Tri NZ High Performance Gets Specialized In Bike Partnership

December 6 2013
For immediate release from Triathlon New Zealand, for further information visit www.triathlon.org.nz

Tri NZ High Performance Gets Specialized In Bike Partnership

Click for big version.

Just days after announcing a new five year partner to the sport in .kiwi, Triathlon New Zealand has unveiled a new partner to the High Performance Programme (HPP) with Specialized Bicycles joining forces with New Zealand’s leading triathletes.

In a first for the recently restructured and centralised HPP, Specialized will provide cutting edge technology and support to the athletes in the HP Squads, starting with Specialized Body Geometry fitting for the athletes at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Cambridge today. Specialized flew in world leading expert Stewart Morton from Australia to work with the squad, Morton works in Europe with many of the world’s leading pro cyclists and delivered that same level of service and expertise to the Tri NZ HP athletes.

Tri NZ HP Director Graeme Maw says it is all about performance when it comes to the triathletes.

“Specialized coming on board as bike partner to the High Performance Programme is great news for the sport and in particular for the athletes. The performance synergies between a global high performance brand such as Specialized and our HP triathlon programme are very strong.

“One thing that was clear from the first time we met with Specialized is the match between their high performance attitude and our own. We are very much on the same page and looking for every competitive advantage we can to assist the development and performances of our athletes, with the ultimate goal of having them go faster.”

The mission at Specialized is simple; to be the best cycling brand in the world through uncompromising rider driven innovation. Specialized are looking to fulfil that objective through partnerships with elite triathletes such as Ryan Sissons, Javier Gomez, Kate McIlroy and Bevan Docherty and now the Tri NZ HP Squads; where they have found a similarly single-minded attitude to performance.

As well as the provision of personalised and specially fitted bikes, the partnership will see athletes establish a link and relationship with Specialized stores in their home towns. While many of the athletes will spend most of their time at the Cambridge HPC, it is important that they maintain that link when at home, either training or in a resting phase.

James Elvery is a former elite triathlete himself and began working with Specialized upon his retirement a year ago. He knows what this sort of partnership can mean to the triathletes.

“I feel I have a pretty good understanding of the requirements of the athletes in this group. This partnership is something that would have been of huge benefit to me when I was in their position. Removing the cost of the athletes’ major piece of equipment will I’m sure be a huge relief to these guys and their families.

“More importantly however from a performance perspective, Specialized Bicycles are absolutely world class and these athletes will arrive at their races on the same playing field as the best athletes in the world.  Aside from having incredible product, we are able to offer the HP Squad valuable support while living and competing overseas. These athletes spend four to six months overseas each year and having a global brand like Specialized behind the team will ensure they are supported worldwide.”

“We look forward to seeing this team full of raw talent develop and rise up the rankings over the next 3 years. We are thrilled to partner with Tri NZ High Performance and supply New Zealand’s top athletes the highest performing bikes and cycling equipment on the planet.”

Sam Ward is at 18 years old one of the youngest in the Tri NZ HP Squads and had a smile a mile wide when news of the Specialized partnership was announced to the team.

“What more could you ask for? We get top line gear and bikes, it all gets renewed every year and we don’t have to worry about equipment failure. Not only is it about the equipment and technology but we are taught how to prepare and maintain our gear too so our racing bikes are always prepared well.

“We get team kit as well which means we look like an HP team as a group. It is going to be awesome, we don’t have to worry about buying expensive bikes, I can’t afford that on my own so it is a huge help for someone like me and Sophie and Aaron, a huge help.

“Specialized have even flown in a Body Geometry fitter from Australia, one of the best around, to make sure everything is perfect. I have had bike fits before but nothing like this; it took three hours with unbelievable attention to detail.

“The bottom line thought is that this is about making us go faster, which is what this is really all about, our performance.”

Meanwhile Ward is thoroughly immersing himself in the environment at the High Performance Centre in Cambridge.

“This is my first flatting situation, I was in Spain for the last part of the year with the HP Squad, but this is the first time I have actually lived in a house away from home with other athletes.  The whole time you in the HP environment focused on training, it just keeps the focus on the right areas without distractions. The bonus is flatting with Sophie (Corbidge) is there are not many days that we don’t get a nutritious treat after training and I am a bit skinny so that can’t be bad.

“I am really enjoying it, especially now everyone is here. Just being around the likes of Ryan and Tony, training with them, it is good just learning what they bring to training every day.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media