Cycling New Zealand’s performance development strategy is gaining momentum, with the appointment of former Olympian Jon Andrews as its first Performance Hub Coach for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region, based in Cambridge.
The Cycling Performance Hub (CPH) network will help sustain the future success of high performance cycling in New Zealand by increasing the quality and quantity of riders feeding into the elite tier of the sport.
Andrews has a strong cycling history, competing at Olympic and Commonwealth Games where he won two bronze medals in Auckland in 1990. For the last 15 years he has been involved in coaching, most recently as the Assistant Coach for the New Zealand junior team at the World Track Championships in Kazakhstan.
“Top coaches are key to the success of our Performance Hubs. With his depth of cycling experience, Jon is well placed to lead coaching at our first Performance Hub here in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty” said Cycling New Zealand CEO, Andrew Matheson.
Andrews will formally take up the post early in the New Year.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to help develop the next generation of New Zealand’s cycling champions” Andrews said.
“With so many talented cyclists coming through the ranks, there’s a real need for a strong development programme as a pathway into New Zealand’s high performance programme which is already world class.
“I’m looking forward to working with the wider Cycling New Zealand team that help make high performance possible, and are vital in building a sustainable, world class development system”.
The Waikato-BOP CPH has a focus on road and track riders and in particular will provide coaching for Under-19 to Under 23 track cyclists and align with the direction and philosophy of the central high performance programme.
“It’s an exciting time for cycling with the first of eight performance hubs taking shape. We’ve just successfully delivered New Zealand’s first ever UCI Track Cycling World Cup, we have a world-leading high performance programme in place and a strong team tracking well for Rio,” said Matheson.
“Performance hubs are the link in the chain that will continue feeding our athlete development pipeline – giving promising young riders opportunities to reach their potential and continue the success of cycling on the world stage in years to come.”
Support from the Grassroots Trust, philanthropist Richard Seaton and High Performance Sport New Zealand has enabled delivery of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty CPH. The wider regional Hubs network will be progressed over the next two to three years as regional resourcing and funding is secured, with six to be ear-marked for road and track cycling and one each for Mountain Bike (based in Rotorua) and BMX (based in Cambridge).
CAPTION: The Avantidrome in Cambridge, which will be the base for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Cycling Performance Hub, the first of eight hubs announced by Cycling New Zealand.
Photo courtesy Dianne Manson