Cumming returning to top level racing
Southland cyclist Emma Cumming will make her return to top class racing as New Zealand’s Olympic-bound cyclists stretch their legs before the Christmas break in the Cambridge 3-Day Carnival in Cambridge starting today.
While there is a full programme including racing for the country’s leading Para-cyclists, a focus will be on the Vantage Omnium and Madison National Championships, with both disciplines on the Tokyo race schedule.
“The Vantage high performance squad, both elite and development riders, have been training really hard through the winter,” said Cycling New Zealand high performance director, Martin Barras.
“Before we close the door on this very unique and challenging year, this is an opportunity to tackle some internal competition, and a chance to measure their progress before we set ourselves for the very important few months leading to Tokyo.
“We will also be looking closely at the Under-19 and Under-17 racing at the next levels of riders pushing through and evaluate the benefits of those who are coming through our Performance Hub pathways.”
Competition begins on Friday evening with Para-cycling time trials, sprint qualifying and first rounds and the Vantage Madison Championships. The Madison, which includes two-rider teams, will include Tokyo-bound Jessie Hodges, Rushlee Buchanan and Bryony Botha in the women with Aaron Gate, Southlander Corbin Strong and Campbell Stewart in the men, who have been nominated for this event at the Olympics.
Saturday’s racing across morning and evening sessions features all rounds of the sprint with best of three finals at night involving the Tokyo-bound riders Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Dakin, Callum Saunders and Ellesse Andrews. It also includes a return to top level for Commonwealth Games medallist Cumming, and the exciting keirin specialist Jordan Castle, both returning after significant time out with injury. The Under 17 riders will also feature in both sessions with the unique opportunity to race on the same stage as the elite riders.
The Under-19 riders will tackle the Vantage Omnium National Championships throughout the day while Para-cyclists compete in individual pursuit.
The final day on Sunday features the elite Vantage Omnium National Championships, comprising four exciting bunch-race disciplines of the scratch race, tempo with a point for the winner of each lap, elimination where the last rider drops out every two laps and the Points race.
The elite and under-17 riders compete in the keirin and Para-cyclists race in sprint, while the Vantage Elite women’s team pursuit will have an Olympic simulation time trial on Thursday preceding the championship event.
