Archbold scores breakthrough win in cycling world cup

Twenty-one year old Timaru cyclist Shane Archbold came of age in winning the omnium at the UCI World Cup in Melbourne last night.

Archbold produced a series of consistently high placings in the gruelling six-event competition that has been added to the Olympic schedule for London 2012. He disposed of world champion Ed Clancy and a world class field in a breakthrough performance.

“It’s definitely a world class field here and I am really happy with the result. It’s been a long time coming and I am extremely happy,” Archbold said.

“I’ve been trying to convince some people that I could go well in this event and I guess it is suited to me now that I’ve produced times like that.

“The whole key was consistency. Obviously on the first day I never dropped out of the tip five and again today I was never out of the top five. It was a matter of doing PBs and sticking to the plan.”

Archbold won the 4000m individual pursuit in a slick 4:26.023, fifth fastest in the 1000m time trial in a personal best 1:04.394 and fifth in the scratch race to claim the overall honours ahead of top Canadian Zachery Bell and Clancy.

“It means I get to go on to Cali in two weeks time and show that it was no fluke and I am there to stake my claim in the omnium.

“Consistency is the absolute key. I’ve definitely learned that over the last two days. I didn’t have any bad rides and I was never out of the top five.

“I surprised myself with the fourth in the standing lap with a 13.4. I took another 3/10ths off my best that I set at the Oceanias. And I’ve never gone 1:04 in the kilo on an individual day and I did it at the end of an omnium. They were the weak events coming in and they are the ones I have been best in.”

In other racing Gemma Dudley is mid-pack after three events in the women’s omnium while Simon Van Velthooven (keirin) and Stephanie McKenzie and Henrietta Mitchell (sprint) did not advance into the quarterfinals.

The final day of racing includes the men’s sprint, women’s keirin, men’s team pursuit and completion of the women’s omnium.