Women pursuiters chase gold in Melbourne

New Zealand's women's team pursuiters have a chance for revenge after qualifying for the gold medal ride in the second round of the World Cup track cycling series in Melbourne.

The New Zealand trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and newcomer Rushlee Buchanan were fastest in qualifying today, and take on Great Britain for the gold medal, the team they lost to narrowly in the final of the world championship in March.

The New Zealanders were the first of the major powers out on the slow track at Hisense Arena, with organisers running the air conditioning which had deadened the track throughout the meet.

New Zealand clocked three minutes 26.890 seconds, a shade slower than their New Zealand record at the Oceania Championships in Invercargill last week.

However Australia were nearly a second slower after a conservative start, the Netherlands faded badly and world champions Great Britain were second fastest, half a second slower than New Zealand.

"It was a solid ride but the good thing is there's quite a bit of technical improvement that can be made and more left in the tank," said BikeNZ national women's coach Dayle Cheatley.

"Adding Alison back into the squad from the Oceania's really gives us some extra horsepower and experience. We are a much stronger unit with her in the mix."

Invercargill teenager Tom Scully is back on the track as partner to Olympic medallist Marc Ryan in the final of the 40km madison, while Southlander Eddie Dawkins will ride off for ninth to 16th place in the men's sprints.

- NZPA