Speedsters compare notes at the zoo

The burgeoning BikeNZ sprint cycling team heads overseas next week for a 12-week buildup for the Commonwealth Games, keen to ensure they are not an endangered species in this country.

It is believed to be the first time New Zealand has developed a programme around a sprint team in any sport in this country, which has garnered most of its international success at Olympic and Commonwealth Games in endurance sports.

The youthful team of junior world champion teenagers Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell, 21-year-old Southlander Eddie Dawkins and Adam Stewart, 22, will be joined by Japan-based Simon Van Velthooven to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Coach Justin Grace said it was exciting that New Zealand is developing a sprint programme and he was keen to develop them into world-class performers looking ahead to 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Grace took the fastest men on wheels on a team-building exercise to get up close and personal to the fastest animals in the world, cheetahs, at Auckland Zoo yesterday.

"It's a chance for these individuals to start to bond as a group. And we do not want to become an endangered species like these cheetahs," Grace said.

"There are lots of similarities in our makeup, aerodynamics and top speed as these cheetahs. It's been a remarkable experience to be able to walk with these remarkable animals like this in Auckland Zoo."

Grace said BikeNZ is keen to mould this young group into a world-class outfit, which in turn may attract more people to sprint cycling.

"We just happen to have a group of sprinters who have reached this standard at the same time. They are all so young in a sport where riders can compete into their mid-30s.

"They took a major step forward at the world championships this year where we are now fifth in the world in the team sprint and Eddie (Dawkins) was fifth in the kilo.

"This is the first time any of them have been able to train and compete overseas and it will be an outstanding experience as well as a vital buildup for Delhi."

The group will head to Trexlertown in the United States for five weeks, joining some of the other members of the BikeNZ track team, before heading to Germany for further training and competition against many of the world's best.

After the final team is named late next month, they will join the Commonwealth Games track team for final preparations at Bourdeaux before heading to Delhi.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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