New Zealand cyclists have picked up five medals at the World Cup track cycling meeting in Los Angeles.
The New Zealand sprint team of Eddie Dawkins, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell. Photo: Photosport
The women's team pursuit and teenager Campbell Stewart in the omnium won silver medals.
There were bronze medals headed by Natasha Hansen in the keirin, Sam Webster in the individual sprint, and
Tom Sexton in the scratch race.
The day started with usual team sprint starter Ethan Mitchell finishing joint top of qualifying in the individual sprint in a personal best 9.850s with Rio Olympic and world sprint medallist Denis Dmitriev of Russia. Team-mate Webster was third qualifier.
However, Mitchell was edged by European champion Paval Kelemen (CZE) in a cruel second round draw.
Webster was beaten in the semi-finals by Dmitirev but earned the bronze in a walkover after Frenchman Quentin Lafarge withdrew injured.
Hansen, in her first competition since Rio, was forced into the repechage of the keirin after being edged for second in the first round. She won her repechage impressively and then finished a strong second behind world champion Kristina Vogel (DEU) in the semifinal.
In her first World Cup final, Hansen sprinted home for third, just 0.1s behind Vogel who claimed the title.
It was a first ever World Cup sprint medal for a New Zealand female in the keirin.
"It was a brilliant effort from Natasha in her first ride back. She has worked really hard and gone to a new level since Rio," said coach Anthony Peden. "It was a really good start as we build to the world championships. We will now see how she backs up in the sprint tomorrow."
Peden was pleased with the performance from Mitchell.
"We have been working for a year with Ethan on his one-lap riding and today was excellent. He was gutted with that first round draw but that is sprinting.
"Sam was close to his best and rode outstandingly well. He too has taken his sprinting to another level since Rio."
Tomorrow is a big test for the sprinters with Webster to ride the keirin competition as well as joining Mitchell and Eddie Dawkins in the second round and hopefully the finals of the team sprint.
The women's team pursuit produced an excellent ride to beat Rio Olympic bronze medallists Canada in the first round of elimination racing.
The quartet of Rushlee Buchanan, Michaela Drummond, Jaime Nielsen and Racquel Sheath clocked 4:22.717 to see off the challenge from Canada with comfort.
They took on Rio silver medallists USA in the ride for gold but the Americans were too good and won in 4:19.990.
New Zealand finished in 4:24.619 but they were satisfied with the effort.
The group also blooded junior world champion Michaela Drummond from the Manawatu in to the combination.
"We are not getting carried away because Great Britain and Australia were not here but with six weeks of hard training to go before the world championships, I think we are in good space."
Sexton and Stewart, both national junior representatives last year, were backing up after competing at the World Cup in Cali last week.
In the 15km scratch race Sexton finished powerfully for the bronze medal.
Stewart, the junior world champion at the omnium, had his first World Cup start under the new four-event, one-day format with all bunch racing. He was ninth in the Scratch race, 10th in the Tempo and an improving fourth in the Elimination to be sixth overall going into the pivotal Points race.
The Manawatu teenager produced a withering finish to win the final double-points sprint to finish in a tie for second, winning the silver medal on countback.
The final day of action sees Webster in the keirin, the second round and medal rounds of the men's team sprint, Sexton and Campbell in the Madison, Hansen in the individual sprint and Nielsen in the individual pursuit
