Reshuffle at top for Cycling Australia

SOUTH Australian cycling coach Tim Decker will replace long-serving boss Ian McKenzie in charge of Australia's men's teams pursuit squad.

Ian McKenzie

SOUTH Australian cycling coach Tim Decker will replace long-serving national boss Ian McKenzie in charge of Australia's men's teams pursuit squad next month.

Decker will take the reins after the track world championships in Belarus and guide Australia to next year's Commonwealth Games and 2016 Olympics.

The change is part of a Cycling Australia (CA) re-shuffle which will see McKenzie oversee the entire track endurance program and be responsible for developing training methods and equipment.

McKenzie has coached Australia's men's pursuit team since taking over from Charlie Walsh following the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

He led the Aussies to a gold medal in Athens in 2004, fourth in Beijing in 2008 and silver in London last year, as well as securing back-to-back world titles in 2010 and 2011.

Coaches were briefed on the changes during the national track championships which finished in Sydney last night.

Decker will continue as South Australian Institute of Sport coach but will relinquish his role as national junior track coach.

As part of the re-shuffle, Matthew Gilmore is now responsible for ensuring all state programs are in line with national objectives, while continuing to coach the senior omnium and mass-start events.

When contacted today, CA national performance director Kevin Tabotta confirmed the changes but said there would be no formal announcement.

"The next step will be to inform the athletes and staff of what the coaching structure will look like in the future,'' Tabotta said.

"We are constantly re-positioning coaches and re-configuring jobs in a way that is best for the athletes.

"And it's also about providing opportunities and pathways for our coaches as they develop and a new role and challenges for Ian (McKenzie).

"Ian will be supervising and coaching the coaches. He has a wealth of experience and we're really keen to retain that.''

CA is yet to determine official titles but Decker's chief responsibility is to coach the men's teams pursuit squad as it seeks to end Great Britain's recent dominance of the blue riband event.

"Tim has done a fantastic job at junior level and SASI and this is a graduation for him,'' Tabotta said.

"He will spend the next two to three years developing further in the national program. He's excited by the opportunity and Ian is looking forward to the new challenges.''

Originally from Victoria, Decker is a former national-level cyclist who has coached SASI's cycling program for the past three years.

In that time, he lured Bendigo youngster Glenn O'Shea out of retirement and turned him into omnium world champion and Olympic teams pursuit silver medallist.

He also helped transform Annette Edmondson from track sprinter to endurance star who won a bronze medal at the London Olympics, and helped her brother Alex become an Olympian at just 18 last year.