TRACK CYCLING

Dawkins fights back in Track Cycling World Cup

By Cycling New Zealand

A fired-up Eddie Dawkins has finished a strong third in the keirin competition on day two of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Colombia on Sunday.

Dawkins, bitterly disappointed with his ride in the team sprint, was in impressive form in the keirin.

He won his opening round impressively and dominated the semifinal, finishing clear of German world champion time trail medallist Joachim Eilers and current world keirin champion Francois Pervis.

Dawkins did not get the run in the final and had to settle for third behind Eilers and Commonwealth Games champion Matthew Glaetzer (AUS).


Eddie Dawkins in action in the men’s keirin. Credit: Guy Swarbrick

Team-mate Simon van Velthooven was forced to go through the repechage which he won emphatically but he never got a run in his semifinal and settled for eight place overall.

Aaron Gate lies third in the omnium after a consistent day, following his exhausting three rides in the team pursuit.

The 2013 omnium world champion was seventh in the scratch race, fourth in the individual pursuit in 4:25.884 and fifth in the elimination. He lies third on 94 points with the competition led by Russian Viktor Manakov on 108.

In the women’s competition South Canterbury youngster Holly Edmondston took on the task of the world’s best omnium riders, led by Olympic champion Laura Trott (GBR).

Edmondston was 12^th in the scratch race, 20^th in the individual pursuit in 3:47.038 and 15^th in the elimination to lie in 18^th spot overall.

Earlier Natasha Hansen qualified in the women’s sprint in an excellent 11.166 to be 19^th qualifier but she was beaten in the first round of powerhouse Russian Anastasia Voinova.