Para Cycling champion Nick Blincoe gears up for the Shimano Round the Lake
In just a few weeks, Nick Blincoe will line up for the Shimano Round the Lake as part of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge this November. For Nick, who’s faced a year filled with both triumphs and setbacks, this event represents his ongoing commitment to his sport, his resilience, and his love for the ride.
Reflecting on 2023, Nick describes it as “a little bit of a rollercoaster, with illness, injury, some highs and lows.” One of his proudest moments this year was competing at the Para Cycling Track World Champs in Rio de Janeiro, where he achieved a 6th place finish. “Illness struck in my key event with a stomach bug, so not being able to put together the best ride was disappointing,” he admits. But just being selected for his sixth World Champs was an accomplishment in itself. “I was proud to be selected...and put it all out there.”
Winter, however, was challenging, as Nick narrowly missed selection for Paris and was named a reserve. “It was disappointing,” he shares, “so I took a little bit of a step back from training.” Yet stepping back reminded him of what he loves most about cycling, regardless of competition results, and he redirected his focus to the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge.
With longer days thanks to daylight savings, Nick has been able to get outdoors more often. Balancing life as a high-performance athlete, father, and business owner, he’s had to get creative with his training. His routine now includes Zwift sessions to safely increase his mileage at convenient times and group rides with the Spoken in Cambridge crew on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Getting up early to do his long rides before the kids’ activities start has allowed him to stay on track with his training.
Up until last week, Nick’s training was going strong. He participated in the Te Awamutu Summer Series, also known as “TA Worlds,” where he pushed himself and secured a close second place in his first race. He also tackled the 100km Karapiro Flyer for the first time, facing challenging headwinds and crosswinds. “It was a gruelling but honest ride,” he says.
Training was peaking at 13 to 14 hours on the bike per week, but Nick faced a setback due to recent surgery. “I’ll need to take the next week or so to recover, which will make for a tight timeframe leading into the Taupō Cycling Challenge, but I’ll be there in 5 weeks no matter what shape I’m in.”
Nick's Journey to Para Cycling
Nick’s journey in competitive sports began long before his injury in 2010. He played rugby at a high level, representing New Zealand in the 2004 U19 Rugby World Cup. After a tackle left him with a brachial plexus injury, he transitioned to Para athletics, claiming national titles in the 100m and 200m. Yet, he found his true calling in Para cycling, starting in 2015. Despite narrowly missing selection for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Nick has made significant strides in his cycling career. He has competed in multiple World Championships, with highlights including a 6th place finish in the Kilo time trial in 2019 and 2020, and a 7th place in the 200m Time Trial at the 2023 World Championships.
What is Para Cycling?
Para cycling is designed for athletes with impairments resulting from a disability. Para athletes with physical impairments either compete on handcycles, tricycles, or bicycles. Athletes with visual impairments race on tandem bikes with a sighted pilot. Events include both track and road competitions, divided into classifications to ensure fair competition.
