Double Games gold for NZ cyclists

7:01 am on 30 July 2022

New Zealand has won its first Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medal, beating England in track cycling's team pursuit by nearly two seconds.

Aaron Gate.New Zealand cyclist.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Aaron Gate, Jordan Kerby, Tom Sexton and Campbell Stewart set a Games record of 3min 47.575sec.

Soon after, the women's team sprint of Ellesse Andrews, Rebecca Petch and Olivia King dominated Canada in a Games record of 47.425 seconds.

Earlier, the women's team pursuit - down a rider after Ally Woollaston was injured in the Tour de France - took silver in the gold medal race against Australia.

Andrews replaced Woollaston, but eased off early in the gold medal race to save her energy for the team sprint soon after.

Australia dominated the final, beating Andrews, Bryony Botha, Michaela Drummond and Emily Shearman by nearly six seconds.

And the New Zealand men's sprint team of Sam Webster, Sam Dakin and Bradley Knipe beat Canada to win bronze.