Cycling hub relaunched amid review
A cycling performance hub has been relaunched in Invercargill at a time the sport has been put under the microscope for its treatment of athletes.
In December, Cycling New Zealand announced it was axing its four performance hubs around the country. They were based in Auckland, Cambridge, Christchurch and Invercargill.
The performance hub based at the Invercargill Velodrome was for people aged under 15 up to 22 years (which includes students in years 11 to 13) to access training and development opportunities.
Cycling NZ stated it was a costcutting measure.
Sid Cumming led the hub in Invercargill and said at the time that it would require about $115,000 to keep it operating.
Coach Cumming, along with some administration help from Donna Milne, has pulled together the required funds to relaunch the hub, which closed in March.
It has been rebranded as the G-Force Cycling Performance Hub, and it has been backed by philanthropist Kent Gardner and Southland-based sponsors and funders.
It was now operating separately as an incorporated society, but it has been endorsed by Cycling NZ and was supported by Cycling Southland.
The hub relaunch comes at the same time as the release of a Cycling NZ review, which followed the suspected suicide of top sprint cyclist Olivia Podmore in August last year.
The 104-page report provided a ‘‘forthright look’’ at how the cycling organisation has managed its high-performance programme, detailing a culture of ‘‘medals before process’’, a lack of transparency and accountability regarding selection and recruitment, and an environment where gender biases are prevalent.
Cumming backed his own ability as a coach when asked if he was comfortable with how he personally had treated athletes as part of the Cycling NZ system.
‘‘I’ve done it for 5 1⁄2 years. I’ve never had issues or complaints about my ability to coach or look after and develop young people,’’ he said.
‘‘My big thing on it is we are working with cyclists, but we are also developing good young people. It’s a holistic approach; it’s not just about riding a bike.
‘‘It’s about family, friends, education, all of those things that make good human beings.’’
So what did Cumming make of the Cycling NZ review?
‘‘To be fair I haven’t read it all, but what I’ve seen and heard it is probably well overdue,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s tough out there for elite athletes – it’s a tough environment to be in. I think all the help people can get, to help them do what they do, is a great thing.
‘‘My big thing on it is we are working with cyclists, but we are also developing good young people. It’s a holistic approach; it’s not just about riding a bike.’’ Sid Cumming G-Force Cycling Performance Hub coach
‘‘The sad thing is it’s taken a tragedy to happen to get like this,’’ Cumming said.
As part of the G-Force Cycling Performance Hub programme, Cumming said there would be a key mental skills component that would be run through Jason McKenzie from the successful Academy Southland athlete programme.
McKenzie was part of the New Zealand Olympic Team at the Tokyo Olympics providing athlete support.
The hub has relaunched with 24 cyclists.
Over the 51⁄2 years the performance hub was operated in Invercargill by Cycling NZ, it amassed more than 50 national titles, 100 other national championship medals, Oceania champions, one elite world title, along with Commonwealth and Olympic representatives.