Gate and Kiesanowski NZ Omnium Champions

NZ Omnium Champion Jo Kiesanowski ©Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

Oct 20th, 11. Aaron Gate and Jo Kiesanowski earned the title of NZ Omnium Champions when the two day event concluded yesterday.

The omnium is a new track event at the Olympic Games next year which has created renewed interest in the six race event.

The women's field for the RaboDirect NZ Omnium Championships was dominated by Kiesanowski who won all six events  - the 3000m individual pursuit, 10km scratch race, 500m time trial, flying lap, points race and elimination.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist on the track has recently returned from her international road season racing with US pro team Tibco. Her #1 goal of the NZ summer is preparation for London where she hopes to be racing the omnium.

The battle for the men's title reminded everyone that it is consistency which wins omniums. 

Auckland cyclist Aaron Gate grabbed his first national title when he dominated a talented field despite winning just one event.

Gate was 3rd in all three events to take the lead after the first day of racing, had two 2nds yesterday before he won the final event, the 1000m time trial to secure the title last night.

The 20 year old finished ahead of Beijing Olympic medallists Marc Ryan and Hayden Roulston, with former world junior track champion Cameron Karwowski 4th and world omnium silver medallist Shane Archbold 5th.

The event signalled Roulston's comeback to track. It was his first track racing since the 2008 Olympics where he earned two medals. 

NZ Omnium Champion Aaron Gate ©Graham Watson

"It takes a bit to adjust back to the track although you can simulate it on the erg. It's takes a bit to get the feel of the track again," Gate said.

"I am thrilled to get my first individual national title and really pleased to get three big personal bests in the timed events."

BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott said the two day omnium proved an ideal early season test of the country's leading riders.

"We wanted to get some information on where our riders are at in terms of short and long term power, and their overall fitness.

"As a fact finding exercise it has been excellent and now we will be evaluating and letting riders know what they need to work on in the next month leading to the Oceania Championships.

"We want our riders to be putting up their hands at that stage towards the London Olympics."

Results

Women

• 3000m Individual Pursuit: Jo Kiesanowski (Canterbury) 3:44.90, 1; Gemma Dudley (West Coast North Island) 3:46.80, 2; Sonia Waddell (Waikato BOP) 3:49.44, (3.
• 10km Scratch race: Kiesanowski 1, Dudley 2, Kathryn Jones (Otago) 3.
• Flying lap: Jo Kiesanowski 14.874, 1; Dudley 15.585, 2; Liz Steel (Canterbury) 15.698, 3.
• 500m time trial: Kiesanowski 37.004, 1; Dudley 38.240, 2; Hannah Latta (Wellington) 38.412, 3.
• Points Race: Kiesanowski 22 points, 1, Dudley 16, 2, Steel and Sonia Waddell 7, equal 3.
• Elimination: Kiesanowski 1, Dudley 2, Steel 3, Laura Thompson (Southland) 4.
• Overall points: Kiesanowski 8 points, 1; Dudley 11, 2; Liz Steel 23, 3.

Men

• 4000m individual pursuit: Sam Bewley (Waikato BOP) 4:20.47, 1; Aaron Gate (Auckland) 4:24.28, 2; Marc Ryan (Mid-South Canterbury) 4:26.30, 3.
• 15km scratch race: Ryan 1, Gate 2, Hayden Roulston (Canterbury) 3.
• 1000m time trial: Gate 1:03.90, 1; Ryan 1:04.54, 2; Cameron Karwowski (Southland) 1:04.64, 3.
• Flying lap. Karwowski 13.499s, 1; Bewley 13.559, 2; Gate 13.686, 3.
• 30km points race: Ryan 1; Roulston 2, Gate 3.
• Elimination race: Roulston 1, Ryan 2, Gate 3.
• Overall points: Gate 14, 1; Ryan 18, 2; Roulston 30, 3; Karwowski 33, 4; Shane Archbold (Mid-South Canterbury) 35, 5.