Paris Olympics: World champions Aaron Gate, Ellesse Andrews heads strong cycling squad

World champions Aaron Gate and Ellesse Andrews have been named to lead a strong NZ cycling contingent at the Paris Olympics.

Track cycling is expected to be one of our main medal hopes, after producing silvers to Andrews (keirin) and Campbell Stewart (omnium) at Tokyo 2020.

Gates is determined to make up for his personal disappointment, after he crashed out of the team pursuit, as they raced for bronze.

"It is unfinished business after Tokyo and the disappointment there," he said. "In terms of expectations, I am putting a lot on myself for this one.

"It is a surreal opportunity to get my fourth Olympics and so it is not one that I am going to take lightly. I will be going there with my best foot forward."

Gates won his world title in the points race, which isn't on the Olympic programme, although it is a staple of the multi-event omnium, where he sits fourth on world rankings. He and Stewart are favourites in the two-man madison, while the pair also part of the second-ranked pursuit team.

Andrews won her world title in the keirin, but she also took bronze in the women's sprint at the world championships.

Track

Women

Endurance: Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman, Nicole Shields, Ally Wollaston (Reserves - Sami Donnelly, Michaela Drummond)

Sprint: Ellesse Andrews, Shaane Fulton, Rebecca Petch (Reserve - Olivia King)

Male

Endurance: Aaron Gate, Keegan Hornblow, Tom Sexton, Campbell Stewart (Reserves - George Jackson, Nic Kergozou)

Sprint: Sam Dakin

Road

Women

Kim Cadzow, Niamh Fisher-Black (Reserves - Ella Wyllie, Henrietta Christie)

Men

Laurence Pithie, Corbin Strong (Reserves - Finn Fisher-Black, George Bennett)

World champions Aaron Gate and Ellesse Andrews have been named to lead a strong NZ cycling contingent at the Paris Olympics.

Track cycling is expected to be one of our main medal hopes, after producing silvers to Andrews (keirin) and Campbell Stewart (omnium) at Tokyo 2020.

Gates is determined to make up for his personal disappointment, after he crashed out of the team pursuit, as they raced for bronze.

"It is unfinished business after Tokyo and the disappointment there," he said. "In terms of expectations, I am putting a lot on myself for this one.

"It is a surreal opportunity to get my fourth Olympics and so it is not one that I am going to take lightly. I will be going there with my best foot forward."

Gates won his world title in the points race, which isn't on the Olympic programme, although it is a staple of the multi-event omnium, where he sits fourth on world rankings. He and Stewart are favourites in the two-man madison, while the pair also part of the second-ranked pursuit team.

Andrews won her world title in the keirin, but she also took bronze in the women's sprint at the world championships.

Track

Women

Endurance: Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman, Nicole Shields, Ally Wollaston (Reserves - Sami Donnelly, Michaela Drummond)

Sprint: Ellesse Andrews, Shaane Fulton, Rebecca Petch (Reserve - Olivia King)

Male

Endurance: Aaron Gate, Keegan Hornblow, Tom Sexton, Campbell Stewart (Reserves - George Jackson, Nic Kergozou)

Sprint: Sam Dakin

Road

Women

Kim Cadzow, Niamh Fisher-Black (Reserves - Ella Wyllie, Henrietta Christie)

Men

Laurence Pithie, Corbin Strong (Reserves - Finn Fisher-Black, George Bennett)

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