Track Cycling Coach Gives Thumbs-up on Delhi Campaign

New Zealand’s track cycling team produced their most successful Commonwealth Games performance away from home after claiming nine medals in Delhi this week.

BikeNZ head coach Tim Carswell said the performances provide a solid foundation as they begin their launch towards the London Olympics in 2012.

The nine medals matches their best ever achieved at home in the 1990 Games in Auckland.

Carswell said there were many benefits.

“One of the best things, we got to do a whole dress rehearsal for 2012 in terms of our preparation over the last six months in terms of competing overseas and through to our final phase in Bordeaux.

“The other thing that was great was to see was the young riders coming through and starting to show some strength. We’ve got some good young stars coming through and they put in some great performances.”

Carswell was full of praise for the youthful sprint quartet that won medals in all sprint disciplines, the first for New Zealand sprinters for 20 years.

“The sprint boys are so young in terms of sprinting age. They have a big future ahead of them. I am sure they will be there in two years time in London. But if you are thinking of their long term development you look to London and they could be good enough to compete for medals there but I know within four to six years those guys will be pushing for the gold medals.”

Carswell said that blooding some young riders into the endurance group was also a real benefit.

“We had added depth in both the men’s and women’s endurance team and the opportunity for young riders to get the experience of competing in a multisport games is invaluable.

“We’ve still got some work to do if we are to compete strongly for the gold medals in both men’s and women’s team pursuit squads but you can see there is the makings of two very, very strong units. We have to put in a lot of hard work over the next two years to cover everything off.

“Ensuring our riders with professional teams get sufficient time out to prepare for London is a factor and we have been accounting for that. At the same time there’s a big desire from the top athletes to be there. To win the Olympic gold medal is the ultimate and being part of the track programme gives them every chance to get that gold medal.”

Carswell said the overall medal haul was satisfactory.

“We were certainly happy with the tally of medals. We didn’t come in with any preconceived thoughts about medals but we were certainly happy to get nine medals. Obviously it would have been great to have a couple more step-up to another level on the podium and we were so close in three or four rides to achieve this.

“At the end of the day we have got to be happy where we finished up. I think out of 10 I would score them with a seven or eight.

“There’s still two years to go and a lot can happen in that time. I would expect some pressure for selection from some younger riders coming up like Tom Scully as well as some of the pro tour riders.”

The bike programme is redirected to the road with the men’s and women’s races tomorrow on a circuit that is expected to suit the Kiwis, with the time trial on Wednesday.