New Zealand cycling takes number of training camps to 23

The New Zealand cycling team has decided to train in Surrey to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The announcement means Surrey will be hosting more Olympic teams than any other county in the South East region with a total of 23 teams now signed up to use the county’s world-class training facilities.

The New Zealand riders will join British, Canadian, Australian and US cyclists who will all train in the county.

World cycling champion Mark Cavendish (pictured below) will be among the top riders putting in the hard yards on Surrey roads as he attempts to add an Olympic gold to his world title.

Olympic teams had until the end of February to apply for a LOCOG pre-Games training grant* of up to £25,000, however, Surrey County Council will continue to market Surrey to Olympic nations.

Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “Having 23 teams train in Surrey is a real coup for the county. Local cyclists will get to share the roads with the world’s best and having so many teams and their wider entourages train, eat, sleep and play in the county will provide an estimated boost of over half a million pounds to the local economy.”

The deadline for national Paralympic teams to apply for the LOCOG* grant is 31 March and Surrey County Council is continuing to market available venues.

Mrs Clack said: “We currently have seven Paralympic teams interested in basing their training camps in Surrey and we hope to build on this and secure more teams.”

Athletes from Canada, Croatia, Dominica and Singapore have already trained in Surrey at venues including Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum.

The full list of Olympic teams signed up to train in Surrey is as follows:

USA Cycling

USA Triathlon

Canada Cycling

Australia Cycling

New Zealand Cycling

Nigeria

Spain

Estonia

Singapore

Dominica

Antigua and Barbuda

Cayman Islands

Guatemala

Mauritius

UAE

Slovenia

Malta

China

GB Cycling

GB Basketball

Philippines

Bangladesh

Mongolia

Ends

For more information, journalists can contact Surrey County Council media officer Nicole Herlihy on 020 8541 8039 or email nicole.herlihy@surreycc.gov.uk

Notes to editors

*LOCOG is the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The exact location of training camps within the county cannot be revealed for security reasons.

To find out more about Surrey’s involvement in the Olympic and Paralympics Games visit www.gosurrey.info