2024 UCI TRACK CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK DAY 4

The experienced Bryony Botha continued New Zealand’s medal success with the bronze medal in the individual pursuit on the penultimate day of competition at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark today.

The 26-year-old from Auckland overcame Germany’s Franziska Brausse in the ride-off for third in the 3000m individual pursuit, adding to the silver medal she won in Paris in 2022 and bronze last year in Glasgow in the same event.

Botha qualified third fastest in 3:19.446 in her first ride in the championships, going through the midway point as the fastest rider before American Chloe Dygert stepped up the pace to set a new world record of 3:15.663 to lead qualifiers at the Ballerup Arena.

The German started strongly to lead through the first three laps in the bronze medal ride, before Botha’s powered into the lead. She went through the 1000m in 1:11.281 and extended her lead each lap, finishing in 3:21.086, to be over three seconds clear.

Her bronze medal adds to the silver medal in the same event at the world championships in Paris in 2022 and the bronze medal in Glasgow last year, along with two world championship medals in the team pursuit.

Dygert was upset in the final by British newcomer Anna Morris, who edged ahead five laps from the finish to claim the gold medal by just 0.3s.

Tomorrow Wollaston completes her busy campaign, chasing further success in the individual points race.

Results: Women’s Individual Pursuit qualifying, 3000m: Chloe Dygert (USA) 3:15.663, 1 (World Record); Anna Morris (GBR) 3:17.656, 2; Bryony Botha (NZL) 3:19.446, 3; Franziska Brausse (GER) 3:21.951, 4.

Final: Morris 3:16.560, 1; Dygert 3:16.877, 2. Bronze ride: Botha 3:21.086, 3; Brausse 3:24.620, 4.