The New Zealand team faces record numbers and sticky conditions in its quest for medals at the world track championships in the Netherlands starting today.
While temperatures outdoors could drop as low as minus 8degC in Apeldoorn, the temperatures inside are in the high 20s, producing a super slick surface which has been conducive to stunning times in training.
The New Zealand team has settled well, with the endurance team arriving earlier this week while the sprint contingent had its final preparation last week at nearby Grenchen in Switzerland.
''All the teams are, of course, going fast at a world championship but conditions are making for even faster times,'' Cycling New Zealand high performance manager Martin Barras said.
Australia has only sent a handful of riders, deciding to bypass the championships to focus on the Commonwealth Games. But there are still 411 riders competing.
''We are crammed on the infield. We used to think that 275 riders was a busy event but such is the development of track cycling the big numbers make for a very tight infield.''
The championships get under way with the key Olympic events of team pursuit and team sprint on the opening day.
The team pursuit quartet of Dylan Kennett, Regan Gough, Campbell Stewart and Nic Kergozou will complete the men's qualifying, while Rushlee Buchanan, Kirstie James, Bryony Botha and Racquel Sheath will take on qualifying in the women, both in the afternoon session.
The men's and women's team sprint compete qualifying and medal rounds on the evening programme, with the fastest four through to the medal rounds.
The world champion trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins will defend their title in the men, while Emma Cumming and Natasha Hansen team up in the women.
