26 Mar 2009

Near perfect ride for Shanks

4:17 pm on 26 March 2009

The Dunedin cyclist Alison Shanks believes she rode close to the perfect race in winning the gold medal in the individual pursuit at the World Track Championships in Poland this morning.

After qualifying second fastest, Shanks rode a personal best time... overhauling Britain's Olympic silver medalist Wendy Houvenaghel two-thirds of the way through the 3000 metre final... winning by almost 2 seconds.

After a disappointing ride in finishing 4th in Beijing last year, Shanks says her tactics were on the mark today....

PLAY AUDIO:CYCLE PERFECT

IN:......I.....

OUT:...out there.

DUR:...16 secs

Shanks will ride the team pursuit tomorrow.... her world title is New Zealand's first since Sarah Ulmer and Greg Henderson won in 2004.