World medallist and MotoGP coach returns for NZ track cycling role

A former cycling world championship medallist who has played a role in the success of world champions in MotoGP and Formula 1 is to take control of the BikeNZ sprint programme.

Australian-born New Zealand cyclist Anthony Peden was today named as BikeNZ’s new sprint head coach, replacing Justin Grace who resigned and took up a role with the French national team.

Peden gained New Zealand’s first track sprint medal at a world championships for three decades when he finished second in the keirin in 1999, having transferred his allegiances to this country the previous year.

After bowing out of the sport in 2006 Peden moved into coaching and was head-hunted by Australian motor cycle star Casey Stoner. Peden moved to Europe and over the next seven years he helped guide Stoner to two MotoGP world titles and a record 38 victories including six in succession at Phillip Island.

This led to a number of other coaching opportunities, including strength and conditioning coach for Lotus F1 test driver Nicolas Prost and his father Alain, the four-time F1 World Champion, with his new motor racing projects.

Peden has never lost his passion for track cycling, completing his coaching qualifications and advanced studies through the UCI in Switzerland, where he has been based since the move to Europe.

He jumped at the opportunity to return to New Zealand to lead the track sprint programme, retaining a strong emotional tie to this country, with a real belief in his own abilities and excited by this country’s cycling talent.

“Since Casey retired last year I have been looking to get back into cycling,” Peden said. “I believe I have got much to offer. My involvement in major MotoGP teams has given me access to another level of sport and understanding of the importance of data in high performance sport.

“Equally as a rider myself, I had to rely on my tactical ability because I was not as developed physiologically as my key competitors from countries with major programmes.

“New Zealand has some outstanding talent and there’s considerable depth from junior riders coming through. Everyone involved in this development led by Justin Grace should be proud of this.

“This country gave me my big chance in the sport. There’s a strong emotional tie here and I want to give something back.

“We can develop this talent further and I believe that we can emulate what countries like Germany and France were able to do a decade ago and get two or three riders into the top five in the world.”

BikeNZ High Performance Director Mark Elliott said they were thrilled to attract someone of Peden’s qualifications to the job.

“There’s a lack of quality international sprint cycling coaches and we went through an exhaustive process to attract the best candidates. Anthony has outstanding credentials for the job and we are thrilled he has accepted because we know he was the target of other international programmes.

“He has incredible knowledge, the coaching qualifications, an absolute passion for the sport and our country and he is hugely respected. Anthony also understands the role especially with the opportunities associated with our first centralised programme in Cambridge from early next year.”

Peden has been impressed with the progress of the BikeNZ men’s squad.

“Leadership is one of my strengths and I want to ensure we look to make incremental gains in every aspect of our programme. That means we leave no stone unturned to ensure these riders can become the best they are capable of becoming.”

To this end Peden says he is driven by his own background, when he withdrew from the New Zealand team on the eve of the Athens Olympics, having learned that a cortisone injection for a persistent back injury required an official exemption.

“A doctor in Germany gave me the treatment, explaining it was fine. When I sought further medical help on arrival at the village, I learned of the change of rules and when we were unable to get retrospective permission, I had no option but to withdraw.

“I was a strong candidate for a medal and my Olympic dream was shattered. I remain absolutely driven by this experience and do not want any rider to overlook any detail in their preparations on or off the bike.”

Peden takes up his post next month with camps in Auckland and Invercargill ahead of the Oceania Championships and World Cup competitions in Manchester and Mexico before Christmas.