Manawatu Standard

Kiwi cyclists on top of the world

- CYCLING

Manawatu riders won two more medals on the final day of the world junior track cycling championsh­ips in Switzerlan­d.

Michaela Drummond won her second silver medal of the event when she finished second in the omnium in Aigle yesterday while Campbell Stewart won silver in the madison, along with Southland’s Tom Sexton.

New Zealand finished top of the medal standings with nine, and Manawatu’s three riders were heavily involved.

Stewart won two golds, in the team pursuit and omnium, as well as his madison silver, Drummond won silver in the omnium and team pursuit, where fellow Manawatu rider Emily Shearman was also in the team.

New Zealand won 10 medals at Moscow in 2010 and at Invercargi­ll in 2012, but the four gold medals won this year was the most achieved in the 40 years they have competed at the junior world championsh­ips.

Stewart was the star of the event, but in the madison he and Sexton were pipped by the home nation Switzerlan­d in the twoperson points race, where Switzerlan­d managed to put two laps on the field, while the Kiwis were one of three to gain one lap.

Stewart and Sexton were the most impressive in accumulati­ng points, winning three of the seven sprints, to secure the silver medal ahead of Australia.

Stewart became the most successful New Zealand rider in the junior world championsh­ips.

After winning two gold medals in the scratch race and omnium at Kazakhstan last year, the 17-yearold’s wins gives him four rainbow jerseys, one better than the previous best of three by Rio Olympian Sam Webster.

Stewart’s overall tally of five medals is second only to another Rio Olympian in Regan Gough, who won six medals, including two golds, in 2013 and 2014.

Drummond lay in third place overnight in the omnium competitio­n, and finished fourth in the 500m time trial and in the top three in the flying lap.

She showed her skill and ability in the pivotal points race to overtake Canadian Maggie Coleslyste­r to claim the silver medal.

‘‘Another silver for me today and man can I say it was tough,’’ Drummond said on Facebook. ‘‘I rode the best I ever have with [a personal best] in the individual pursuit (2.24), PB in the 500 [time trial] (36.4) and a PB in the flying lap because it was 200m (11.6).’’

Italy’s Elisa Balsamo proved the standout, with the European champion claiming the gold medal with 209 points from Drummond on 196 and Coles-lyster on 192.

Southland sprinter Bradly Knipe had a stunning last-gasp victory to win gold in the individual sprint, edging Australian Conor Rowley, the keirin world champion.

In other rides Emma Cumming was 11th and Ellesse Andrews 13th in the keirin competitio­n won by Sara Kankovsa of Czech Republic.

 ?? PHOTOS: GUY SWARBRICK ?? Manawatu’s Campbell Stewart, right, about to slingshot Southland’s Tom Sexton forwards during the madison race at the junior world track cycling championsh­ips in Switzerlan­d.
PHOTOS: GUY SWARBRICK Manawatu’s Campbell Stewart, right, about to slingshot Southland’s Tom Sexton forwards during the madison race at the junior world track cycling championsh­ips in Switzerlan­d.

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