8 Nov 2014

NZ riders 2nd fastest in Mexico

6:17 pm on 8 November 2014

New Zealand's female track cyclists set two national records in their return to international action on the first day of the opening World Cup event in Mexico.

New Zealand's georgia Williams, left, Rushlee Buchanan, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen finish first in the Women 4000m Team Pursuit at the 2014 Oceania Track Championships

New Zealand's Georgia Williams, left, Rushlee Buchanan, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen finish first in the Women 4000m Team Pursuit at the 2014 Oceania Track Championships Photo: PHOTOSPORT

They took advantage of the slick track at Guadalajara to set New Zealand best times during qualifying for the 4000 metre team pursuit, where they were second fastest, and the team sprint where they were eighth.

The combination of Rushlee Buchanan, Lauren Ellis, Jaime Nielsen and Georgia Williams clocked 4:26.696 to be second behind Olympic champions Great Britain who were timed at 4:20:066s.

New Zealand will ride against third qualifiers Canada tomorrow, while Great Britain take on China, with the two winners then riding off later on the second day for the gold medal.

The men's team sprint had to be content with fourth fastest in qualifying and will contest for the bronze medal tomorrow.

The men's team pursuit were fifth fastest in qualifying, only two seconds behind top team Australia, and will take on Spain in the battle towards the bronze medal ride.

The combination of Aaron Gate, Pieter Bulling, Westley Gough and Marc Ryan clocked 3:59.530 seconds, with only four seconds covering the top eight teams who qualify for Sunday's elimination round.