Olympic sprint rider answers endurance problem

2:44 am on 28 July 2022

Olympic keirin medallist Ellesse Andrews has come to the rescue of her endurance teammates in women's team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.

Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand celebrates coming second in the women's Keirin final (Silver)

Sprint rider Ellesse Andrews is added to the endurace team. Photo: Photosport

Andrews has been added to the women's team pursuit group who were left with one rider short after Ally Wollaston fractured her wrist in a crash in the Tour de France Femme pro road race two days ago.

Andrews is no stranger to endurance, having won three Junior World Championship medals in team and individual pursuit including a gold in Italy in 2017.

She accepted the offer to join with teammates Bryony Botha, Michaela Drummond and Emily Shearman which has been ratified by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and event officials.

"For me it was simple. This is the only way my teammates would get to ride the team pursuit," Andrews said.

"I have team sprint qualifying that day but it won't effect me physically, rather it gives me a short hit-out on the track in race mode."