While both team sprint combinations just missed out on tonight’s medal round, they both established new best times at the Olympic Velodrome test event, while Manawatu’s Simon van Velthooven has taken out the overall World Cup title in the kilo time trial.
The 22 year old finished third in the time trial, clocking 1:02.048 in the event won by German Stefan Nimke in 1:01.211.
It was sufficient to give van Velthooven the overall World Cup honours ahead of Nimke following a second placing in Cali, victory at Beijing and third in the London test event. He was only 16th fastest in the opening lap but was the fastest in the field over the middle 500m and came home solidly.
“The aim was to get out on the track and get a feel for it,” van Velthooven said. “Every track is different and for sprinters especially the feel is really important.
“I would have liked to have gone faster. I felt I had a 1:01 in me but then again no-one was really able to smoke it out there.
“It’s great to have the World cup title but my focus now is on the hard work ahead for the World Championships and earn a place on the team for the Olympics.”
The men’s sprint trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins were fifth fastest in qualifying in 44.002s which broke the best time set at November’s Oceania championship’s and only 0.4sec from top qualifiers and world record holders, France and 0.15sec 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.
“Ethan took some time out of the Australians and both Sam and Eddie road strongly. They came very close to that medal ride and are improving every time they go out on the track,” said BikeNZ coach Mark Elliott. “If they can continue this progression, it will be exciting for them at April’s world championships in Melbourne.”
The fledgling women’s combination of Katie Schofield and Natasha Hansen took a significant 0.3sec 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 rarefied air of the 34 second barrier.
Australia were fastest in a new world record of 32,828, but importantly the Kiwi combination were significantly faster than key countries including Venezuela and Colombia as they chase Olympic qualification.
“It was another big step forward for the girls. They are doing everything asked of them. That ride should give them sufficient points to qualify for the world championships. If so they will need to improve again and finish ahead of their main rivals to earn qualifying points for the Olympics.”
Meanwhile Timaru’s Shane Archbold is 10th after the first day of the men’s omnium. He finished a promising sixth in the flying lap in 13.464, 16th in the points race and eighth in the elimination race.
Results:
Men’s Team Sprint qualifying: France 43.606, 1; Germany 43.650, 2; Australia 43.869, 3; Great Britain 43.869, 4. Also: New Zealand 44.002, 5.
Women’s team sprint qualifying: Australia 32.828, 1; Great Britain 32.966, 2; China 33.178, 3. Also: New Zealand 33.861, 8.
Kilo Time Trial: Stefan Nimke (GER) 1:01.211, 1; Michael D’Armeida (FRA) 1:02.036, 2; Simon van Velthooven (NZL) 1:02.048, 3.
Men’s Omnium, day 1, 250m flying lap: Zach Bell (CAN) 13.295, 1; Juan Aranjo (COL) 13.316, 2; Hao Liu (CHN) 13.425, 3. Also: Shane Archbold (NZL) 13.464, 6.
Points: Eloy Rovira (ESP) 61, Arango 41, 2; Luis Mansillo (CHN) 38, 3. Archbold 0, 16.
Elimination: Elia Viviani (ITA) 1, Bryan Coquard (FRA) 2, Ben Swift (AUS) 3. Also: Archbold 8.
Points after 3 rounds: Arango 9 points, 1; Viviani 12, 2; Coquard 16, 3. Also: Archbold 30, 10.
CAPTION: The men’s sprint team in action from right Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins. This image is free for editorial use only, Credit: Gerry McManus
CAPTION: Simon van Velthooven on the podium after claiming the World Cup title for the men’s 1000m time trial for the season.
For further information contact:
IAN HEPENSTALL
PR Consultant, NZ Golf
Sports Media NZ Ltd
