Cycling: Twin medals for NZ cyclists

Jesse Sergent competes in the Mens 4000m Individual Persuit at the IG Sports Complex. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand claimed its first two medals of the Commonwealth Games here today but there will be disappointment in the track cycling ranks that neither was gold.

Australia ruled the roost as Jesse Sergent settled for silver in the individual pursuit while Eddie Dawkins claimed bronze in the 1km time trial.

Both were regarded as strong gold prospects but were headed off by opponents who they had bettered earlier this year at the world championships in Copenhagen.

Sergent, 22, matched his Denmark silver after a thrilling final at the Indira Ghandi Sports Complex in which Australian Jack Bobridge jumped to the front and managed to hold off the hard-finishing Feilding cyclist.

Sergent's time of four minutes 17.495 seconds was 0.338sec slower than Bobridge, who led by nearly 1-1/2sec at the midway point of the race before the New Zealander began a late charge.

He steadily ate into the margin but not quickly enough against the rising Australian star, who cycling legend Lance Armstrong recently described as "the real deal".

Neither rider was as fast as their qualifying session efforts. Sergent was nearly 1sec slower while Bobridge went nowhere near his stunning 4min 14.845sec, which was the fourth-fastest time in history.

Earlier, Dawkins was disappointed with his performance in the 1km time trial, having been affected by a technical fault. His handlebars were found to be out of alignment which prompted a change only minutes before he took to the start line.

It meant he lacked control throughout his ride, which is probably why he clipped a small advertising marker as he stormed home in the final lap.

Dawkins believed the incident didn't slow him down enough to prevent him finishing second, even though Malaysian silver medallist Mohd Rizal Tisin was just 0.009sec of the Southlander's 1min 02.777sec time.

However, there was no doubt about the winner, with Australian Scott Sunderland blitzing his rivals in a slick Games record time of 1:01.114.

The New Zealand surprise package was fourth-placed Auckland 20-year-old Myron Simpson, who led throughout most of the event in a time of 1:03.449, which was only eclipsed by the final three riders.

Veteran Marc Ryan was seventh in 1:04.521.

Meanwhile, Alison Shanks finished just over a second outside a medal when placing sixth in the 500m time trial today.

Even though the event is regarded as a warmup for her specialist individual pursuit, Shanks went close to snatching a medal although she was nowhere near evergreen winner Anna Meares as Australia completed a dominant quinella.

Meares went well under her Games record in clocking 33.758 seconds, more than 1sec clear of rising compatriot Kaarle McCulloch. Becky James of Wales was third in 35.236sec, which was 1.329sec ahead of Shanks.

The New Zealander clocked 36.565sec over the two laps, prompting a smile and waves to supporters. Her time was the quickest in the field at that point although there were still six of the 12 riders to compete at that stage.

- NZPA