Cambridge rider Ally Wollaston won her first individual national title as an elite rider, in winning the women’s omnium on day two of the Vantage Cambridge 3 Day Carnival.
Joining her on the top of the podium was Tokyo Olympian Regan Gough, who claimed his first national omnium crown with an impressive performance.
Wollaston, 20, from Waikato BOP began with a win in the scratch race, timing her sprint to perfection, and placed third in the tempo race, won by Olympian Bryony Botha to take a two-point lead. The exciting elimination race went the way of Wollaston who edged Botha in the final sprint, to extend her lead to eight points over Jessie Hodges, with two points back to Botha and a further two to defending champion Nicole Shields (Southland).
Wollaston dominated the 20km points race, winning four of the eight sprints, including the final double points dash, to finish with 149 points, with 21 points back to Botha who edged out Hodges by one point.
“It’s my first individual track title as an elite which is really exciting. I’ve been racing with the girls for a couple of years, so to get the win is cool,” said Wollaston.
“After I missed out on the Olympics, I decided to go to Europe to compete with a road team for six months. I can feel it on the track, how fit I am as a result. I think the road experience has complemented my track stuff.
“It was awesome to ride in the world championships while I was in Europe. It was a bit of a late call-up. It was such an invaluable experience riding against idols that I have been looking up to for years. I’ve been able to take that experience and bring it to the track here.”
Gough (East Coast North Island) began his quest for the title with an emphatic win in the scratch race ahead of Hugo Jones and Zakk Patterson. Waikato Bay of Plenty’s George Jackson took out the tempo sprint from Daniel Bridgwater and Gough, who was too strong in the elimination, edging out fellow high performance rider Tom Sexton in the final sprint.
It gave Gough a 12-point advantage going into the points race from Bridgwater with Patterson a further six points back. Gough won three sprints and took points in all but one, to claim the victory on 139 points. Wellington’s George Jackson won the final three sprints including the double points final to claim second on 133 points with Jones third.
“It was a limited field numbers-wise which can make it more difficult,” said Gough. “Some of the big hitters weren’t here but it was very competitive. With smaller fields, there is more sprinting and if you are at the front then you are pushed to do more of the leading and the workload increases.
“So the best form of defence is attack which is what I tried to do.
“I had eight weeks off after Tokyo and have slowly chipped away since. It was good to have a race like this. I haven’t touched a bunch bike for yonks so it was good to go out there and have a play.
“I am looking for to the Mado (madison) tomorrow. I am riding with Tom Sexton and we will get in there and have a bit of fun and see what we can do.”
There was some excitement in the men’s sprint where Sam Dakin was pushed to a deciding race in the final against endurance rider and fellow Olympian Nick Kergozou, who has been a surprise packet this week in sprints where he was fastest qualifier.
The women’s sprint honours went to Olympic medallist Ellesse Andrews who held off a determined challenge from fellow Waikato Bay of Plenty rider Olivia King in two straight rides.
All three Para cyclists – Elizabeth Gasson, Cameron Davies and Lindsay File - enjoyed successful days, all recording personal bests in heats of the 3000m individual pursuit, with the trio then bettering those times in the final.
The age riders completed an array of individual events, with tomorrow’s final day focussing on the keirin for all grades, with Para cyclists competing in sprint finals before the elites complete the programme with the national madison championship finals.