TRACK CYCLING

Archibald in form for tilt at Olympic selection

By CyclingNZ High Performance

New Zealand cyclist Matt Archibald has enjoyed strong form as he heads to Europe to make a final push for selection to the Rio Olympics.

Archibald finished third in the individual sprint at the Melbourne UCI meet, which was the second of two events as part of the International Track Series. The full Australian Olympic sprint squad competed as part of their preparations for Rio.

Archibald, a world championship medallist in the time trial last year, qualified second fastest in 10.187s for the 200m behind top Australian Matthew Glaetzer. He went on to beat Malaysia’s Muhammad Rasol in the first round and Japan’s Tomoyuki Kawabata in the second round, the rider who beat him in the first met in the series.

Archibald lost to second ranked Australian Patrick Constable in a tight semifinal but beat China’s Bi Wenjun in the bronze medal ride-off.

Auckland’s Sam Dakin also qualified 13^th fastest in 10.637 but lost to Wenjun in the first round. He went on to finish fourth in the final of the keirin.

New Zealand’s young sprinters Emma Cumming and Bradly Knipe, both from Southland, continued their strong form as they prepare for next month’s junior world championships. Cumming won the junior keirin after qualifying third in her first round ride, while Knipe qualified top but had to settle for fourth in the final.

Waikato’s Ryan Wills finished sixth overall in the second men’s omnium competition after placing fourth earlier in the week, while Holly White (Auckland) and Madison Farrant (Waikato) finished seventh and eighth respectively in the women’s omnium.

There was success for the junior riders with Nicole Shields (Central Otago) and Michaela Drummond (Manawatu) finishing first and second in the women’s 2000m, with Campbell Stewart third in the junior men and Cameron Riches (Auckland) third in the junior scratch race.

The junior national team have returned to Cambridge for the final phase of their preparations for the upcoming world championships in Switzerland.

Details: www.cyclingnewzealand.nz