10 Jun 2016

Cooper ruled out of Olympics

9:41 am on 10 June 2016

The Commonwealth games mountainbike champion Anton Cooper won't be competing at the Rio Olympics.

The New Zealand cross country mountain biker Anton Cooper wins the under-23 World Championship title, 2015.

The New Zealand cross country mountain biker Anton Cooper wins the under-23 World Championship title, 2015. Photo: Armin Kuestenbrueck/Cannondale

The Canterbury 21 year old was ruled out of contention because of health issues, the single Olympic spot has gone to his close rival Sam Gaze.

Gaze finished second to Cooper at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Cooper, the current under-23 world champion, was not considered for selection on medical grounds, after illness derailed his recent World Cup competitions.

Cycling New Zealand High Performance Director, Mark Elliott said that the future for cross-country mountain bike in New Zealand is exciting with Cooper, once recovered from his long-term illness, and Gaze both with the potential for two more Olympic cycles ahead of them.

With Olympic selection criteria requiring riders to show top eight potential, no female New Zealand mountain bike rider was considered for nomination by Cycling New Zealand.

Gaze, who rides for the Specialized Factory Racing team based in Europe, is the New Zealand Elite Mountain Bike Cross-Country Champion and currently leads the UCI World Cup Under-23 standings after two wins and a third in the opening three rounds in Australia, Germany and France.

New Zealand mountain bike cross-country rider Sam Gaze.

New Zealand mountain bike cross-country rider Sam Gaze. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"This has been a dream of mine. I remember watching the London Olympic mountain bike and four years later I will be part of it. I am so honoured to represent my country and motivated now to do my best for my family, for everyone who has helped me, for Cycling New Zealand and for my sport," said Gaze.

Cycling New Zealand High Performance Director, Mark Elliott said: "Sam has developed well over the last 18 months with his professional team. He is strong and has exceptional speed and when on his game, can match the speed of some of the best elite riders.

"He has had some experience in a Games environment at Glasgow and I am sure he will perform at an exceptional level in Rio. While the field will include the best elite riders, it will also be considerably smaller than the fields in World Cup competitions which should give opportunities for Sam to show his strengths."

Meanwhile Trent Jones has been selected to compete in the BMX competition in Rio.

Jones has taken over as the country's leading male BMX rider since the retirement of Beijing and London Olympian Marc Willers.

Olympic silver medalist Sarah Walker failed to gain Olympic qualification after failing to gain a top finish at the recent world championships.

The selection of these two riders brings the total New Zealand team size to 103 athletes selected.