Waikato-Bay of Plenty will become the national hub of cycling, with the government sports funding agency SPARC confirming the region as the venue for the national cycling centre of excellence.
The chief executive of SPARC Peter Miskimmin says the national centre will have operations around the region catering for the different bike disciplines, track, road and BMX.
SPARC ran a tender process for the development of the cycling centre and in April the Waikato/Bay of Plenty bid was selected as the preferred tenderer ahead of Auckland and Manawatu, subject to funding from the Waikato Regional Council.
The government is providing $7 million for the centre which will cost $28.5 million.
