GMC Coaching

Below are a collection of testimonials and results from some of GMC Coaching's current crop of athletes. While winning a race is exciting and important to many, these testimonials show that for some, training sensibly, finding time to ride their bikes, and being fit enough to compete are just as important. That's what GMC can help you with - achieving your goals no matter how big, or small, they may seem to others.

Victoria Cate

Feb 2012 will mark my '2 year anniversary' of being a Team GMC rider. I chose Gordy as the right coach for me after meeting him at the 2010 NZ Woman's tour, and watching the team he was managing dominate the field. After being coached by a local coach for 3 years, I decided to take the step up and after a few conversations, and seeing the type of training I was getting myself into, I made the decision and I had a training programme sitting in my inbox the next week waiting for me to get stuck into, and I haven't looked back.
With me living a 6+hour drive away from GMC HQ, I had expected this long distance coaching deal to be a bit tough. But being connected to Training Peaks makes the long distance coaching much easier. Gordy uploads my training programme (always on time), and I can log on to see my training for the next 4 weeks, with email, txt and Skype available if I have questions about my training or if I'm about to spend some money on some new gear! Having a structured training programme from Gordy, and knowing what I have to do each day, allows me to fit work and study around my training! In the last 2 years my training and racing has improved so much, from being dropped in the first 30kms in a local cup race, then going back the next year to win the biggest trophy in the cabinet, to working hard to become Wanganui Club TT and WCNI TT champ, Gordy's coaching has certainly contributed to my success and improvement, and with all of his riding experience, he definitely knows what he's talking about.
Gordy has helped me set new goals for my training, from completing the 160km Lake Taupo challenge, surviving 4 hour training rides, and joining the Team GMC crew for the 2011 Tour de Ranges. I have learnt not to set limits for myself; that it doesn't get easier, you just get faster. I have learnt that a Garmin never lies, and Gordy knows people everywhere. I have learnt the importance of recovery rides, and how to ride a smart race. I have learnt, and am still learning, how to train hard where it counts, and the importance of a good coffee ride. Turning up on the start line of a race wearing the Team GMC green and yellow colours is definitely an honor, to join the GMC family.

1st --- Garthorne Cup 2011
1st --- West Coast North Island TT champs 2011
1st --- Wanganui Club TT Champs, 2011
1st --- Open Women, Tour of Waikanae 2011 (3rd overall)
2nd --- Open Woman Tour de Manawatu 2010 (20th overall)
2nd --- West Coast North Island Road Champs 2011
2nd --- Wanganui Club Road Champs, 2011

Dave Glossop

8th --- M45-54 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011
16th -- Telstraclear Challenge 2011
17th -- M45-54 K2 2011
24th -- SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012

Scott Ambrose

"Gordon has coached me now for 4 years. Gordon has pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of and has helped me from the start. Being coached by Gordon also makes you feel apart of the GMC team, through bunch rides and events. With Gordon's coaching and support I will be riding in Europe for a junior team in 2013"

2013 Achievements
HUB Tour - 2nd Open Men, Winner of Sprint jersey (while still U19)

2012 Achievements
U19 New Zealand Oceania Games team
U19 New Zealand Cycling team to compete in events in Australia
1st --- U19m, 2012 Auckland Road Race Championships
6th --- 2012 Oceania Games Time Trial
7th --- Overall, U19, 2012 Junior Tour of Te Awamutu – 7th overall
3rd --- Overall, U19, Junior Tour of Rotorua 4th --- U19 National Championships Time Trial
3rd --- Overall, Tour Of Taranaki (Elite Men Grade) – 1st King Of the Mountains
7th --- Time Trial, Australian Cycling National Championships
4th --- Overall, 2012 DBR Tour Of Canberra
2012 Sancta Maria College Sportsman Of The Year
5th --- U19 Elite SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012
BikeNZ U19 Mens Development Team for 2012

2011 Achievements
1st --- U17 National Time Trial Champs
1st --- U17 Te Awamutu Junior Tour
1st --- Canberra U17 Tour
1st --- U17 National Secondary School Champs

Richard Dean

"Gordy has helped me find dramatic improvements in my cycling. I started with Gordy about a month before K2 2009 where I dropped nearly an hour off my previous time - he has now helped me improve to the point where I'm now a contender in many fun/amateur level races and at the borderline of being able to ride elite. He makes us work hard, but sets realistic goals to help us achieve really impressive results."

1st --- M25-29 Yarrows Taranaki Cycle Challenge 2012
3rd --- Cow Cockies Classic 2011
6th --- Hamilton City Criterium 2011
6th --- SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012
10th -- M20-34 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011, 25th Overall
12th -- M23-34 K2 2011, 45th Overall
15th -- Yarrows Taranaki Cycle Challenge 2010
19th -- Pukekohe Flyer 2011
32nd -- Cycle for Life 2010
37th -- Pukekohe Flyer 2010

Graeme Blackwood

Auckland Full and Half Distance Champion 2011
1st --- Vet SRAM Tour De Ranges 2011
1st --- Tour de ranges 2011
1st --- NZ masters games road race 2011
1st --- Over 55 Pukekohe Flyer, 13th overall 2011
1st --- Round Mount Taranaki, 13th overall 2012
2nd --- 55-60 age group K2 57th overall
2nd --- M55-64 K2 2011
5th --- Vet SRAMTour De Ranges 2012
5th --- Tour de ranges 2012
7th --- M55-59 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011
7th --- Taupo Cycle Challenge 55-60 2011

Hamish Wright

1st --- R&R Tour 2011, B Grade (2010 - dead last B Grade)
1st --- 2011 NZ Defence Force Road/Time Trial/Criterium Champs. (Clean sweep of all titles)
1st --- NZ Defence Force Cyclecross Champs
1st --- 2010 NZ Defence Force Criterium Champs. (After being trained by Gordy for only a couple of months)
"In over 11 years of racing at the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals, I have gained the best results ever since being trained by Gordy, including my first ever 8000m scratch race win, a 1000m lightning handicap win, second in a major wheelrace, and several placings throughout the carnivals.
- South Island sprint champion on the track.
- Mid South Canterbury sprint and keirin titles.
- Gaining more fastest times and wins in club races than ever before. 2011 was the first time in many years that I won the overall club title for most points for the road season and also most points off scratch"

Holly White

"3 1/2 years ago I couldn't ride a bike, today I have won over 30 Regional and National medals in road and track cycling.
2 1/2 years ago Gordy believed in me, and accepted me into his coaching programme. Gordy carefully co ordinates all my school and club racing events into my training programme, then analyses my performance. I ride with Gordy most Friday mornings and he is a great motivator and an inspiration.
My passion is track cycling, where as a 1st year under 17 I won 3 bronze medals at the New Zealand Track Nationals, including 3rd in the individual pursuit, my favourite event. This season my goal is to break the NZ U17 2000m pursuit record!
I'm the current Auckland U17 Overall Womens Track Champion,and also hold the fastest ever recorded school girl time for the Auckland Waterfront Individual 16km Road Time Trial. I've just turned 15 and in year 10 at school (old 4th form)."

ROAD
2012 Achievements
2nd --- U16 Girls Time Trial, NZSS Individual Championships
2nd --- U16 Girls Road Race, North Island Secondary Schools Championships
1st --- Auckland SS Team Time Trial Series (as part of the St Cuthberts Senior Girls team)
2nd --- Auckland U17 Individual Time Trial Championships

2011 Achievements
1st --- NZSS Individual Time Trial
1st --- Auckland Individual Time Trial
1st --- Auckland 1/2 Distance Road Race
3rd --- NZ Club Champs Individual Time Trial

TRACK
2012 Achievements
1st --- Auckland Individual Pursuit
1st --- Auckland Match Sprint
3rd --- NZ U17 Individual Pursuit
3rd --- NZ U17 Team Pursuit
3rd --- NZ U17 Team Sprint

2011 Achievements
1st --- Auckland Scratch Race (new record)
1st --- Auckland Sprint Derby (new record)
2nd --- NZ Age Group Points Race
2nd --- NZ Age Group Sprint Derby

Mirielle Sitters

1st --- Womans team and fast womens bike split, Tauranga Half Ironman, 2012
1st --- Open Women, Telstraclear Challenge 2011
1st --- Open Women, Waterfront time trial series Auckland, Dec 2011
1st --- Master Women, Auckland Time Trial Champs, 2011
1st --- Master Women, NZ Club Nationals, 2011
1st --- 2-Up Time Trial, Counties Manukau Cycle Club, 2011
2nd --- Criterium, World Master Games , 2009
2nd --- Road Race, National Club Champs 2010
3rd --- Open Women Bike the Lake, Rotorua 2011 ( 1st master)
3rd --- Open Women Bike the Lake, Rotorua 2010 ( 1st master)
3rd --- TT, National Club Champs, 2010
4th --- Road Race, World Masters Games, 2009
4th --- Women Race, W35-44, Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011; 2nd Sprint Ace

Oliver Young

2nd --- U19 SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012
BikeNZ Under 17 boys Development Squad for 2013.

Stuart Holder

5th --- SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012
3rd --- M35-39 Yarrow Taranaki Cycle Challenge 2012

Morgan Smith

This year, in only his 2nd year of being coached, Morgan completed the gruelling Tour of Southland as a member of the Barry Stewart Builders-GMC Team. Anyone who saw the coverage on television will have seen Morgan doing his share of work on the front of the peleton, assisting team leader Gordy. Morgan also competed in the 2013 Elite Men's Road Championships in Christchurch, a race stacked with all our Pro Tour riders and arguably the strongest field ever, Morgan managed to spend some time in the break away.
1st --- Telstraclear Challenge 2011
3rd --- M20-24 Yarrow Taranaki Cycle Challenge 2012
7th --- M20-34 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011
10th -- SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012

Jack Sowry

1st --- Jnr and 15th Overall Tour De Beautiful 2012
14th -- U19 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011

Phil Helebreakers

9th --- Telstraclear Challenge 2011
19th -- SRAM Tour De Ranges 2012
19th -- M45-54 Taupo Cycle Challenge 2011

Sophie Corbidge

Sophie is a well known name in the sport of Triathlon, having risen through the ranks to become on of NZ's leading junior women. Sophie uses Gordon to help her improve her cycling.
Achievements:
Triathlon NZ HP Squad
2nd --- National U23 Elite Triathlon Champs 2012
2nd --- Oceania U23 Elite Triathlon Champs 2012
1st --- Tahiti Continental Cup Open Elite 2012
20th --- Elite U23 Elite World Triathlon Champs 2012

Cory Cannings

2012 Achievements
1st --- U16 boys Individual Time Trial, NZSS Individual Championships, Mt Wellington
3rd --- Overall, U16 boys, NZSS Individual Championships, Mt Wellington
5th --- U16 boys Hill Climb, NZSS Individual Championships, Mt Wellington
BikeNZ U17 Boys Development Squad for 2013

Scott Jarrold

"Gordy quickly helped me to manage my training and gave me a lot of guidance and the advice I needed to really make some big improvements. He helped me steal the win at the Under 17 criterium at the NZ Secondary School Championships at Mt Wellington. I also placed fourth in the junior Tour of Manawatu King of the Mountains classification, and he helped me improve my performance in the Westlake Senior A team, we ended up winning finals day in the Auckland Secondary Schools Team Time Trial series …. All of this in less than 6 months under his wing. Plus, he is a genuinely nice guy and great company on any ride. For me, GMC coaching is the best option."

2012 Achievements
1st --- U17 boys Criterium, NZSS Individual Championships, Mt Wellington
2nd --- Overall, U17 boys, NZSS Individual Championships, Mt Wellington
4th --- King of the Mountain, Junior Tour of Manawatu
1st --- Auckland Schools Time Trial Championships; 2nd in Series, as a member of the Westlake Boys Senior Team (course record holders)

Callum Wilcox

"I signed up with Gordy about 6 months ago (April 2012). I joined because I wanted coaching because although I was already in my school senior A team I wanted to do my bit for the team and get us to some good results, we got 2nd at north islands to a very strong Hamilton team, 2nd in the Auckland series, winners of finals day with the fastest time
Along with a very well structured programme sent out every four weeks you get advice, “With age comes wisdom” so why not get the advice from the Worlds current 3rd oldest cyclist? Training under Gordy’s eye also makes you feel a part of a team, there are regularly organised bunch rides where you can have a good time and knock out your weeks long endurance ride at the same time.
So if you want to be a hitter, hit Gordy up!"

2012 Achievements
1st --- Auckland Schools Time Trial Championships, 2nd in series, as a member of the Westlake Boys Senior Team (course record holders)
2nd --- North Island Secondary Schools Championships, Senior Boys Time Trial

Hardy Michel

Hardy has recently signed to the Charter Mason Drapac Development team, based in Melbourne, for 2013.

Sabella Thurston

2012 Achievements:
1st --- Female, Tour of Wairarapa, and 5th Overall
1st --- U19 Female, Masterton Club Championships 2012
1st --- U19 Female, Wellington Regional Secondary Schools Championships
1st --- Female, Wellington Regional Interclub points series 2012

2011 Achievements:
1st --- U19 Female, Masterton Club Championships

Andrew Lawrence

“I started using GMC coaching just 6 months ago as my riding had not improved as much as I had wanted – or at least I couldn’t see it improving given my time constraints/family (2 children under 5 and my wife works full time). At this point I had been riding on the road for 2 years, but wanted to really improve my performance.
After an initial consultation with Gordon, my training started immediately. I noticed improvements within 4-6 weeks and the programme that was developed for me took into consideration the time I have to ride each week and also the busy family schedule. I was clear around my goals and Gordon was very clear around what was needed to achieve these goals.
Over the last month or so I have raced in 3 events, winning a C Grade Counties Race (my first ever club race), finishing the K2 in 6hrs 8 minutes (12 minutes ahead of my target) and 17th in grade at Bike the Lake, just 38seconds off the winner and 14 minutes faster than I wanted.
My riding is more enjoyable than ever, I have more focus, better discipline and am looking forward to continuing with GMC. Having a coach that is flexible, reachable on various media and on top of my training means I get to go out and ride, but more importantly improve. I am now targeting a PB around Taupo and a good performance at the Tour of Northland. I don’t believe I would have achieved what I have recently if it was not for GMC – and the family of GMC riders!”

Olivia Hyland

"In my 2.5 years of cycling, I have been coached by Gordy for nearly a year. In that year I have learnt so much about training and I have seen a big improvement in all aspects of my cycling. Gordy is really organised, motivating and passionate about cycling! I know with his continued support I can achieve my goals in the future."

2012 Achievements:
3rd --- Auckland Championships Road Race
Top 10 finishes in NISS road race and NZSS individual races
Auckland U17 track team
3rd Auckland Team Time Trial series Finals as a member of the Diocesan Girls Senior A Team
Diocesan School Distinction award in Cycling