BikeNZ celebrates 15 World Champions in remarkable 2009

BikeNZ has celebrated an unprecedented year of success by honouring 15 New Zealanders who have won 18 world championships between them in a remarkable 2009.

The 15 World Champions have won across all disciplines of BikeNZ including elite, junior, para-cycling and masters track, mountain bike and BMX in a record breaking year. They were honoured at a special function at SPARC headquarters in Wellington today.

Formed just six years ago, BikeNZ has achieved outstanding success, with the 18 world titles among 40 podium placings at world championships in 2009.

They were led at the High Performance level by Beijing Olympians Alison Shanks and Sarah Walker.

Shanks (Dunedin) followed in the footsteps of the great Sarah Ulmer in winning the gold in the women’s elite individual pursuit at the UCI World Track Championships in Poland in March. She also led the new women’s team pursuit to a silver medal at the same championships.

Walker (Kawerau) met with double gold success at the BMX World Championship in Adelaide in July when she won the Olympic class and then followed by taking out the Cruiser Class the following day. She finished the year ranked No 1 in the world.

“Our High Performance programme is very focused on delivering outcomes in our targeted areas of endurance track cycling and BMX, and in this regard Alison and Sarah led the way,” said BikeNZ Chairman, Richard Leggat.

“These outstanding performances are not limited to this pair alone with the women’s and men’s pursuit programmes and other endurance track events  enjoying significant international success.

“We are a very focused and committed High Performance Programme led by our High Performance Director Mark Elliott who has put in place the best coaches and performance support professionals who are as driven as the athletes for success.

“Fundamental to this has been SPARC, who have not only provided the vital investment to develop a world class campaign, but offered support and expert guidance at every step along the way.

“BikeNZ has been thrilled to attract a key commercial partner in RaboPlus who share our philosophy and passion for the sport.

“Much of our direct support on the ground to the programmes and the athletes is delivered by immersed Academy of Sport staff. This has been invaluable in creating a platform of sports science and sports medical knowledge which will continue to enhance our future performances.”

SPARC Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin said the individual athletes and BikeNZ are to be applauded for delivering on the investment from the Government.

“The achievements of these 15 athletes are tremendous.  It is simply extraordinary that a single sport has produced 18 world titles in a single year.  

“Credit has to go not only to the riders who have undoubted talent, but to the planning and support provided by BikeNZ.  It has shown it is a national sport organisation that is able to deliver results,” Peter Miskimmin said.

BikeNZ said the focus is not just on today’s stars with brilliant success from riders of tomorrow, led by three gold medal at the UCI World Junior Track Championships and a superb win for Brook MacDonald in the UCI World Junior Mountain Bike Downhill.

“Obviously we are placing high priority on our talent identification and development programmes and thrilled to see this success at international junior levels.”

Leggat said that a vital part of this success was due to the countless and often thankless hours of dedication from many volunteer coaches and club administrators throughout the country who nurtured these world champions.

“BikeNZ is committed to building on this success in 2010, developing a range of programmes that will help our clubs better support the development of all levels of cycling and a nationwide coaching development framework”.

BikeNZ also takes a holistic approach to cycling, promoting its benefits to the public in support of the 1.3 million New Zealanders who ride bikes.

“In that respect it is wonderful to celebrate success across the wide spectrum of our sport. Today we are recognizing a world champion aged six, a world champion aged 77 and a world champion in para-cycling.

“Cycling in all its forms is a sport, a recreational activity and a way of life for all ages and circumstances.”

The BikeNZ World Champions in 2009:

Alison Shanks (Dunedin):  Elite Women’s Track Individual Pursuit  

Sarah Walker (Kawerau):  Elite Olympic Class BMX 

Sarah Walker:  Elite Cruiser Class BMX  

Sam Webster (Auckland), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Cameron Karwowski (Blenheim): Junior Track Team Sprint 

Sam Webster: Junior Track Sprint 

Sam Webster: Junior Track Keirin 

Brook MacDonald (Napier): Under 19 Mountain Bike Downhill 

Rico Bearman (North Harbour): BMX Olympic Class 5-6 years

Nicholas Fox (Gisborne): BMX Cruiser Class 16 years

Tahlia Hansen (Christchurch): BMX Olympic Class 12 years

Paula Tesoriero (Wellington): Para-Cycling Road Race 

Paula Tesoriero: Para-Cycling Track 500m Time Trial 

Justin Grace (Auckland): Masters Track 1000m Time Trial 35-39 years

Reon Park (Timaru): Masters Track Individual Pursuit 35-39 years

Megan Blatchford (Palmerston North): Masters Track Sprint 45-49 years

Megan Blatchford: Masters Track Scratch Race 45-49 years

Warwick Dalton (Auckland): Masters Track Scratch Race 70-74 years

Owen Duff (Dunedin): Masters Track Points Race 75 plus years.