Gold, silver reward for Kiwi junior team pursuiters

It was a gold and silver day for New Zealand’s team pursuit combinations on the second day of the UCI junior track cycling world championships in Switzerland.

The men’s quartet of George Jackson, Corbin Strong, Bailey O’Donnell and Finn Fisher-Black produced another superb performance to beat off the challenge from France and claim the 4000m team pursuit title at the UCI Velodrome in Aigle yesterday.

It was the third gold medal New Zealand has won in the men’s team pursuit at the junior world championships.

Meanwhile, the women’s team pursuit combination of Ally Wollaston, Annamarie Lippo, Sami Donnelly and McKenzie Milne bettered rivals Australia in the first round and finished second behind defending champions Italy in the final.

The men again stuck to their disciplined approach in the final with France, who tried to contain their all-or-nothing approach of earlier rounds.

New Zealand only edged ahead at the 3000m mark before their resilience and endurance kicked in, flying home in another sub 60-second kilometre to win in a superb 4:01.685 with over 4sec back to the French.

‘‘It is massive and I can’t really describe the feeling,’’ said Strong, who was the only rider to return from last year.

‘‘For me it was watching the New Zealand boys back in 2014 and wanting to be part of it. We set our goal and our performance was awesome.

‘‘To do this with your best mates is beyond words right now.’’

Earlier, the junior women’s combination produced an outstanding ride in 4:31.216 to dispatch Australia by more than 4sec in their semifinal.

They were behind at the 1000m but ahead at the midway mark, and from there dominated.

The Italians were too good in the final but not before the Kiwis pushed them in the early stages.