Cycling: Bike NZ expect every rider to win a medal

Bike NZ expects every rider chosen for the Commonwealth Games will win a medal. Photo / Guy Swarbrick

Bike NZ expects every rider chosen for the Commonwealth Games will win a medal.

The bulk of the track cycling squad, and the triathlon team for the Glasgow event in July-August were named in Cambridge today.

Bike NZ high performance boss Mark Elliott was pulling no punches at the announcement.

''Every one of these guys and girls have either got a world championship or world cup medal or a world title under their belts," Elliott said.

''Looking forward we have nothing but expectations of gold medal rides for any of our team. The reason these guys are up here is because our belief is every one of them will be standing on the top of the podium in Glasgow."

The 14 named today comprise seven men's endurance riders, five sprinters and two womens' endurance riders, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen.

The triathlon group comprises three men and two women, with Nicky Samuels named as travelling reserve for the mixed relay.

Triathlon New Zealand high performance chief Graeme Maw knows hard work lies ahead.
At the recent World Series event in Auckland, Andrea Hewitt placed fourth of the Commonwealth athletes; Ryan Sissons fifth, so that gives some heart for a sport which needs to lift itself in the wake of recent high profile retirements.

''We are delighted to have set pretty tough selection criteria," he said.

''We know we're coming in with a bit of ground to make up but we're fully determined to do that. We're a strong and tight team and we believe we can deliver."