The team is completed by Olivia Podmore (Cantabury) and Emma Cumming who both dominated at the recent nationals and will contest the Womens sprint events at worlds.
“We will be going to Astana with a firm focus on the podium,” said national junior coach Ross Machejefski.
“Three of the team competed last year in Korea, where Bryony and Holly both won medals and Bryony has also competed at an elite World Cup in January.
“Campbell is an exciting young rider who had won numerous national titles on the road and track and impressed us as an omnium rider with potential.” Said Machejeski.
These world Championships will take place 19-23 August 2015.
Cycling New Zealand has also selected a team to compete at a UCI track Carnival and ANZAC Cup in Adelaide. The Junior Worlds Squad will compete at this event, alongside a mens sprint and full endurance team. Our very own Liam Brown’s exceptional racing at his first track cycling Nationals showed the selectors that he has a lot to offer, and they have selected Liam in the Under 19 mens team to compete at the Adelaide Carnival and Cup.
“The costs to get to Astana are really prohibitive and challenging, with Australia having voiced the same sentiments to us,” said Cycling New Zealand High Performance Director, Mark Elliott.
“The result of those discussions is that when world championships are located at remote destinations, then both Australia and New Zealand will send smaller teams of targetted riders capable of reaching the top of the podium.
“At the same time this new venture with Australia will give a much better opportunity to develop our younger riders against arguably the strongest cycling nation at this age.” Elliot concluded.
Full team lists are as follows:
The team for the ANZAC Cup and UCI competitions in Australia on 27-31 May is:
Sprint: Olivia Podmore (Christchurch), Emma Cumming (Invercargill), Liam Brown (Palmerston North), Hamish Beadle (Invercargill), Bradley Knipe (Invercargill).
Men’s Endurance: Connor Brown (Auckland), Tom Sexton (Invercargill), Campbell Stewart (Palmerston North), Lachie McGregor (Dunedin), Max Jones (Christchurch), Hugo Jones (Christchurch).
Women’s Endurance: Holly White (Auckland), Bryony Botha (Auckland), Madeleine Park (Auckland), Michaela Drummond (Palmerston North), Rose Marshall-Lee (Christchurch).
The team for the world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan on 19-23 August
Sprint: Olivia Podmore, Emma Cumming
Women’s Endurance: Holly White, Bryony Botha, Madeleine Park, Michaela Drummond
Men’s Endurance: Campbell Stewart
Congratulations to our three riders selected to compete, and thanks to all the other riders, parents, volunteers and supporters for helping them get to where they are.
