Ben Westenberg’s role in shaping Para cycling performance
From athlete insight to innovation impact
Ben brings a rare combination of lived athlete experience and technical capability to Cycling New Zealand’s innovation programme. With Para cycling now fully integrated within Cycling NZ, his work is helping ensure athletes have access to equipment solutions that are not only innovative, but fit-for-purpose on race day.
Currently supporting Cycling NZ in a part-time capacity, Ben has been instrumental in developing and refining prosthetic and equipment solutions for Para cyclists within the high performance system.
According to Cycling NZ Performance Systems Engineer Tim Crouch, Ben was already driving innovation before his formal involvement.
“Before Ben started getting more involved with the innovation programme, he took it upon himself to help develop equipment solutions for the Para team,” Tim says.
“Some of the equipment he developed during that time will be used in Glasgow, most notably fellow Paralympian Nicole Murray’s prosthetic arm attachment.”
The prosthetic arm coupling Ben designed for Nicole ahead of Paris 2024 is one standout of the impact he is making, with the system replacing a restrictive “dead man’s switch” with a passive quick-release coupling.
HPSNZ Head of Innovation Simon Briscoe says the change was significant.
“Ben developed a nice, neat coupling that fits in two halves – one to the bike and one to the athlete. It allows Nicole to click in and out of the handlebars, without which she would be severely limited in the force she could generate on one side of the bike.”
The attachment gives Nicole greater stability, control and functionality across different race phases.
“It enables her to stand up and sprint on the bars at the start, then easily transition into an aerodynamic time trial position,” Tim explains. “It’s really giving her greater functionality in how she can ride the bike.”
This technology is expected to be used in Glasgow as a continuation of the equipment gains made for Paris. It exemplifies the Goldmine Innovation philosophy: athlete-centred solutions developed within the system, for real-world performance impact.
Ben’s unique value lies in the combination of his backgrounds. “He comes with a really good practical understanding, not just of the technical requirements to develop equipment, but how it’s actually going to be used on race day,” Tim says.
Looking ahead, Ben’s role is set to expand further through an HPSNZ Prime Minister’s Support Team Scholarship, supporting his development of broad professional engineering-based skill sets required for the effective implementation of equipment-based solutions targeting Cycling NZ’s high performance programmes.
As New Zealand’s Para cyclists build towards Glasgow 2026, Ben’s contribution highlights the power of collaboration and how innovation, when driven by athlete insight, can help unlock performance on the world stage.