Cycling: NZ pursuit teams into medal rides

Both the New Zealand men's and women's pursuit teams have bronze medal riades in Beijing. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand men's and women's pursuit teams will ride off for bronze medals at the UCI World Cup event in Beijing.

BikeNZ has rested a number of riders to develop some new combinations before finalising the team for next month's key World Cup meeting in London and the world championships in Melbourne.

The combination of Westley Gough, Cameron Karwowski, Peter Latham and Myron Simpson will take on Great Britain for the bronze medal in the men's 4000m team's pursuit.

They clocked 4:04.247 in qualifying on the opening night of competition at the velodrome used for the 2008 Olympics. They were third fastest behind Russia (4:00.488) and Australia (4:02.585), who will fight it out for the gold medal.

The women's trio of Kaytee Boyd, Rushlee Buchanan and Gemma Dudley will take on hosts China for the bronze medal in the 3000m women's team's pursuit.

They were fourth fastest in qualifying in 3:27.357, a second behind the Chinese combination. The New Zealand team started conservatively to be seventh fastest at the 1000m mark, improving to fifth fastest at 2000m before rattling home to push into the medal ride-offs.

Belarus were fastest in 3:24.857 and will take on Ukraine (3:25.612) in the gold-medal ride.

Tonight's action includes the team's sprint with the BikeNZ combination of Natasha Hansen and Katie Schofield making their World Cup debut as they push for late qualification for the London Olympics following world-class performances at November's Oceania Championships.

Also in action is the men's team's sprint trio of Matt Archibald, Eddie Dawkins and Simon van Velthooven, competing together for the first time, and experienced Christchurch rider Jason Allen will contest the first day of the omnium.