18 Nov Buchanan Keen To Help Riders Grow And Achieve their Dreams
Rushlee needs no introduction to those involved in the cycling scene in NZ! What she has achieved on the track and road has been phenomenal and the leadership she has shown on and off the bike has been an inspiration for young NZ riders. Having ridden as a professional since 2007 and having competed at 2 Olympic and 3 Commonwealth games and countless titles and podiums at national and international level is testament to what she has to offer. Rushlee has already worked mentoring developing cyclists including several of our riders as part of her business degree so we already have experience of what Rushlee has to offer. The pre race planning and post race reflection processes she helped our riders develop has been a fundamental tool to help our riders develop a process and learning mindset to further progress their cycling. The opportunity to work with Rushlee in 2019 was something we jumped at straight away.
Rushlee is as keen as ever to continue the development of NZ womens cycling and when asked why she wanted to be involved and how she could help it is easy to see the passion behind her words, “I have always admired the work of Mike Greer Homes Women’s team, even a little jealous that it wasn’t around when I was younger! So the opportunity to be involved with the team as a mentor is a huge privilege and honour. I have a great passion for helping grow women’s cycling in New Zealand. I know first hand how a little help can go a long way and I see huge potential and growth in the current women’s cycling scene in NZ. If I can help strengthen that growth, or help someone achieve their dreams that is my ultimate goal. I have learnt a lot in my time as a professional cyclist and this opportunity working with MGHWCT gives me a chance to help others while also allowing me to grow and develop as a mentor and senior athlete.”
Rushlee went on to say why the team goals where aligned with what she was trying to achieve “The team goals of ‘mentor to succeed’ and ‘engage to inspire’ are fundamental to developing successful athletes. In 2018 I completed my business degree with the last paper being a year long study on mentoring of female athletes. The study gave me the confidence to pursue an on-going dream of mine: to create a pathway for young female cyclists to transition to the senior ranks in a knowledgeable and planned manner, allowing them to maintain a steady and realistic path to success. I am thrilled to be a part of a passionate and ground-breaking team where I know I will learn a lot as well as hoping to guide the riders through their own learning and then each of us putting that learning into practice.”
Team manager Patrick Harvey’s enthusiasm for Rushlee’s involvement and the #MentorToSUCCEED program is hard to hide. “The involvement of Rushlee in our program is huge. It not only provides inspiration and learning oppurtunities for our riders but a role model for how professional riders should act and behave and progress through their professional careers. It has always been our dream that riders who go thru our system come back into the team as mentors and role models for our future riders benefit and for their own growth and learning. Cycling is a ‘business’ and it is all about promoting the positive outcomes the sport has for its riders, teams and partners so that the riders, the team and the sport can grow!”
Harvey knows that Buchanan has a big year ahead preparing for the 2020 Olympics but knows Rushlee’s input to the team in 2019 and hopefully beyond will be invaluable, and who knows maybe she will be on the start line in a race or two for the team.
