Second world champs gold eases Olympics upset for Shanks
THE frustration associated with her track cycling forte being dropped from the London Olympics eased for Kiwi Alison Shanks last night when she claimed the best consolation prize – a second world championship gold in the women’s individual pursuit.
Shanks also erased the disappointment of missing a bronze by 0.318 seconds in last week’s team pursuit when beating her longterm rival and close friend Wendy Houvenaghel, of Britain, by a comfortable margin at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
Shanks had qualified top for the title decider thanks to a personal best of 3min 27.268sec and needed another strong performance to heap more world cham-
Shanks controlled the race throughout, she led by 0.881secs at the halfway mark and relentlessly expanded her advantage. She took the gun – and the acclaim – when clocking 3min 30.199sec; Houvenaghel crossed in 3min 32.340sec.
‘‘It’s a great feeling. I’ve been world champ once before but it’s so hard to get. Once you’ve had that feeling you want it again even more,’’ Shanks said. ‘‘I needed a PB to make the final so I’m absolutely stoked with my rides.’’
By winning gold Shanks also guaranteed New Zealand racked up a record medal haul by eclipsing the four collected in Denmark (2010) and Holland 12 months ago.
Before Shanks’ heroics the men’s team sprint and team pursuit won bronze, as did Simon Van Velthooven (kilo time trial) and Westley Gough (men’s indi- vidual pursuit). But topping the podium provided some consolation for Shanks after her specialist event was controversially cut from the Olympics track programme by the sport’s governing body UCI after Beijing.
‘‘I guess it’s as much consolation as it could be. It probably cuts you deep a bit being Olympic year and the event’s not there. This is the best consolation prize.’’
Her team pursuit colleagues Jaime Nielsen (3min 35.286secs) and Lauren Ellis (3min 37.925secs) were 10th and 12th respectively.
There was the possibility of more joy for New Zealand late last night in the men’s keirin after Van Velthooven went through to the six-man final by winning his sudden-death repechage and then getting through the second round by finishing third.