Attention turns from road to track

A 40 strong team wil compete at the ILT Velodrome in the Oceania Championships next week ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Nov 17th, 11.  A three day track camp is underway at the ILT Velodrome in Invercargill where a 40 strong Kiwi team is preparing for next week's all important Oceania Track Cycling Championships.

Amongst the track team are names very familiar to RoadCycling.co.nz readers after their successful seasons on the road;

 - pro-tour riders Sam Bewley, Jesse Sergent and Hayden Roulston

- the NZ U23 development road team Shane Archbold, Aaron Gate, Cam Karwowski and Myron Simpson

- Kiwi Internationals Marc Ryan, Jo Kiesanowski and Rushlee Buchanan;

and NZ Continental team Subway Pro Cycling riders Wes Gough and Peter Latham.

The Oceania Championships not only provide these road riders an opportunity to shine on the track, the results also have a direct bearing on the number of track competitors New Zealand can have at next year's World Championships and London Olympics.

Winners of Oceania elite titles earn an automatic place for their country in April's UCI World Championships in Melbourne, which will in turn provide crucial final qualifying points for the London Olympics. The Oceania Championships also offer qualifying points for London.

With so much at stake, the New Zealand team are in training at the ILT Velodrome this week ahead of the championships. Results from this camp and the competition next week will determine a show Olympic team that leaves next Friday night for the World Cup in Cali, Colombia.

A second New Zealand team will contest January's World Cup in Beijing, ahead of final selection for the World Championships and London Olympics.

The Oceania Championships start on Monday with qualifying races in the morning and finals in the evening. Riders from Australia and the Pacific will compete.

New Zealand team

Elite women

Endurance: Kaytee Boyd (Auckland), Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu), Sequoia Cooper (Invercargill), Gemma Dudley (Levin), Lauren Ellis (Hinds, Mid Canterbury), Joanne Kiesanowski (Christchurch), Alex Neems (Auckland), Jaime Nielsen (Hamilton), Alison Shanks (Dunedin).

Sprint: Natasha Hansen (Invercargill), Stephanie McKenzie (Auckland), Katie Schofield (Dunedin).

Elite men

Endurance: Shane Archbold (Timaru), Sam Bewley (Rotorua), Aaron Gate (Auckland), Wes Gough (Waipukurau), Cameron Karwowski (Invercargill), Pete Latham (Hamilton), Hayden Roulston (Christchurch), Marc Ryan (Timaru), Jesse Sergent Feilding), Myron Simpson (Auckland).

Sprint: Matt Archibald (Invercargill), Eddie Dawkins (Invercargill), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Simon van Velthooven (Palmerston North), Sam Webster (Auckland).

Junior women

Endurance: Georgina Wilson (Auckland), Racquel Sheath (Auckland).

Sprint: Paige Paterson (Auckland), Kate Dunlevey (Invercargill), Victoria Steel (Christchurch).

Junior men

Endurance: Dylan Kennett (Waimate), Hayden McCormick (Te Awamutu), Tom Beadle (Invercargill), Tayla Harrison (Christchurch), Hamish Schreurs (Christchurch), Kristoff Ford (Nelson), Alex Hooper (Ashburton).

Sprint: Daniel Ellison (Nelson), Harrison Perriam (Christchurch).