NZ triple champion on the world track

Mar 22nd, 10. Rushlee Buchanan, the current triple New Zealand champion, talks about her upcoming first senior UCI Track World Championships.

Buchanan in pursuit mode at the NZ Nationals ©RoadCycling.co.nz

From Copenhagen, Denmark the Te Awamutu 22 year old shared she's more excited than nervous about the upcoming racing.

The final start line list hasn't been named yet, but Buchanan has her hopes aimed on a position in the team pursuit (TP) squad. The Kiwi squad earned silver last year, and ambitions are higher again this year.

Since the announcement the women's team pursuit will be included in the Olympics for the first time in 2012, Buchanan has said women's endurance track cycling has become even more competitive, which can only be a good thing.

"We had our final full on women's TP training session on the track today and we are heading into race day on Thursday with great goals and we are really confident of riding well as a team and producing a good one!" Buchanan told RoadCycling.co.nz this morning.

"Training has been a bit hectic the last few days with ten other teams all trying to do efforts at the same time! You have to keep you wits about you and sometimes the TP efforts seem like a scratch race as we weave in and out of other riders in our changes! It's all good fun though and our legs have certainly been going around pretty well."

The NZ Scratch Champion is a definite starter for the scratch race at the Worlds ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"This is my first senior World Championships and I think I'm more excited, and ready to finally get out there and race, than nervous! Which is a positive! But come race day, there will probably be some nerves," she predicted.

"The facility is great and being here in Denmark has been a great experience. The racing hasn't even begun but the whole New Zealand team is in really good spirits and I love being a part of the great Kiwi atmosphere - it's strong as ever all the way over here."

"Our abode for the two weeks is about 500m away from the track. A quick ride in the fresh air to wake us up before we get on the boards is perfect! All the coaches and support staff and our awesome manager Craig Adair make sure we have everything and anything, so we really can just focus on riding around that track fast."

The first event for the New Zealand squad is the women's individual pursuit (IP) where Alison Shanks is the defending champion, but there may be one other Kiwi in the start line up too.

"There is a second spot available for the girls IP - we are undecided yet if it will be filled," said Buchanan.

"Ali is on great form and we are all super excited and really confident for her to open the week for us."

The UCI World Track Championships begin on Wednesday night and run until Sunday.

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