Kiwi cyclist makes sprint podium
New Zealand track cyclist Matt Archibald will carry strong form as he heads to Europe to make a final push for Rio Olympic Games selection.
The time trial medallist from last year’s world championship finished third in the individual sprint at the Melbourne UCI meet on Sunday.
The event was the second of two as part of the International Track Series. with the full Australian Olympic sprint squad competing as part of their preparations for Rio.
Archibald qualified second fastest in 10.187s for the 200m behind top Australian Matthew Glaetzer.
He went on to beat Malaysia’s Muhammad Rasol in the first round and next up overcame Japan’s Tomoyuki Kawabata, the rider who beat him in the first met in the series.
The Kiwi rider lost to secondranked Australian Patrick Constable in a tight semifinal, but bounced back to beat China’s Bi Wenjun in the bronze medal rideoff.
Auckland’s Sam Dakin qualified 13th fastest in 10.637, but lost to Wenjun in the first round. Dakin also finished fourth in the final of the keirin.
Meanwhile, young Southland sprinters Emma Cumming and Bradly Knipe continued their strong form as they prepare for next month’s junior world championships.
Cumming won the junior keirin after qualifying third in her first round ride, while Knipe qualified top but had to settle for fourth in the final.
After placing fourth earlier in the week, Waikato’s Ryan Wills finished sixth overall in the men’s omnium, with Holly White (Auckland) and Madison Farrant (Waikato) finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, in the women’s omnium.
There was success for the junior riders with Nicole Shields (Central Otago) and Michaela Drummond (Manawatu) finishing first and second in the women’s 2000m.
Campbell Stewart was third in the junior men ‘s 2000m and Cameron Riches (Auckland) third in the junior scratch race.
The junior national team have returned to Cambridge for the final phase of their preparations for the world championships in Switzerland.