By Kristina Eddy
The Oceania Road Cycling Championships in Canberra in March are next on the cards for Olympic rowing star turned cycling enthusiast Hamish Bond.
The two-time Olympic rowing gold medallist will line up alongside some other strong Kiwi talent, including fellow road converts Sam Webster, Dylan Kennett and Eddie Dawkins.
"I hope I go well. The result is important but it’s the performance and what I can put out that is more important to me," said the 30-year-old.
Bond kicked off his cycling campaign following the Rio Olympics, with a convincing win at the Abel Tasman Cycle Challenge over Tour De France professional George Bennett back in December.
A month later he found the podium again - placing third at the Napier National Road Championship’s 40km time-trial and 14th in the 169km road race two days later.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve smashed it out of the park but it’s a good start."
Getting off the water and onto the bike has been a smooth transition for Bond, despite fracturing his wrist and rib in a crash earlier this year.
"You row with your legs and you cycle with your legs so I was conditioned for it.
"The rest of it is just training hard and pushing hard and just being prepared to work and to suffer."
The Kiwi rowing hero hasn’t kept his eye off of his old code, and noted he’s still heavily invested in the scene.
"It’s always a challenge post-Olympic year and there’s always a little bit of a shakedown, with new faces, new crews and new line-ups so hopefully it all goes well. They’ve got my full support for sure."
However, if all goes well on the bike, it may be some time before we see the Olympic champion back on the water.
"I had a fairly good handle on what the limit of my potential was in rowing and this is just about discovering what the limit is in cycling. I still have no idea but I’m keen to try and find out."
Newshub.
