February 2/05 5:21 am - Jacques Landry Hired as New Zealand National Road Coach

Posted by Editoress on 02/2/05
 

Jacques Landry Hired as New Zealand National Road Coach
Courtesy cyclingnz.com

BikeNZ announced today that Jacques Landry has been recruited to the long-term position of National Road Coach.

Landry, an ex-international road cyclist for Canada, has spent the last 18 months managing BikeNZ's Overseas Training Centre in Limoux, southern France.

Landry's National Road Coach position has 3 main functions:

1. Oversee and manage all operations being delivered out of the Limoux training centre;

2. Head Coach the national road cycling programme;

3. Support the to-be-recruited National Track Coach in delivering the endurance component of BikeNZ's national track programme.

BikeNZ is currently moving to consolidate the Overseas Training Centre for the long-term, a European operation that Landry was instrumental in successfully establishing early in 2004 to operate as a training and competition base for BikeNZ national team projects being delivered in Europe (road, track, mountain bike and paralympic).

"Jacques was originally recruited to BikeNZ 9 months prior to the 2004 Olympic Games, subsequently set up an overseas training centre (Limoux) and headed up the national men's road programme", said Rodger Thompson, BikeNZ chief executive. "When one considers what he achieved in what has been limited time within the New Zealand programme, BikeNZ is very pleased to secure his services for long-term through to Beijing 2008. The high performance structure is building for the long-term and this has always been BikeNZ's goal as we look towards the Beijing Olympics. Jacques is a strong asset and will have a major influence on the future success of the programme".

" I am honoured to be able to contribute in the building of a development system over the next four years that will hoist kiwi high performance cycling to a new international level", said Landry. "Coupled with great financial support and renowned kiwi pride and determination I am sure that we will be looking at an increased number of cycling medals from our athletes in four years time in Beijing".

Facts

• For the first time this position is being established on a long-term basis and has the backing of the New Zealand Academy of Sport, SPARC's high performance network. This permanency providing security to BikeNZ's long term planning.

• BikeNZ was established in July 2003 as the new national service organisation for cycling and services 6 member organisations - Cycling NZ, Mountain Bike NZ, BMX NZ, NZ Schools Cycling, NZ Masters Cycling, and the Cycling Advocates Network