New Zealand's sprint cyclists produced new records in elite company on the first full day of competition at the UCI World Cup in London.
While both team sprint combinations just missed out on the medal round, they both established new best times at the Olympic Velodrome test event.
The men's trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins were fifth fastest in qualifying in 44.002 seconds which broke the best time set at November's Oceania championship's and only 0.4 seconds from top qualifiers and world record holders, France and 0.15 seconds off the medal ride.
Mitchell produced a superb start lap of 17.601 which was faster than rivals Australia, which is encouraging as they look towards April's world championships.
The new women's combination of Katie Schofield and Natasha Hansen took a significant 0.3 seconds off their best time at the Oceania Championships to be eighth fastest in the women's team sprint.
The pair clocked 33.861, the first time under the 34 second barrier.
Australia were fastest in a new world record of 32,828, but importantly the fledgling New Zealand combination were significantly faster than key countries including Venezuela and Colombia as they chase Olympic qualification.
Meanwhile Shane Archbold is 10th after two rounds of the men's omnium, finishing sixth in the flying lap in 13.464 and 16th in the points race with the elimination race to come later.
