Kiwi cyclists ride for gold in women's team pursuit

New Zealand will ride off for gold in the final of the women’s team pursuit on the opening night of finals at the last round of the UCI Track World Cup in Manchester later this morning (NZ time).

The trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen were second fastest qualifier, just 2/100th of a second behind the host Great Britain combination with both teams going under New Zealand’s old world record of 3:21.552. The British clocked 3:20.962 and the BikeNZ combination went 3:20.988 to set up a mouth-watering final.

The world mark has since been lowered by the USA team at altitude in Mexico last year, with the Americans only the third fastest, two seconds behind the kiwis.

Timaru’s Marc Ryan is also in the medal hunt, riding off for bronze in the men’s individual pursuit while fellow South Canterbury rider Shane Archbold has won the opening discipline in the six-event omnium, fastest in the flying lap.