Delhi-bound Archbold wins cycle race in Belgium

Commonwealth Games cyclist Shane Archbold has found good form on the roads in Belgium today.

The 21 year old from Timaru has grabbed his first victory in the strong kermesse (criterium) circuit, taking out the 120km event in Pulderbos near Antwerpen.

Archbold was in an initial break of 13 riders that included fellow BikeNZ rider Marc Ryan, also from Timaru. The young kiwi then broke clear with experienced Belgium rider Kurt Geysen and managed to out-kick his rival for the victory.

Ryan, who won a major kermesse last week, took out the sprint from the rest of the breakaway group to finish third with team-mates Aaron Gate 14th and Myron Simpson 15th in the 50-strong field.

Ryan, Archbold, Gate, Westley Gough and Peter Latham join in a BikeNZ team to contest a four-day tour in France in their final outing before going into camp on the track in Bordeaux to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.