Trans-tasman battle evenly fought at Oceania Track Cycling
The Australian visitors fought back in the sprint, but the Kiwis claimed the endurance events on the penultimate day of action at the UCI Oceania Track Cycling Championships, supported by GJ Gardner Homes Waipa, at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome, Cambridge tonight.
Leigh Hoffman, who won the silver medal at the world championships last year, showed his strength and class to dominate the men’s keirin final.
The South Australian, who won the individual sprint, powered past kiwi Sam Dakin on the final bend to claim the final in impressive fashion from fast-finishing young Kiwi Jaxson Russell and Tayler Ryan (AUS).
There was an upset in the women with young Australian Alessa McCaig dashing home with the final sprint to pip world champion Ellesse Andrews on the line in the final.
Andrews, in her first competition of the year, showed her early season strength to power to the front but was just pipped by the Australia in her first competitive race of the year.
McCaig was part of the Australian women’s team that won the bronze medal in the team sprint at last year’s world championship.
“I was happy that I was able to stay patient which is something I have been working on. I was proud of myself to stay controlled and patient and really hit it at the end.
“I got shuffled back but stayed patient and followed some wheels and had a bit left at the end.
“It’s my first elite Oceania individual title so I am proud of that. I am taking on the learnings and keep moving forward,” said the 22-year-old Australian. “I am racing the keirin at the first World Cup in Perth and looking forward to that, and part of a growing group on the pathway looking to the future,” said McCaig who is coached by former Olympic medallist Kaarle McCulloch.
The New Zealand National team of Bryony Botha and Prue Fowler dominated the women’s 30km Madison to win on 50 points ahead of the Keystone combination of national squad riders Sophie Edwards and Rylee McMullen on 31, with the Australian national pairing of Nicole Duncan and Maeve Plouffe third on 27 points.
New Zealand’s men’s endurance riders ended the programme on a strong note with the Whoosh pairing of national squad riders Keegan Hornblow and George Jackson winning with 82 points in a close battle ahead of the NZ National pair of Tom Sexton and Marshall Erwood on 70 with Liam Walsh and Blake Quick (Australian National) third on 55 points.
There were some impressive performances from para cyclists, integrated fully into the programme, with three world records this week to Australians – two to Corey Boddington and one to outstanding Australian Jessica Gallagher, who has enjoyed world titles in four different sports over nearly two decades.
Gallagher set a record with pilot Jacqui Mengler-Mohr earlier in the programme, and won tonight’s Para B Sprint Final, edging out New Zealand’s Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges in two straight rides.
“I’ve been with the Australian Cycling Team for nine years and it’s my first time in Cambridge. It is nice to be here and race against the kiwis,” said Gallagher.
“We are in a training block and the goal is the Commonwealth Games - we have come in tired so it is nice to race well and see where we are at.
“Over the last 18 years I have represented Australia in four sports – I love cycling. It is a unique relationship on a tandem as a stoker and my current pilot Jackie is wonderful. We were privileged to win our first rainbows last year and it was fantastic to break a world record earlier this week in the tandem pursuit.”
The Para B Men’s Sprint final went to Kane Perris and Luke Zaccaria also in two straight rides.
Para cycling world champion, Devon Briggs grabbed the Oceania title in the Para Mixed Elimination, showing his nous as he remained at the tail of the field before edging out the riders ahead, before controlling the final sprint for the title.
“I have ridden elimination at the worlds but it is the first time in a mixed classification elimination, male and female. I love elimination. I grew up doing them as juniors able bodied,” said the Cambridge-based rider.
“I had a terrible performance at the worlds and went out first. I am really happy with how tonight went. Eliminations happen quickly and you have to be wary to watch the bunch. From the back you’ve got the best vantage because you can see what is happening and judge your sprint which went well tonight.”
In Under-19 action, the New Zealand trio Hazel Gardner, Minne Collins, and Lily Cameron won the gold in the women’s team sprint final over Australia Gold trio of Milan Bradshaw, April Kat and Paige Squire.
The South Australian combination of Oliver Ward and William Brown dominated the U19 men’s 30km Madison, winning eight of the 12 sprints to finish on 57 points from Queenland’s Lachlan Walters and Sam Hilditch33 and New Zealand’s Riley Crampton and Lachlan Stewart from Open Country on 23.
New Zealand’s Neve Mckenzie and Mia Pepper claimed the Under-19 Madison over 15kms, winning four of the six sprints to score 49 points from Canterbury’s Shaylah Sayers and Kily Keast on 21, and Madeline Bell and Lily Cameron from Te Awamutu Cycling on 14 points.
The competition concludes on Saturday
