Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze went from relative obscurity to mountain bike super stars after claiming a New Zealand one-two at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand mountain bike cross-country rider Sam Gaze. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Now they're seasoned professionals and winners on the World Cup circuit and they're expected to repeat their Glasgow performance at the Gold Coast Games.
22-year-old Gaze was a silver medallist in Scotland and won the most recent World Cup event in South Africa.
For him, anything less than gold on the Gold Coast will be considered a failure.
"For this race it's gold or nothing for me. I've shown over the last month that I'm in the best shape of my career. I was the quickest in the world about three weeks ago at the World Cup (in South Africa) so, it's my race to lose for sure."
Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze on their way to gold and silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Gaze said the lofty expectations of the New Zealand public, who expect another gold and silver for him and defending champion Anton Cooper, sit fine with the duo.
"I don't really get to fazed by the expectations, I know there is a lot and I know the general public and all the supporters will be expecting Anton and I to win. That's a good way to have it. It's great for the sport and promoting the sport in New Zealand. It's a good thing and we look forward to making New Zealand proud."
Anton Cooper takes gold and Sam Gaze silver in the 2014 Commonwealth Games mountain biking. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Glasgow gold medallist Cooper finished sixth at the latest World Cup, and while he concedes Gaze is currently the man to beat, he's bullish about his own chances.
He said the pair will be hard to separate and believes it could well end up like Glasgow with him and Gaze neck and neck on the final lap.
"Haha yeah it will be a stressful last lap and I have no doubt it will be. There's every chance it could come down to that again and it will make for great viewing that's for sure."
And it's not just Cooper and Gaze targeting medals in the Gold Coast hinterland, with 21-year-old Ben Oliver in superb form.
Gaze believes New Zealand winning gold, silver and bronze is a real possibility on the GC.
"New Zealanders are slowly building in the sport of cross country mountain biking. We're catching up. Ben in his own right has to be a favourite for a bronze medal, he's doing great. He was consistently in the top three in the world in the under 23s category last year and this year and we've got a strong team. We're definitely hoping for a kiwi one-two-three.
Gaze said the Gold Coast is likely to be his last Commonwealth Games as a mountain biker and he's determined to stand on top of the podium.
"I'm treating this like a World Championships. I'm very motivated for this race. I don't know if I'll be on the mountain bike (he's thinking of moving to road cycling) at the next Comm Games, so I really want to win gold here, before I leave the mountain bike. I'll be pretty devastated if I don't win this one."
Given the local flora and fauna on the Gold Coast, Gaze is more than happy there's a resident snake catcher patrolling the track.
"Yeah, glad, I ran one of them over the other day. I don't like them hahaha. It's Australia, you just don't stop on the side of the course and you're sweet. You've got to love this place, if it isn't trying to kill you, it's trying to bite you so bike jumping skills are key haha. So yeah, clear over the bad boys and run from them haha."
-RNZ