Archbold back on track . . . for now
The wheels are in motion for Shane Archbold to return to Cycling New Zealand’s track programme but the off-contract road cyclist is not committing to a permanent switch just yet.
The 29-year-old former World Tour rider will line up alongside Aaron Gate in the madison at the Track Cycling World Cup in London this weekend, four years after winning a gold medal in the scratch race at the Commonwealth Games.
Cycling NZ opened the door for both riders to return to the track programme in the leadup to the 2020 Olympic Games, after the demise of their Pro Continental team Aqua Blue Sport in August left them scrambling to secure contracts on the road.
Gate has since been snapped up by Continental team EvoPro Racing, who will kick off their 2019 season at the NZ Cycle Classic in Cambridge, and Stuff understands Archbold is also close to finalising a deal at the third-tier level of the sport. However, by competing at a lower level there is a greater opportunity to juggle road and track commitments.
‘‘It’d be the best of both worlds but ideally for me the main goal is to go back to the pro peloton on the road,’’ Archbold said.
‘‘Me and Aaron are in similar boats obviously, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of what to do. The track has always been a passion of mine and the Olympics is always an attraction but it’s just about getting through London and seeing where we can fit into the programme.
‘‘Obviously it’s a competitive team to get amongst it and at the moment my only hope to ride in the Olympics would be in the madison and not the team pursuit. New Zealand is a country that is team pursuit driven, so it’s just about racing in London and saying ‘hey we are back on the track’ and then sitting down and having conversations with what’s next.’’
But regardless of how they perform in London this weekend, Archbold said he won’t be rushed into making a decision on his future, especially as he remains hopeful of securing a contract with a pro team for next year.
‘‘If I win or lose it won’t be that I’ll never ride on the track again or I’ll 100 per cent ride in Tokyo, it’s more just about getting the feeling back,’’ he said.
‘‘Aaron and I have done a few races together but it’s nothing like the level of a World Cup, which is a whole other ball game, especially coming into an Olympics cycle where everyone is taking it a lot more serious.
‘‘The speeds are getting up and up and we have no idea how we’re going to go. It’s been four years since I’ve raced on the track seriously, my last serious race was the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, so it’s been a long time.’’