Kennett refused exemption for world cycling champs

Waimate cyclist Dylan Kennett is out of the New Zealand team for the world track championships in Poland after the sport’s world body refused a special exemption application.

Kennett, 24, and Cycling New Zealand had sought the exemption to the rule that requires all riders to have competed in a World Cup during the season in the events they wished to compete in.

Cycling NZ sought the exemption on February 1 from the UCI, once it selected the New Zealand team, based on a knee injury which prevented Kennett competing in the World Cups in Cambridge and Hong Kong.

The UCI’s decision was sent to Cycling New Zealand yesterday with Kennett receiving notification just an hour before he headed to the airport to fly out with the Kiwi team.

Both Kennett and Cycling New Zealand are disappointed with the decision.

Kennett, a world champion in 2015 in the team pursuit and a 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth bronze medallist in the individual pursuit, said on a Facebook post that he was ‘‘frustrated’’ to receive the news.

‘‘I’ve been pushing through a very painful knee injury I’ve had since November to gain selection so makes it more harsh missing out like this.

‘‘This is my first world champs I’ve not ridden since being in the men’s team pursuit squad from 2014 onward.’’

Cycling New Zealand’s acting chief executive Jacques Landry said: ‘‘We’ve done all we can to get Dylan included but the UCI has turned down the exemption request and their decision is final.’’