New Zealand track cyclists take a further fix on the Paris Olympic Games, while tomorrow’s stars take their early pedal strokes on their journey towards Los Angeles and Brisbane when they compete in the UCI Oceania Championships in Cambridge.

The five-day international competition for elite, junior and Para-cyclists begins on Wednesday until Sunday at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome, with heat sessions in the morning and finals in the evening.

The respective UCI Continental Championships around the globe – Europe, Africa, Asia, Pan-America and Oceania – are the highest ranked UCI sanctioned championships after the UCI World Championships.

The Oceania confederation is dominated by Australia and New Zealand, which therefore offers some invaluable Olympic ranking points as both nations look to shore-up key events for Paris.

“Our next major target is the second UCI Nations Cup in Hong Kong in Four weeks, but as part of that build-up and also because of the qualifying points available, this week will be an important building-block,” said Cycling New Zealand high performance director, Ryan Hollows.

Hollows said the championships also present an important development opportunity for the junior riders who are emerging from age-group racing and looking ahead the elite scene with goals of the 2028 Olympic Games and beyond.

There is a large contingent coming from Australia, and a smaller group from New Caledonia.

Meanwhile Para Cycling Programme Manager, Brendon Cameron said the New Zealand Para cyclists will use the event to start their competition season, using it as a hit-out leading to their major Paris qualifying events of the Track World Championships and Road World Cups and World Championships.

Wednesday’s action starts at 11am and finals from 5.30pm; Thursday is 9am heats and 6pm finals; Friday is 11am heats and 6pm finals, Saturday is 12noon heats and 6pm finals and Sunday is a single session from 9am to 3pm. Admission for public is free.

Credit: SWPix