Women Make Strong Start to Cycling World Cup

 New Zealand’s women’s team pursuit haves made a stunning start to the latest UCI World Cup in Colombia today.

The trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Rushlee Buchanan have qualified fastest in the heat of the women’s 3000m team pursuit on the opening morning of competition in Cali. They clocked 3:23.132 and will face USA in the final later today (NZ time).

 The Americans, led by individual pursuit record holder Sarah Hammer, were just under a second slower than the kiwis while Great Britain will take on Germany for the bronze medal.

New Zealand have changed back to the same combination used in setting the world record in Copenhagen earlier this year.

 

Timaru’s Shane Archbold has finished sixth in the 250m Flying Lap, which is the first event of the men’s omnium with the points race and elimination to complete today’s programme, with the individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial tomorrow.

 

Also in action in the evening programme is the men’s team sprint and scratch race.

The competition runs through to Sunday.