Young BikeNZ track cyclists impress in Europe

Young New Zealand riders Tom Scully and Shane Archbold impressed in their first venture into the big time at UCI track cycling World Cup in Manchester today.

The under-23 riders qualified for the final in the Madison in the two-day championship that kick-started the international track season.

Scully (Invercargill) and Archbold (Timaru) combined to place ninth in their heat against many of the world’s best to qualify for the final of the two-man event, where one rider is “in play” at all times and riders pass to the other with a hand-to-hand slingshot motion.

The kiwi pair, who won the New Zealand elite title in Invercargill last month, earned themselves one point by placing third in the final sprint in the heat.

They could not match the top teams in the 160-lap, 40km final, finishing 14th, one lap down on the winners Belgium who pipped Germany by one point.

It marked a successful European campaign for Scully and Archbold who made their mark in the prestigious UIV Talents Cup in the Netherlands last week.

The pair finished third in the grand final of the three-day event aimed at developing under-23 riders into the elite ranks of the Madison.

The New Zealand pair finished third behind favourites Tristan Marquet and Silvan Dillier (UI) and Barry Markus and Yoeri Havik (NED) in the last day final. The three teams stole a lap on the rest of the field.

Blenheim’s Jason Allen was also competing at the Manchester World Cup, finishing 11th fastest in qualifying in the 4000m individual pursuit in 4:32.435, with Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas going on to win the gold medal.