Archbold wins cycling time trial in Olympic preparation

Track cyclist Shane Archbold gave his Olympic hopes a boost with a strong performance in winning the penultimate stage of the Tour de la Dordogne in France yesterday.

 The 23 year old took out the individual time trial, the only rider to go under 14 minutes for the lumpy 10.6km circuit around Bergerac in the south-west of France.

 

Archbold, who will contest the six-discipline Omnium in London next month, clocked 13.56.76 to win by more than five seconds from Frenchman Christophe Laporte with Olympic teammate Aaron Gate third in 14:06.95.

 

“Shane has been training very hard with some big miles and was smoking today,” said BikeNZ team manager Stephen Connell.

 

The team complete the four-stage tour with a challenging final 160km hilly stage to Perigueux tomorrow before the short drive to Bordeaux where the full team will assemble for their final track preparation camp before London.

 

The women’s endurance track squad has already arrived in Bordeaux after training in the USA, while the sprint squad are currently training and racing in Germany.

 

Southland’s Natasha Hansen rejoined the squad in Europe yesterday after returning home for the funeral of a close friend and sister of her coach Jerard Stock.