New Zealand makes a golden start to games
Cyclists claim gold and silver, drama ends hopes of bronze
NEW ZEALAND team sprint pioneers Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins took another step in their illustrious careers by defending their Commonwealth Games title at Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane on Thursday night.
They were joined by silver medallists Natasha Hansen and Emma Cumming in the women’s team sprint and Bryony Botha, Rushlee Buchanan, Kirstie James and Racquel Sheath in the women’s team pursuit.
The men led England through every lap to roll to a 0.670s triumph like pedalling dominoes.
Mitchell powered through the first circuit to take a 0.207s grip, Webster kept parity with a 0.168s advantage, leaving Dawkins to power home and complete their run in 42.877s.
Earlier, they set a Games record 42.822s, 0.694s clear of their final opponents.
“We went in with the mindset that we weren’t defending anything. The title was back up for grabs because that would help us stay hungry,” Webster said.
“You do what we do for very small moments of euphoria. That’s to cross the line, see what we’ve won, and share the moment with the boys.
“This is a special opportunity at as near to a Commonwealth Games as we’re going to get.”
The velodrome was New Zealand’s only medal hunting ground on opening day.
The women’s team sprint of Natasha Hansen and Emma Cumming claimed silver behind Australia.
The result represents New Zealand’s first medal in the event at a Games.
However, the hosts were always in command, going out to a 0.349s lead after the first lap and extending to 0.627s at the finish.
Hansen and Cumming set a New Zealand best time of 33.321s in qualifying, 0.132s better than their previous mark at the world championships.
The women’s team pursuit earned the country’s first medal of the Games with silver in the event’s maiden appearance.
Earlier, drama enveloped the opening day when the men’s team pursuit of Regan Gough, Nick Kergozou, Campbell Stewart and Tom Sexton were disqualified from riding off for bronze.
They fielded an illegal bike on the start line, meaning the deciding race against Canada was annulled.
An appeal on a technicality ruling was rejected and Wales replaced them.
Cycling New Zealand high performance director Martin Barras took responsibility.
“There are regulations that pertain to the exact set-up the bike can be configured in, and one of our bikes was found to be outside those configurations by five or six millimetres in the front cockpit.
“It’s a failing on the team’s part, it’s a failing on my part as the director of the programme . . . It was a particularly painful apology to make to all the riders for what happened.”