The Twenty-two year old track cycling rookie Aaron Gate has been crowned omnium world champion in Minsk, Belarus.
Gate won the gruelling six-discipline event with a magnificent display on the second day, winning two of the three stages and beating his two key rivals in the other.
It was a stunning performance in his first omnium at international level, beating off the challenges from defending world champion Glenn O'Shea (AUS) and Olympic champion Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN).
It's the second omnium world title claimed by a New Zealander after Hayden Godfrey won in Manchester in 2008, and it's third medal won by the five-strong contingent at the world championships in Minsk following the silver medals by the men's team sprint and Simon Van Velthooven in the 1km time trial.
There's one more chance for a medal tomorrow with former triple junior world champion Sam Webster through to the semifinals of the men's sprint, after disposing of the Olympic champion Jason Kenny (GBR) in two straight rides in the quarterfinal.
