GB World Champs Head West to Train with WAIS Cycling Squad

Published On: 2 February 2009

Sir Chris Hoy with Victoria Pendleton

WAIS cycling athletes have received a huge boost ahead of their preparations for this week’s Australian Track Championships in Adelaide having trained with two icons of world cycling over the last three weeks.

Triple Beijing Olympic gold medallist, Sir Chris Hoy and fellow Great Britain Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton have spent time in Perth training with the WAIS cycling squad and utilizing the strength and conditioning facilities at the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

WAIS Head cycling Coach Darryl Benson described the training partnership with the GB cycling team as a “fantastic experience” and believes that having the best male and female sprinters in the world in Perth amongst his squad would provide a big boost to his athletes.

“We have athletes that are targeting London (2012 Olympic Games) and beyond, and for them to watch and learn from two Olympic champions who are so professional in their approach towards training and preparation for major competitions is inspirational,” Benson said.

“We are very blessed to have built such a strong respectful relationship with the GB cycling team in Perth – one that benefits and enhances our WAIS training environment and lifts the standard of what we are striving for at WAIS, that of developing and producing champion cyclists on and off the bike.”

For members of Darryl Benson’s squad such as junior world champion Luke Durbridge, it has been an invaluable learning experience to witness first hand the different gears that make an Olympic champion.

Luke Durbridge (right) with his AYOF medal

“It is great to see the different methods they use to train, what they do and what we have to do to be the world’s best,” Durbridge said.

For many of WAIS’ fledgling cycling stars of the future, meeting the 32 year-old Scotsman – who was knighted after his Beijing heroics – was a surreal experience.

“You can’t believe he is actually riding around the track – and it is great to have him here,” Durbridge said.

“The biggest thing is his professionalism, when he comes to the track he is straight on and everything is right – everything is done with a purpose.”

Hoy’s performances as part of Great Britain’s all conquering track cycle team in Beijing have made him a household name in the UK. Aside from being knighted in the New Year’s Honours list, Hoy was named as the 2008 Sportsman of the Year by the Sport’s Journalists’ Association of Great Britain and BBC Sports Personality of the year ahead of a stellar list of candidates.

Pendleton added the women’s sprint gold medal in Beijing to her impressive career record that also boasts titles as World and Commonwealth champion.

The training trip to Perth has been no holiday for the world champions however with their Australian born coach Shane Sutton putting their pair through their paces with a routine that included track work outs at the Midvale SpeedDome, road rides and sessions with the WAIS squad between regular slots at the WAIS strength and conditioning facility.

The timing of the camp has provided mutual benefit for both squads, with Hoy and Pendleton preparing for the Copenhagen leg of the UCI Track World Cup, whilst Durbridge and many of his WAIS squad teammates have this week headed for Adelaide for the 2009 Australian Track Championships which will run from the 3-8 February.