UCI JUNIOR TRACK CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 3

Cambridge sprinter Alex Schuler continued the record-setting displays on day three of the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Luoyang, China.

After Southland’s Riley Faulker set a national record in the female sprint qualifying, the Cambridge High School rider also set a national record in the male sprint qualifying.

Schuler recorded 10.155s for the flying 200m qualifying, which broke an eight-year old record of 10.223s set by Southland’s Bradly Knipe.

In a blisteringly fast qualifying session, the Te Awamutu Sports club rider was 21st fastest in qualifying with eight riders going under 10 seconds and Australian Tayte Ryan one of two riders under the old world record mark.

Schuler produced an outstanding effort to pip David Peterka (CZE) in a photo-finish in the first round of match-racing but was edged by 0.01s b y Great Britain’s Oliver Pettefer in the second round.

Christchurch rider Matthew Davidson started strongly in the 25km Points race, picking up points in two of the opening three sprints, ultimately finishing eighth.

Auckland riders Lucas Bhimy (3:18.469) and Bernard Pawson (3:22.444) both rode close to their personal bests in the 3000m individual pursuit qualifying in a blisteringly fast session to be 16tn and 21st respectively. Two riders smashed the previous world record set at altitude in Cali last year.

The penultimate day of racing features New Zealand riders in the men’s madison, women’s keirin, men’s elimination and time trial.