Cycling: Sprinter secures golden hat trick

Simon Van Velthooven. Photo / BikeNZ

Big Manawatu sprinter Simon Van Velthooven showed real maturity in his young career with a superb victory in the keirin on the third night of finals in Invercargill last night.

The 22-year-old produced a massive effort in the final thrust at the line to edge out Australian champion Scott Sunderland.

It was van Velthooven's third gold medal this week after national records in winning the team sprint and 1000m time trial.

Van Velthooven has been the fourth rider among the burgeoning sprint group but his performances have forced him into real consideration for next year's London Olympics.

"This year I did not go to Japan to race in the professional series and that was a good thing," Van Velthooven said. "It allowed me to train in Europe with the guys, then race in the US and come back and really prepare well.

"I knew if I got behind Sunderland I would get boxed in and not get over him. But I just held there for two laps on his wheel. I lost some ground in the corners but made it up in the straights."

Sunderland finished second, with compatriot Peter Lewis third. The other Kiwi, Eddie Dawkins, was unable to get clear air.

Earlier, world silver medallist Shane Archbold showed speed and skill to claim the lead after three events of the men's omnium at the ILT Velodrome. Archbald (Timaru) produced a personal best to win the Flying Lap and disappointed for fifth in the Points race earlier in the day, before bouncing back to win the Elimination race with an assured display.

After three races he leads on seven points with fellow Kiwis Cameron Karwowski and veteran Jason Allen sharing second on 12 points, Westley Gough on 13 and the leading Australian Edward Bissaker on 14.

Canterbury professional Joanne Kiesanowski took three second placings to be second overall on six points, sandwiched one point behind Amy Cure and two ahead of her Australian teammate Ashlee Ankudinoff.

Kiesanowski produced a personal best to finish behind world champion pursuiter Ankudinoff in the Flying Lap, with the Kiwis' 14.795secs a personal best.

Cure dominated the points race, getting away in a break to put a lap on the field mid-race which set her up for the win, but Kiesanowski showed so much nous to finish second. Again Kiesanowski was classy throughout the Elimination but Cure held her off in the final sprint for the win.

The men's under-19 New Zealand combination of Hayden McCormick, Tom Beadle, Kristoff Ford and Dylan Kennett smashed the national record in winning their 4000m final over Australia, clocking 4:11.339.