Roulston backers bask in win

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Fairfax Media

SAFELY THROUGH: Ashburton cyclist Hayden Roulston has safely cleared the first hurdle in his bid for an Olympic medal with a blistering time in the men's individual pursuit qualifying rounds in Beijing.

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The chance for five Christchurch businessmen - known as the "tight five" - to see Kiwi cyclist Hayden Roulston climb onto the Olympic podium has been priceless.

Roulston this week became the first New Zealand track cyclist to claim two Olympic medals when he won silver in the individual pursuit and bronze in the team pursuit.

It was a special moment for the "tight five" who had financially backed the Ashburton cyclist and his bid to compete in Beijing.

New Zealand cycling team manager, Craig Adair, was part of the group which also included "tennis buddies" Craig Nicholas, Greg Bramwell, Stephen Tubbs and Roger Bridge who came to the financial aid of the cyclist when he lost his savings when a finance company went bust.

Adair was trackside when Roulston climbed onto the rostrum while the other four watched from in front of their televisions back home.

"I had tears in my eyes," Adair said.

"Hayden's had so many setbacks during his career, he deserves this break."

"He lost a lot of money. It was bad investments, but cycling would have lost him because of it."

He said the group of tennis friends decided to put in money to help Roulston live "day-to-day".

"It wasn't a money making exercise," Adair said. "It was just to keep him going so he didn't have that extra pressure."

Adair, who represented New Zealand on the track at both the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the Olympic Games two years later, said he knew the commitment needed to compete at the highest level.

"It's such a hard sport. You can't have things worrying you in your mind when you go out training for five-to-six hour sessions. You just can't."

He has known Roulston for three years and seen him battle through health and financial hurdles.

"It hasn't been easy for him," Adair said. "He's an awesome talent and he just needed a little help."

Roulston's father, Brian, said in Christchurch last night, his son had been close to giving cycling away after he lost his savings, but Adair and four friends, had convinced him to continue and supported him financially.

"He wouldn't have been able to win two medals without their help," he said.

Adair has kept the other members of the group up-to-date with the cyclist's progress and said all were "extremely proud" of his achievements.

But Adair said there were wider ranging benefits to ensuring Roulston was in Beijing with his input into the team pursuit.

"Hayden is a great talent but the other cyclists needed him too," he said. "This wasn't just for Hayden, it was the others too."

Roulston is close to signing for another professional road team and a return to Europe awaits. Adair was predicting an even brighter future for the cyclist.

"He's had tremendous potential and never really realised it. I believe he can go on to greater things. He just needed that break."

- © Fairfax NZ News