Pursuit team win gold

Australia's emerging pursuit team showed their class by claiming a dominant win over Spain in the 4km team pursuit final at the Melbourne round of the 2008-09 Track Cycling World Cup Classics series on Friday.

Olympians Mark Jamieson, 24, and Jack Bobridge, 19, along with reigning junior World Champions Rohan Dennis, 18, and Luke Durbridge, 17 were the fastest out the gate and improved their lead at every mark to catch the Spaniards at the 3km mark and win the race.

Jamieson was pleased at the rapid improvements the team are making.

"It’s Luke’s and Rohan’s first international (senior) competition and we are already riding low 4.03's," he said.

"We are always improving and moving forward and getting stronger and faster."
Bobridge, who took his second gold medal of the meet after his win in the individual pursuit on Thursday, was surprised by the team’s pace.

"To have the younger guys ride the time they did was awesome and to come out and be on pace for a 4.01, was fantastic," he said.

Scott Sunderland rode a personal best time to take silver in the men’s kilometre time trial.

Sunderland, who won gold last night in the men’s team sprint, recorded a time of 1:02.492, just over two tenths of a second slower than 2008 World Championship silver medallist Michael D’Almeida of France (1:02.238).

"I am very happy with second, I went out there rode a PB and I wasn't exactly feeling the best I have ever felt before as at the start I felt a bit crook in the guts," he said.

The 19-year-old recently had six pins and a plate inserted in his shoulder after a track racing accident in August.

"A month off for my collar bone and two weeks off with my hamstring, so I haven't had the ideal preparation for the event, so to do a PB, I am rapt."

Sunderland, who has finished eighth in the past two world championship kilometre finals, has set his sights firmly on the 2009 championships.

"To do these times at the start of the season is very exciting and just coming out of injury shows I can still improve quite a lot in the lead up to worlds."

"I have some unfinished business in the kilo. I just feel like I am getting better and better so I hope third time's a charm."