Two more medals for kiwis at world junior cycling

BikeNZ riders have won a further two medals on the second day of the UCI Juniors World Championships in Capetown, South Africa today.

Gemma Dudley won her second medal, adding a bronze to the silver medal she won on the opening day while the Team Pursuit also picked up a bronze at the Bellville Velodrome.

This takes New Zealand to four medals in two days and in line for their most successful junior world championships.

Dudley (Levin), who won a silver medal in the scratch race, won the bronze medal in the 2000m individual pursuit behind two Australians in an Australasian shutout.

She qualified third in an excellent 2:32.772 as third fastest, less than half a second behind qualifying for the gold medal ride-off.

Dudley took on France’s Jolien D’Hoore in the bronze medal ride off, leading all the way to claim the bronze medal in 2:34.393, more than one second clear, while Ashlee Ankudinoff beat off Australian compatriot Sarah Kent for gold.

The men’s pursuit combination of Jason Christie (Ashburton), Ruaraidh McLeod (Christchurch), Aaron Gate (Auckland) and Michael Vink (Christchurch) were third fastest in the morning qualifying run. They clocked a slick 4:24.414 for the 4000m behind Australia and Russia.

New Zealand took on France in the bronze medal ride-off, edging out their strong European rivals by just 4/10ths of a second in an exciting race.

The French led at the 1km mark but the kiwis combination edged ahead at the halfway mark and were just 5/100ths of a second in front at 3000m. They finishes strongly to hold off the French to earn their bronze medals.

Earlier Sam Webster (Auckland) finished 10th in the keirin while team-mate Sam Steele (Christchurch) missed out in the heats.

Webster won his repecharge to go through to the second round where he finished fourth, just missing a spot in the final. He went on to finish fourth in the ride-off for seventh to 14th.

Steele was second in his repecharge and did not advance.

“It was another excellent day for us,” manager Craig Adair said. “We have now equalled the medals we won in the entire championships last year. The competition is amazing with 56 countries represented.

“Gemma has been a real revelation in the women’s races and the team pursuit produced a world class performance.”

There are a further three days of track competition before the time trial and road races.

New Zealand results, day 1. UCI Juniors World Championship, Capetown:

Women’s Individual Pursuit (2000m):

Gold medal ride-off: Ashley Ankudinoff (AUS) 2:32.295, 1; Sarah Kent (AUS) 2:33.344, 2.

Bronze medal ride-off: Gemma Dudley (NZL) 2:34.393, 3; Jolien D’Hoore (FRA) 2:35.531, 4.

Qualifying: Ankudinoff 2:31.893, 1; Kent 2:32.190, 2; Dudley 2:32.772, 3; D’Hoore 2:33.193, 4.

Men’s Team Pursuit, 4000k:

Gold medal ride-off: Australia 4:17.913, 1; Russia 4:20.024, 2.

Bronze medal ride-off: New Zealand (Jason Christie, Ruaraidh McLeod, Aaron Gate, Michael Vink) 4:24.290, 3; France 4:24.714, 4.

Qualifying: Australia 4:20.110, 1; Russia 4:22.022, 2; New Zealand 4:24.414, 3; France 4:25.592, 4.

Keirin, final position: Sam Webster (Auckland) 10th, Sam Steele (Christchurch) missed out on ride-off.

Heat 2: Webster 4, Steele 5.

Repecharge: Webster 1, Steele 2.