10 Dec 2014

Medals elude NZ riders on final day

11:43 am on 10 December 2014

The New Zealand track cycling team have failed to win any more medals on the final day of the World Cup meet in London.

The men's team pursuit won silver and the world champion men's team sprint won bronze on the opening day of competition.

On the final day of competition Matt Archibald and Eddie Dawkins finished fourth and eighth respectively in the individual sprint.

Dawkins was the top qualifier and the only rider to go under the 10-second barrier in what proved a sluggish track at the velodrome which had produced faster times at the 2012 London Olympics.

Archibald produced his most impressive international performance, qualifying eighth and going on to finish fourth, edging out Dawkins in the quarterfinal but was beaten 2-1 by a Venezuelan in the third place ride-off.

The 2013 world champion Aaron Gate recovered from his crash yesterday to finish fifth overall in the men's omnium after placing second in the final points race.

The New Zealand team performances have secured strong qualifying points in all targeted events for February's prime goal of the world championships, particularly the team pursuit, team sprint and men's omnium.

Sam Webster competing at the UCI World Cup in London.

Sam Webster is ranked fifth in the world in the individual men's sprint. Photo: Photosport

This will allow BikeNZ to rest their key performers from January's final World Cup in Colombia.