Cycling: Kiwi women make strong start

Alison Shanks, pictured, Lauren Ellis and Rushlee Buchanan qualified fastest in the heat of the women's 3000m team pursuit. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The New Zealand women's team pursuit haves made an outstanding start to the latest World Cup track cycling meet in Colombia.

The trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Rushlee Buchanan today qualified fastest in the heat of the women's 3000m team pursuit on the opening morning of competition in Cali.

They clocked three minutes 23.132 seconds and will face the United States in the final later today (NZT).

The Americans, led by individual pursuit record holder Sarah Hammer, were just under a second slower while Great Britain will take on Germany for the bronze medal.

New Zealand have changed back to the same combination used in setting the world record in Copenhagen earlier this year.

Elsewhere, Timaru's Shane Archbold finished sixth in the 250m flying lap, which is the first event of the men's omnium. The points race and elimination were to complete today's programme, with the individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial tomorrow.

- NZPA