Dillon's Profile

Hi my name is Dillon Bennett and I grew up in a small town called Hokitika which is situated on the West Coast of the South Island. I am now based in Invercargill to further my cycling career.


My introduction to cycling came at the age of 12 when I would go and watch my Dad race with the Hokitika Cycling Club every Tuesday night. This inspired me to start racing myself. It was only when I went to Christchurch to enter in some real races that I would want to continue with cycling and be the best I possibly could.


My coach is Ross Machejefski and he lives in Invercargill. Ross grew up in Hokitika and has completed a coaching collage, he also coaches Hayden Godfrey who is a world champion cyclist. Hayden has helped my motivation towards cycling because he grew up in Hokitika just like myself.


I train six times a week on the bike, this involes getting up early on weekends and also everyday after or before polytech. When I am training for the road I train from 500 to 700 kms a week. In Invercargill I have available the ILT Veledrome which I go race and train on twice a week. One of my tutors from polytech (Will Payne) coaches me at the gym which I go twice a week.


I have been very fortunate to obtain sponsorship from Air New Zealand which enables me to fly around the country for racing, this has been a huge help to me. I am also sponsored by other local businesses in and around Hokitika and Invercargill.

The past few years my main achievements have been :

NZ Manawatu Tour

1st stage 1 (Yellow Jersey)

2nd Green Jersey

Hokitika Club Champs
1st Junior:
2006
2007
2008
2009

U20 South Island Secondary Schools

2nd Time Trial

Canterbury Track Championships

I have many medals from each year at these Championships

Canterbury Championships

3rd U19 Time Trial

1st U19 Road Race

Festival of Cycling

1st Open Mens Club Criterium

Southland Track Championships

2nd Individual Pursuit 3.33

2nd Points Race

3rd Kilo

3rd Scratch Race

Benchmark Series

A few top 10 placings

Track Nationals

1st Team Pursuit

5th Scratch Race

6th Individual Pursuit 3.30

Canberra Tour

2nd Stage 4 (ACT State Championships)

10th Overall GC

3rd King Of Mountains

Yunca Junior Tour of Southland

1st Satge 1 Prologue (Yellow Jersey)

2nd Stage 2

7th Stage 3

4th Stage 4

5th Overall

Other Achievements :

I was a awarded the Most Outstanding Sporting Award 2009

at Westland High School.

I like to cycle for my Mum (Kim Bennett) who passed away in 2003 and a fellow friend and competitor John Machejefski. Every race and ride I think of them for motivation and Strength.

In the long term I hope to one day become a professional cyclist and make it to the Olympics.

Dillon Bennett