It was mission accomplished for the New Zealand track cycling team as it gained three medals on the final night of the UCI World Cup meet in Brisbane.
The medals on Sunday night came from a silver to Sam Webster in the individual sprint, silver to Aaron Gate and Tom Sexton in the omnium and a bronze medal to Holly Edmondston in the women’s omnium.
Webster showed superb speed, breaking the New Zealand record for the flying 200m with his 9.647sec-effort in qualifying for the individual sprint.
He found in-form Polish rider Mateusz Rudyk a bridge too far in the final as the Cambridge winner added Brisbane to his resume in two straight rides.
Gate teamed with Sexton for an excellent second placing behind Australia in the 50km madison.
They rode with purpose and acumen, fighting back after Sexton crashed heavily early in the race, returning bloodied into the battle.
"I was quite worried because it was a big crash and was circulating while they checked him for concussion and also had to find a new bike," Gate said.
The replacement bike for Sexton unfortunately had a higher gearing than he was used to, which left him completely spent over the closing laps.
Australians Cameron Meyer and Sam Welsford finished on 76 points with New Zealand so game and impressive second on 60. France was third on 41.
Edmondston rode strongly to surprise herself and claim the bronze in the omnium.
American Jennifer Valente won on 139 points from Canada’s Allison Beveridge. Edmondston had 100 points and Guazzini was one point behind.
