Gold for Alison Shanks in IP

Shanks in action earlier in the year ©Guy Swarbrick

Dec 3rd, 11. New Zealand's Alison Shanks, a previous World Champion in this discipline, won the individual pursuit gold medal at the UCI World Track Cup in Cali, Colombia today.

In this morning's heats, Shanks' time of 3:32.184 was the fastest in the strong field by almost 1.5sec.

As has happened in so many other competitions, this afternoon's gold medal 3km ride off was a duel between the Kiwi and Great Britain's Wendy Houvenaghel. 

Shanks, usually a conservative starter, was on top throughout in the 3000m final, ahead by 0.5sec at the 1000m mark and had the race under control to be two seconds clear at the 2000m.

Shanks' final time was 3:28.994 to Houvenaghel's 3:33.698. In the bronze medal ride off, the Urkaine's Kalitovska Lesya beat Australia's Sarah Kent.  

The Otago rider was delighted with her second 3:28 effort, the first was at the Oceania Championships last week, especially replicating her best time after the arduous travel and heavy early season racing schedule.

"Not only was it a good ride, it was evenly executed. I wanted to firstly go out and beat Wendy and win the gold medal but to do so and record such a fast time as well and it's day three after the team pursuit ... I am stoked," said Shanks.

"Cali is also a fast track but there's a bit of wind so you have to be smart how you ride it. It shows I am fit and it's a great way to kick off the season."

Shanks topped qualifiers in the morning session with a 3:32.184 with Houvenaghel more than a second behind and six seconds back to the next fastest.

"This morning Wendy went out fast and was still ahead at the 2km mark. We thought she would do the same tonight. I knew I was strong to bring it home in the last km but as it turned out I was ahead for most of the race and so I am absolutely stoked with the ride I put together tonight."

Shanks said it did not make up for the disappointment of their loss in yesterday's team pursuit where they were beaten by the Houvenaghel–led Great Britain team.

"I think we have learned a lot from that. In the team pursuit you have to push the boundaries to go faster and that's what we have to do in Olympic year. When you are riding on those limits, sometimes they don't come off but you have to keep pushing the boundaries and hope on race day it comes together.

"We've learned a lot from that. We will take things from it and move forward."

It has been said a thousand times before - what a major disappointment we won't get to see Shanks race this event at the London Olympics! The IP was cut from the programme this time around.

Congratulations Ali!

Other racing

Canterbury's Jo Kiesanowski started the women's omnium with 8th place in the Flying Lap and 13th place in the Points race. After the first two events she was 8th overall.

Kiesanowski then had a fantastic ride to win the elimination race this afternoon. As one of the two last riders in the race, she was up against current World Omnium Champion Tara Whitten (Canada)! Brilliant win Jo!

In the sprint events, Simon Van Velthooven, who won silver in the kilo yesterday, finished 13th in the B final of the men's keirin. Earlier he was relegated in the semifinal for not holding his line, after finishing third across the line.