The BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott says the results achieved at the Track Cycling World Championships in Belarus proves the New Zealand sprinters now deserve to be in the position to ride for medals all the time.
The team achieved a three-medal haul from just five riders, with the gold medal to 22 year old Aaron Gate in the omnium, silver medals in the team sprint and a silver for Simon Van Velthooven in the kilo time trial.
Sam Webster had to settle for fourth place in the individual sprint but became the first New Zealander to reach a World Championship medal round in sprinting.
Mark Elliot says the young riders exceeded expectations and says the programme started three years ago to send a development team to Europe every year is paying dividends.
