Bond back on track

Hamish Bond is set to turn his focus to the track in 2019 after a mid-pack finish at this year’s timetrial world championships on the road.

The former Olympic rowing champion told Newshub that result was a ‘‘reality check’’ for his Olympic hopes and he would now be seeking a place in the pursuit team on the track.

Bond, 32, took up time trialling in 2017 after winning his second rowing gold medal in the pair alongside Eric Murray at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

He won the New Zealand title at the start of this year, then claimed bronze at the Commonwealth Games in April before finishing 25th at the world championships in Austria in September, 17 places behind team-mate Patrick Bevin.

That followed a 39th-place finish last year, when he was waylaid by a puncture early in his ride.

‘‘I guess it was a pragmatic decision, after reviewing how far I’ve come in two years with a timetrial focus,’’ Bond told Newshub.

‘‘Looking forward to the Olympics, there’s still a long way to go to make up the distance required to be a serious medal contender.

‘‘I know elite sports and at the world championships, I was probably the only ‘amateur’ competing against professionals.’’

Bond is set to defend his national time-trial title next month, despite his change of focus.