Stewart flies the flag again
Promising Manawatu cyclist Campbell Stewart has retained his rainbow jersey in an enthralling omnium competition at the Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Switzerland.
The 17-year-old, who was second overall after the first day, won the 200m flying lap and finished second in the 1000m time trial to take the lead with only the points race remaining.
Stewart twice lost the overall lead during the race, but regrouped to win three of the last five sprints and gain a crucial lap on the field to secure the victory in Aigle yesterday.
Argentine rider Tomas Contte made him work for it after he jumped from the middle of the pack to the lead with 30 laps remaining. However, Stewart covered his run to match the title he won in Kazakhstan in 2015.
Stewart’s coach Mike Mcredmond to focus on defending his title in the omnium.
Stewart’s efforts make him the most successful Manawatu athlete at the event.
Feilding’s Jesse Sergent won the complete set in his younger days, with gold in the team pursuit in 2005, silver in the team pursuit in 2006 and bronze in the individual pursuit in 2006.
Stewart’s latest gold lifted New Zealand’s medal tally to six medals, including three golds, with a day of competition left.
Stewart will try to become just the second Kiwi to win three world titles in a year when he competes in the madison on the final day.
Rio-bound Olympian Sam Webster achieved the feat in 2009.
Manawatu cyclist Michaela Drummond, who won silver in the team pursuit, had the second day of the women’s omnium this morning.
Southland sprinter Bradly Knipe dominated the qualifying stage of the men’s individual sprint competition and will compete in the quarterfinals today.
Knipe won silver in the 1000m time trial on Saturday morning, riding 1:01.987 to be pipped by Canada’s Stefan Fitter by 0.2 seconds for the battle for gold.
The Kiwi rider was the fastest on the track at the 700m mark while the Canadian managed to finish the stronger, with the pair the only riders under the 1:02 barrier.
Southland’s Ellesse Andrews earned her second medal of the championships, winning a bronze in the 2000m individual pursuit.
Andrews, produced a superb ride for the bronze medal ride against third qualifier Nikola Pozynska of Poland, with a stunning 2:22.695 for the 2000m. Her time was only 0.28s off the world record set in qualifying by Russian Maria Novolodskaya, who went on to win the gold medal.