Mitchell top in sprint qualifying; Women Pursuit ride for Gold
UCI TRACK CYCLING WORLD CUP - LOS ANGELES – DAY 2 UPDATE
Ethan Mitchell has set a personal best to be equal fastest in qualifying for the men’s individual sprint on the second day of the UCI World Cup in Los Angeles today.
The women’s team pursuit produced another excellent ride to beat Canada in the first round of elimination racing and will ride off for the gold medal against hosts USA, the Olympic silver medallists, in the evening session.
The quartet of Rushlee Buchanan, Michaela Drummond, Jaime Nielsen and Racquel Sheath clocked 4:22.717 to see off the challenge from Canada with comfort, ahead from the start and in control throughout.
Mitchell, the starter for the men’s team sprint, clocked a sea-level PB 9.850s in qualifying for the flying 200m at the VELO Sports Centre south of the city in the morning session.
His time was equal fastest with Rio Olympic and world sprint medallist Denis Dmitriev although the Russian was given top seeding with the faster final 100m.
Teammate Sam Webster was third fastest in a slick 9.894s to continue the impressive start to their World Cup competition.
The fastest four riders automatically moved through to the second round of elimination racing later in the session with the semifinals and finals on the evening programme.
Also on the morning programme is Manawatu’s Campbell Stewart in the four-event omnium competition; fellow teenager Tom Sexton (Southland) in heats of the scratch race and Natasha Hansen in the women’s keirin.
CAPTION: Coach Brendon Cameron provides information to the women’s team pursuit at the UCI Track World Cup in Los Angeles.
Image courtesy Guy Swarbrick.