Southland's Natasha Hansen and sprint partner Katie Schofield had to settle for fourth after missing a medal in the final on the second day of the UCI track cycling World Cup in Cali, Columbia.
The women’s team sprint finished fourth, beaten by Spain for the bronze medal in 34.028s, unable to better their outstanding qualifying effort from the first day.
Schofield had a busy day, qualifying 16th in the women’s sprint in 11.444s but was beaten in the first round of elimination racing.
Meanwhile, Olympic medallist Simon van Velthooven found finals form on the second day of the UCI track cycling World Cup in Cali, Colombia.
Van Velthooven, in his first World Cup competition of the season, finished fifth in the final of the men’s keirin.
The Manawatu rider was third in his opening heat but fought his way back by winning the repechage.
He was second in the second round clash behind Fabian Puerta Zapata from the host Colombia, although he did not get any openings in the final where he had to settle for fifth in a welcome return to international competition.
Southland’s Cameron Karwowski lies in third place overall after the first day of the six-event omnium competition, led by Germany’s Maximilian Geyer.
Karwowski was third in the 15km scratch race, fourth in the 4000m individual pursuit in 4:19.049 and 12th in the elimination race.
Teammate Raquel Sheath is in sixth place overall in the women’s omnium after three rounds. She was fourth in the scratch race, 12th in the individual pursuit in 3:43.733 and eighth in the elimination, with Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) leading.
The young women’s team pursuit combination, without Sheath who focussed on the omnium, did not advance in the second round, overtaken by Hong Kong who produced the second fastest time of the day.
Tomorrow will see Sheath and Karwowski complete the omnium, Schofield rides in the keirin, while van Velthooven and Zac Williams ride in the sprint qualifying.
Photo courtesy Guy Swarbrick: Simon van Velthooven in Cali
Details: www.bikenz.org.nz or www.uci.ch