Cycling team collects seven medals at worlds

It was mission accomplished for the Vantage New Zealand track cycling team who completed their Tissot UCI Worlds Cup campaign after collecting seven medals in Brisbane.

Limiting their focus to three of the six world cup competitions in Hong Kong, Cambridge and Brisbane, New Zealand has ticked all the boxes to secure starts in all key events for February’s world championships in Germany.

The team returned home yesterday for a break over Christmas before returning to training in the New Year.

Cycling New Zealand high performance director Martin Barras said he was pleased with performances in the key Olympic events and they can now plan the build-up to the world championships and from that point secure qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.

“Overall I am delighted with the performances in our core endurance events, particularly team pursuit for both men and women, who have both produced near world record rides from the women in Cambridge and the men in Brisbane,” said Barras.

“We are leading the way in the men’s omnium and madison competitions and we have now secured our women’s omnium position which is important if we are to take five endurance riders to Tokyo.

“The team sprint has secured their placings for the world championships for men and women and with the keirin also.

“There’s been performances in numbers, and the depth in the endurance stocks has never been as strong, while we are now also building some depth in the sprint as well.

“The riders can enjoy a short break but will be back hard at work in the New Year to prepare for a very important world championship.”

A highlight for local rider Ellesse Andrews was beating current world champion Wai Sze Lee twice in the keirin.

Andrews and Kiwi teammate Natasha Hansen won their respective first round rides in the keirin, both drawing the same semifinal.

Andrews pushed from the back to lead, providing cover for Hansen, who bided her time to sprint to the win to secure a spot in the final.

Andrews was edged out in fifth but in good company with Lee behind her. She went on to finish third in the consolation final with a powerful ride from the back to hold off Lee for the second time.

The final was an aggressive affair with in-form Colombian Martha Bayona Pineda out-lasting local star Steph Morton for the title, with Hanson fifth in an excellent performance.