KEY POINTS:
The world track cycling championships ended on a golden high for New Zealand as Hayden Godfrey stormed to victory in the Omnium multi-disciplined event at Manchester this morning (NZ time).
Godfrey was a mixture of delight and exhaustion after winning cycling's version of a decathlon, a gruelling five-race
test of endurance and sprinting ability.
It capped a frustrating period since Godfrey was part of the bronze medal-winning team pursuit at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
An ongoing leg injury had since limited his opportunities.
"I've been waiting for a year, it's a long time waiting. I'm completely stoked,' Godfrey told Radio Sport.
The event, which was introduced at international level two years ago, isn't an Olympic discipline but that didn't concern Godfrey, 29, who hoped its status would quickly improve.
"That (non-Olympic status) is a bit unfortunate but it's a new event so we'll see where it goes. I think in the future we'll see it being one of the most popular events.'
The event suits the Christchurch all-rounder perfectly, having found there was no one event he could peak at on the world stage.
"When I first heard about the event I was really excited because I've always been a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none,' he said.
"When I saw they'd put all my favourite events together and they all meant something, I was really keen to train up for this event.'
Victory was set up in the second event, the 5km scratch race, which Godfrey won.
However, he attributed the gold more to an ability to perform consistently in every discipline.
He was fourth in the opening 200m flying start time trial and the 3km individual pursuit, seventh in the points race.
He had a handy lead going into the 1km time trial, where he finished fourth.
"It's a combination of the most popular five events they do,' he said.
"It's really important to be really consistent in all the events and not have a bad race.
"I had a good run and a bit of luck as well and finished up there in all the events which set me up.'
Godfrey compiled 19 points to hold off Leigh Howard of Australia, on 28, while scratch champion Aliaksandr Lisouski of Belarus won the bronze with 35.
The New Zealander had no qualms denying Australia what would have been their only gold medal of the championships.
"Everyone plays up the rivalry,' Godfrey said.
"But it's always good to get one over on them.'
Athens Olympian Godfrey is a three-time World Cup medallist.
In other events today, New Zealand's Catherine Cheatley couldn't repeat her heroics of last year's championships, when she won bronze in the points race, managing 10th in the women's scratch event. The race was won by Dutch rider Eleanora Van Dijk.
Edwin Dawkins was 10th in the men's 1km time trial, clocking 1min 2.893sec. He was 1.561sec behind the time of Dutch winner Teun Mulder.
Today's gold was New Zealand's only medal at the five-day event.
There were fourth placings to the men's team pursuit and Hayden Roulston in the 4000m individual pursuit, while Greg Henderson was fifth in the points race.
- NZPA
