Cycling New Zealand men’s team sprint were pipped for a medal, settling for fourth in an impressive effort on the opening day of the 2025 UCI Junior Track World Championships in the Netherlands.

The Team Sprint trio of Ben Murphy (Cambridge), Alex Schuler (Cambridge) and Flynn Underwood (Hamilton) went under the previous national record twice in an exhausting opening day of competition.

They were pipped for a medal by Germany in the ride off for bronze medal in their third ride of the day at the Apeldoorn Velodrome.

The trio qualified fifth fastest in 45.899 to set them up for a first round match-up against Poland. The kiwi trio produced an outstanding effort to clock 45.180, over half a second inside the New Zealand junior record.

They were up by 0.2 after the first lap, then pushed clear by half a second to earn them a ride for the bronze medal.

While the kiwi trio edged under the previous New Zealand record, the German team proved too strong.

“The team sprint boys had three big rides, and rode strongly. It was a good day for them with some strong results,” said coach Callum Saunders.

Canterbury’s Shaylah Sayers missed out on the final of the women’s 5km Scratch race by just one spot in qualifying, after a packed field fanned out at the finish which blocked her clear path to the finish.

“Good day and strong results and good start to the campaign. The velodrome is awesome and it is an excellent venue with very good crowds for the opening day,” said Saunders.

Results: Men Team Sprint qualifying: Great Britain 44.382, 1; Korea 44.858, 2; Germany 45.316, 3. Also: New Zealand (Ben Murphy, Alex Schuler, Flynn Underwood) 45.899, 5.

Round 1: New Zealand 45.180 (NZ Record) bt Poland 45.647.

Bronze medal ride: Germany 44.610, 3; New Zealand 45.862, 4. Gold medal ride: Great Britain 44.471, 1; Korea 46.106, 2.