Women's Scratch Race Podium - Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands) on the podium receiving the Gold Medal with Jennifer Valente (USA) receiving the Silver Medal with Ally Wollaston (New Zealand) receiving the bronze. Photo: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Olympic double medallist Ally Wollaston has made bronze medal-winning start to her campaign at the Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark.
The 23-year-old has made a quick transition from her professional road race duties to finish third in the women's 10km scratch race on the opening day of the championships in Copenhagen.
Wollaston, who has just completed her season with the AG-Insurance-Soudal road cycling team, is set to compete in four events in Denmark.
She won two medals on the track at this year's Paris Olympics, claiming silver in the women's team pursuit and bronze in the omnium.
The Waikato professional finished behind European road race champion Lorena Wiebes in the World Champs scratch race, with the Dutch rider winning in a sprint ahead of multi-world champion American Jennifer Valente.
The leaders averaged just under 50kmh for the 40-lap contest.
"Getting third in my first race is a great start. I've not been on the track since the Olympics so I am, really happy with my performance today," Wollaston said.
"I am feeling super-fit from the road and I think it carries over quite nicely. It is definitely different to my build-up for the Olympics but an interesting project to try out with a different lead-in.
"It was the first time I have ridden a stand-alone scratch race. I have done it as part of the omnium for the last two or three years and it was quite a different dynamic and exciting to be part of. I probably did not time my sprint perfectly but I have some more opportunities throughout the week."
On Friday Wollaston competes in the elimination race, followed by the four-discipline omnium on Saturday and points race on Monday.
Her New Zealand teammate Bryony Botha contests the Individual Pursuit on Sunday.
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