They both won prestigious awards at the BikeNZ's meeting in Auckland last weekend.
Shanks won the Female Face of Cycling award and Falcous the Shona Smith Trophy for raising the involvement and profile of women in cycling.
Falcous runs a Women on Wheels programme in Otago that gives females the chance to try track cycling in a supportive environment.
In the first year, he introduced more than 30 females to cycling by running track coaching clinics and bunch rides.
"We started with three riders and I now have 30 female riders on my email list," Falcous said.
"I didn't think it would grow as quickly as it did.
"I wanted to push the women riders past the comfort zone and get them used to the steep banks of track racing. They rose to the occasion."
It was designed to give masters and novice female riders a chance to develop the confidence and learn the skills of track racing.
"Female riders were keen in the past but there were limited opportunities, Falcous said.
"The Cycling Otago Tuesday night track racing was perceived as an intimidating environ- ment by this group."
Falcous has run weekly track sessions, designed to give positive experiences and track riding skills to female riders. Sessions were structured to develop riding fitness, knowledge of different track races, race skills, tactical awareness and fun activities.
"I also ran a session to teach mechanics, puncture repair and bike maintenance," he said.
Katie Schofield became involved as the assistant coach and took eight riders to a mini track carnival to compete against the Southland Women on Wheels group in Invercargill.
Falcous (38), a lecturer in the sociology of sport at the University of Otago's School of Physical Education, started cycling in England 20 years ago. His best performance was to win a bronze medal in the masters scratch race at the New Zealand championships in Invercargill this year.
The female riders expressed their view of the Women on Wheels group.
"Thanks again for all your help Mark. I've had enough of a taste to want to continue coming along next season and get into the sport more. There was just the right amount of professionalism as well as a good sense of fun," Alexa Peters said.
"It was a positive experience. I feel privileged to be part of this group and gain the friendship of others and have Mark as our amazing coach." Viv Allen-Kelly said.
