‘Reality check’ for NZ cyclists
New Zealand’s sole medal at the world track cycling champs was a ‘‘reality check’’.
Cycling New Zealand high performance director Martin Barras said the team will quickly review before re-setting their sights, with the Commonwealth Games only a month away.
Rushlee Buchanan was New Zealand’s only medallist at the champs in the Netherlands, claiming gold in the women’s omnium.
‘‘Our championship has been a mixed bag,’’ Barras said.
‘‘Our highlights were the performances in both the men’s and women’s omnium and the women’s team sprint, where we exceeded expectations.
‘‘We were also able to expose some of our new talent to the highest level of competition available. As well as these performances we also had a reality check in our mainstay events of the team pursuit and men’s team sprint.’’
Sprint coach Anthony Peden believes the men’s team sprint result – failing to make the medal rounds as defending world champions – was a matter of execution rather than form.
‘‘We were prepared. There were a couple of technical things in each of the individual rides and they got magnified,’’ Peden said.
‘‘It only takes a minute thing.’’
For the first time in seven years, New Zealand didn’t win a medal in the men’s team sprint. They’d previously won three gold medals between 2014 and 2017, and also claimed two silvers and a bronze going back to 2012.
‘‘I do not think it was anything to do with their form. We came here well prepared to defend our world title and the boys had full belief.’’
Barras said the next few weeks will be important.
‘‘For us, this championship is the start of our campaign towards Tokyo 2020 [Olympics] and the first steps we take to improve ourselves will be critical.
‘‘The Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast now awaits us, where we will have the opportunity to show we are moving in the right direction.’’