New Zealand riders picked up two team pursuit medals on the opening day of the UCI Track Nations Cup in Turkey.
The women’s team took out the silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit final go Germany while the men earned the bronze medal when they caught France in the bronze medal ride at the impressive Konya Velodrome.
The new combination of Olympians Emily Shearman, Bryony Botha and Ally Wollaston with Paris reserve Sami Donnelly and newcomer Prue Fowler, were impressive in edging Germany as the fastest qualifiers in 4:11.499s.
Wollaston came into the team for a comprehensive win over Canada in the first round although the German combination was quickest in dispatching Australia in the other elimination race.
Germany started strongly in the final to be 1.5s ahead after a powerful first kilometre, but the kiwis dug in to catch the leaders at the midway mark, but the German’s managed a sub 60-second final 1000m to win in 4:08.024 with New Zealand nearly two second behind.
The men’s quartet of Tom Sexton, Marshall Erwood, Keegan Hornblow, Nic Kergozou qualified third fastest but were edged by Australia in the first round. Their time of 3:47.622 earned them a place in the bronze medal ride, where they overtook France in an impressive ride.
In other rides, world champion Wollaston, sporting her rainbow jersey, had to settle for fifth in the elimination, edged out in the sprint coming from behind, while George Jackson was 14th in the men’s race won by Belgian Jules Hesters.
Tomorrow sees Olivia King in women sprint, Campbell Stewart in the omnium, Sam Dakin in the keirin with Shearman and Donnelly in the two-rider madison.
Results:
Women team pursuit qualifying: New Zealand (Emily Shearman, Bryony Botha, Sami Donnelly, Pru Fowler) 4:11.499, 1; Germany 4:11.827, 2; Australia 4:16.109, 3.
Round 1: New Zealand 4:14.868, 1; Canada 4:17.460, 2. Germany 4:08.389 , 1; Australia 4:11.931, 2.
Final: Germany 4:08.024, 1; New Zealand 4:09.972, 2; Australia 4:16.903, 3; Poland 4:18.657, 4.
Men team pursuit qualifying: USA 3:47.870, 1; Australia 3:47.963, 2; New Zealand (Tom Sexton, Marshall Erwood, Keegan Hornblow, Nic Kergozou) 3:48.433, 3.
Round 1: Australia 3:45.712, 1; New Zealand 3:47.622, 2. USA 3:47.503, 1; Switzerland 3:49.533, 2.
Final: Australia 3:45.306, 1 bt USA 3:49.006, 2; Bronze ride: New Zealand overtook France, 3.