Wollongong World Championships providing unique opportunities
It is a rare occasion when one of international cycling’s biggest events – the UCI World Road Cycling Championships – come to Oceania, but from 18 to 25 September, 2022, they will to be staged in Wollongong, Australia. The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) will be taking every opportunity to make the most of this major event coming down under, especially for our developing Pacific members.
The most exciting opportunity has come in the form of a special invitation from the International Cycling Union (UCI) for Group 4 national federations to enter teams in the Mixed Teams Time Trial Relay, with generous financial support from the UCI to assist with participation. Early indications are that at least four Pacific teams will be entered from Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji and New Caledonia. These riders may struggle to be competitive on the scoreboard but it will be an experience of a lifetime to compete on the same course along with some of the world’s best road riders.
The Wollongong 2022 Organising Committee has extended a fantastic professional development opportunity for two people from the Pacific to spend two weeks in Wollongong joining the staff team presenting the event. Ron Sue (Fiji) and Klint Vernaudon (Tahiti) have been nominated to take up this unique opportunity to gain valuable insight into conducting a major event of this stature.
Australian Cycling (AusCycling) are also conducting programs around the Championships and again have supported the Pacific federations with invitations for five candidates to undergo officiating training as National Commissaires, firstly through an on-line theory component, and then to come into Wollongong for practical tuition and assessment. At this stage we have participants for the course from Guam, Northern Marianas, Vanuatu and Fiji.
The administrators haven’t been left out either, with the UCI and OCC combining to fund Pacific Federation Presidents to attend the Road Worlds to experience the final weekend of competition and attend the UCI’s Annual Congress.
Add to this some of the world’s best cyclists from the Tour de France and the international circuit competing on Wollongong’s picturesque coastal circuits, and we are in for a very special week!
Nadi hosts successful Coaching Course
Oceania Cycling was very pleased with the recent Pacific Foundation Instructor Course conducted at Wailoaloa Beach near Nadi. This entry level coaching course was presented by Greg Meyland, a UCI Dip 3 instructor from AusCycling.
Despite some late withdrawals due to COVID and post-COVID airline schedules, seven men and two women from Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa were trained and accredited to deliver cycling skills instruction.
The course encompassed a focus on ‘connecting the Pacific’ with presentations on skills instruction and application of core skills, engagement strategies and practical assessments conducted on the beach.
Importantly the course also dealt with discussion relating to strengths and weaknesses of differing regions and having targeted approaches to developing rider participation, especially through schools cycling projects and community engagement/immersion days. Action plans and strategies for working through the next steps were discussed with each federation in attendance.
Oceania Cycling acknowledges the UCI and AusCycling for their provision of resources and support for these programs, which will continue to be conducted throughout the Pacific.
Pacific Cup Road on target
Plans remain on target for the inaugural Pacific Cup for Road Cycling to be held in Guam in December, with most Pacific national federations preparing riders for this inter-island competition that has been stalled for over two years due to COVID. Oceania Cycling will also be conducting practical sessions for officiating and coaching at the event.
- Friday 9 December – Men’s and Women’s Time Trials
- Sunday 11 December – Men’s and Women’s Road Races
Bikes for Tahiti
The Tahiti Cycling Federation was pleased to receive a new order of bikes recently as a result of the UCI and OCC Solidarity program, much to the delight of the local kids!
