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World Cups & World Champs 2024

April/may 2023 saw us traveling to europe for 2 world cups. First one in Maniago Italy. I won Bronze in both the time trail and road race, quite happy with my performance. Then off to Belgium where unfortunately the decision was made for me to pull out from the Ronde des Flanders as the conditions were too dangerous. This was followed by two world cup races in Oostende. Unfortunately in both races I suffered bad ataxia which saw me unable to finish one race and low in ranks in the other. However...

World Championships | Canada

World Championships in Canada A mixed affair at the World Championships in Quebec in August last year. Unfortunately, during my Time Trial race a staff member gave me incorrect information leading to me missing out on a medal, however two days later I finished the road race with a Bronze.Really difficult course with a very steep (dangerous) downhill and a 10% climb on the other side.Overall I was happy with how I performed.Since the worlds I have started training under a new coach whom...

WORLD CUP | Quebec

After a long flight to Canada via San Francisco Eltje and John made it to the Road World Cup in Quebec.Eltje won 2 more silver medals, ITT and RR. Eltje also won the World Cup Leaders jersey and trophy for 2022. It’s a points competition for the world cups held in 2022.  Now heading to the Road Worlds in Baie Comeau, Canada....

May Update | Europe

Our Europe trip started with a long, long flight via Dubai, but with staying on the plane in Kuala Lumpur while they refuelled it. Then on to Brussels and a car ride to Ostend in Belgium. Accommodation was at the seafront, and adjacent to the race course and start/finish, which allowed us to watch racing from our balcony. All the teams stayed there.  My first event, a Time Trial, around (too) many corners, but I came second behind the reigning World Champion.  My sister Diete and my ne...

Feb 22 Update

Here we are, Feb 22 and approximately 5 months post Tokyo.  There have been some changes to my team. Coach Blandy is pursuing other opportunities so is no longer available, this has meant I have had to search for another coach. Ryan Hollows, our new programme manager, suggested a trial with Hannah Vankampen as a new coach. I agreed to it and I am looking forward to working with Hannah as it appears to be a good match. Although Tokyo was a big disappointment to me, I am back enjoying ri...

Japan

A picture can say a thousand words... Photos of training in Japan. Almost RACE DAY!...

Eltje Update | NZ Preparation Complete

My NZ preparation for the Paralympics in Tokyo is is complete. We have been in self-isolation at a camp in Cambridge. I was in Podium Lodge , a very nice accommodation, but I left it, as it proved not to be suitable for my degree of disability. I am continuing my self isolation at home, for the final week.On top of that, the recent outbreak of Covid-19 has resulted in us being in lockdown again, which will has continued until we depart from Auckland airport today, 23 August. The logistics of the...

Team Eltje | Andrew Annear | Physio

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Eltje Update

It has been rather hectic lately as I attended a PNZ camp at New Plymouth, followed by almost 2 weeks in Mount Maunganui, training in a heat lab, where as well as getting used to exertion in high temperatures and humidity, the physiological effects were recorded.During our camp in the Mount the PNZ Para-cycling team selection was formally announced, and then on Wed 14th we travelled to North Shore for more work in a heat lab and to attend the presentation of the full PNZ Para team , all spo...

Team Eltje | Michael Bland | Coach

Learn about the working mechanisms of Team Eltje from Micheal Bland, Eltje's coach....

NZ PARALYMPIC TEAM | IT'S OFFICIAL!

It is official! Selection has been made by Paralympics New Zealand and I will be representing New Zealand at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games!Please see the link below to the selection media from today.PARA CYCLING SELECTION ARTICLE...

Team Eltje | John

Please see below a bit of a Q&A with Christina (Eltje's Athlete Life Advisor with High Performance Sport NZ) and John who is a dear friend and also part of Eltjes glue in making this journey happen....

100 Days to Go!!

All going well and with pending selection being successful... today will mark 100 days until my first race!  The Time Trial on the 31st of August will be where my sights are set!It feels unreal if you look at the worlds problems. Sport seems to be insignificant. Whatever the NZ government and PNZ go with, I trust, is safe.How do I feel about it? I can’t change it, so I better accept the uncertainty... and once I am at the start line, I will focus on racing, and doing my best. Be it in Tok...

Brisbane

John and I went to Brisbane for 6 days in the last week of April, thanks to the Trans Tasman bubble that was possible without having to quarantine!The main purpose was my classification review, it was good that we were able to go there as the other option would have been Europe and this wouldn't have been as safe as Australia. I AM NOW T1 FOR LIFE!What a big relief. My race over there wasn't as good as it should have been, but now I know that I have to work on my hills and strength over the next...

2021 Racing Update

This years racing started in Hampton Downs at the motor racing course which is good to practise on that type of course as Tokyo will be similar! Then followed by the Bev May Classic in Morrinsville, both races went well and the coach was very happy. Over easter I did an endurance block at my friend John Blakes house in Waitomo Caves. The roads around there are still quiet as it is more of a tourist destination, I love it!  Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Champs were held in Cambridge and Tokoroa in ...

Walk of Champions

During the paracycling development camp they officially opened the ‘Walk of Champions’ photos of the World champions for Paracycling. Below is a photo of me down the passage way in the velodrome/ walk of champions viewing this. This was an very proud and special moment for me....

Racing at Hampton Downs

We just finished a one week trainings camp here in Cambridge! We raced on three days. One of them was Hampton Downs. It was really good to race on a motor racing course, as this will be the case in Tokyo as well. The next one around Aspin Road, my local training grounds. The last one was up Te Miro, in order to prep some hilly terrain. We also shared lunches and dinner, lots of opportunities to socialise with the rest of the TEAM - which really has to develop much more. We all agreed to that. No...

Eltje Video Update

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Lockdown Update

During the whole of Level 4 lockdown, and until today, Level 3, we have been so lucky with the weather, which together with the extremely quiet roads, has made riding in the North King Country so enjoyable.  Quiet roads, lovely sunny weather and beautiful scenery, is wonderful! I have been revisiting some of my former favourite cycling routes between Waitomo, Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, this time on the trike – it's really satisfying, to be able to climb the many hills in this area. I am jus...

Road Rage, Lock Down & Paralympic Games

Road Rage Incident On 14th March I was riding along with my friend John, riding behind me, on Peake Road near Cambridge which was straight and wide. The driver of a van leaned on his horn continuously, then overtook us slowly. He leaned out of the window looking back at us and shouted 'Get off the road, you f….g bastards'. Which is bad enough, but then he pulled in, in front and slammed the brakes on so I piled straight into the stationary van, head first, at 27kph according to my compute...

Productive Weeks

A few busy weeks it has been!Bev May women's tour,  well organised by the Mays, 2 stages on 1 day, a first for me on the trike: first stage quite hilly, I did well, much faster than last year. BUT THEN the second stage, was a disaster because I had severe ataxia right from the start. Just managed to finish it.The following Saturday John and I went up Te Miro hill. A long, but achievable climb.Last weekend Paralympics NZ had a talent ID camp in Cambridge, and part of it was racing, which I p...

Brain Injury Waikato | Newsletter

Hi team,Below is a link to the Brain Injury Waikato newsletter where you will see a small part on me.https://braininjurywaikato.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Brain-Injury-Waikato-Nov-2019-Jan-2020-Newsletter.pdf Happy reading. - Eltje...

Heat Training Camp

I am at the heat training camp in Brisbane at the moment. Staying in a nice camping ground at Noosa, which is a couple of hours drive, North of Brisbane. The team has 2 weeks here, riding in heat of 32deg +...and 75% humidity, in preparation for similar conditions expected in Tokyo, at the Paralympic Games in 2020.We will be joined after a week by the track team which is preparing to compete at the Track World Cup in Brisbane, this weekend. I have experienced some difficulty in su...

Waikato Centre Champs

The Waikato Center Champs were just held in Gordonton, Waikato. I competed in the 20km time trial. I have to admit that it was awful as I had lots of Ataxia (Neurological loss of voluntary coordination in muscles). There were really strong, gusty crosswinds that made it very difficult for me to steer the trike, and eventually make it home, safely. Next day it was straight to the heat chamber at Wintec in Hamilton. I did a 10minute – test. 36 degrees heat and 70% humidity. I did ok! Coming up n...

ELTJE UPDATE | 14 OCTOBER | 2019

At the moment I am having a compulsary break from cycling (something about forced recovery that I don't love as I just want to be on my bike.) Monday is back to normality, back to training.Have been busy meanwhile with doctors visits (a.o. My broken tooth from the crash at the world champs race), rehab stuff as usual, and of course socialising... On Saturday we hosted a morning tea at the velodrome to celebrate the success at the Worlds!...