The strong New Zealand cycling squad added two further medals to their Delhi Commonwealth Games tally today.
Lauren Ellis of Ashburton grabbed the silver in the women's 25km points race and keirin rider Simon van Velthooven won a controversial bronze medal, after initially being placed fourth in his event.
Yesterday Jesse Sergent and Eddie Dawkins won cycling medals for New Zealand, so the squad is on fire.
Ellis, a 21-year-old from Ashburton, looked a fair bet for the gold medal entering the 10th and final sprint but couldn't match Australian Megan Dunn, who crossed the line first to extend her points total to a winning total of 45.
The New Zealander needed to win the final sprint to sew up the gold, but didn’t have quite the drive when she needed it.
"I'm so proud to get the silver medal but you always go out wanting to win the race," she said. "I had Megan's wheel [in the final sprint] but I lost it. I had put in so much energy just to get myself in that position.”
Ellis’ team-mates Joanne Kiesanowski and Rushlee Buchanan rode very well for her, and played vital roles in getting her to the front at crucial moments. They finished sixth with 14 points and seventh with nine points respectively.
There was controversy at the end of the keirin. Palmerston North rider van Velthooven appeared to have finished fourth, but a minute or so after the race ended he could be seen punching the air with joy after learning he had been promoted into the medals.
Track officials ruled that Malaysian Azizulhasni Awang, who finished first, had ridden dangerously during the final lap, so disqualified him.
That meant the whole field was promoted – very good news for the 21-year-old Velthooven. Malaysian Josiah Ng won the gold and England's David Daniell the silver.
