New world record for NZ's team pursuiting women

Mar 26th, 10.  They were disappointed not to be in the gold medal ride-off but the Kiwi trio used that to their advantage and rode an incredible race to break the world team pursuit record.

Rushlee Buchanan leads Alison Shanks and Lauren Ellis in their world record ride ©Photo courtesy Guy Swarbrick ©www.trackcycling.me.uk

It's not often the heroes of a race are the bronze medal winners, but today the Kiwi team were just that with their record breaking time taking the gloss off Australia's gold medal win.

The Kiwi's time of 3:21.552 was faster than the Australians in their winning ride against Great Britain and faster than the previous record of 3:21.875 set by Great Britain last year.

In the qualifying round earlier this morning,  Alison Shanks, Rushlee Buchanan and Lauren Ellis had the fastest times after 1000m and 2000m but their pace slowed on the final 1000m and their chance for overall victory disappeared.

In the finals' race for bronze the trio didn't fade, with their time the fastest 3000m women's team pursuit in history. 

"It was a bit up and down really. We sat down and planned the ride-off precisely right down to what lap each of us would take, at what speed and we went out and executed that plan to perfection. The world record was a consequence of focussing on that plan," Shanks explained.

World record proof ©Photo courtesy Guy Swarbrick ©www.trackcycling.me.uk

Shanks also had to struggle back to mental form from her disappointment about her own results in the individual pursuit last night and from the past midnight bedtime she had due to drug testing.

"It was difficult. Yesterday was disappointing for sure and they were two really hard rides," she said. "At the same time I knew I had done the training and I knew there were two teammates who were absolutely amping to do well."

In the end the results speak for themselves, every aspect of the team pursuit came together perfectly.

"It was fantastic. Of course we would have loved to have been in the gold medal ride. But in the big picture we are walking away from here as the fastest team in the world," Shanks said.

"Women's team pursuit standards have risen quickly and are going to rise a lot more now this is an Olympic event. These championships were the start of that process to London and so we can take a lot from them and know we are in a very good place. It's very exciting."

World record holders ©Gerry McManus/BikeNZ

NZ's world record breaking lap times

1000m 1:10.618

2000m 1:05.270, 2:15.888

3000m 1:05.664, 3:21.552

This time was almost three second faster than the Kiwi's qualifying time.

Other Kiwi news from the track today

• Jesse Sergent won silver in the individual pursuit
• World record for NZ women team pursuiters
• Tom Scully placed 7th in the scratch race
• Sam Webster placed 6th in the keirin, Simon van Veelthoven 9th

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