3 Dec 2010

Good start for NZ cyclists

8:23 am on 3 December 2010

It's been a good start for the New Zealand squad at track cycling's UCI World Cup in Melbourne with two silver medals and a bronze.

Young sprinters Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins qualified second fastest and were just pipped by the Beijing Olympic gold medallists, Great Britain in the gold medal ride-off.

Aaron Gate and Myron Simpson were second in the Madison and Kaytee Boyd, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen picked up the bronze medal after qualifying fourth fastest in the women's team pursuit.

They dominated a full strength Canadian line-up in the bronze medal ride with Australia winning the final over Germany.

And Shane Archbold leads the omnium after three of the six events and will compete in the 1km time trial individual pursuit and scratch race tonight.

The Melbourne World Cup has drawn full strength teams from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, China and several other leading European nations in the first major international with qualifying points for the 2012 London Olympics.

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