Sergent in pursuit of gold

Jesse Sergent is playing down his individual pursuit chances at this week's world track cycling championships in the Netherlands, but is upbeat about New Zealand's chances in the team event.
The men's team pursuit kicks off New Zealand's programme at the Apeldoorn velodrome on Thursday morning (NZT) with the men's individual pursuit, no longer an Olympic event, following on Friday.
Sergent, individual pursuit silver medallist at last year's world championships in Copenhagen, feels it is a trip into the unknown this time, even though American defending champion Taylor Phinney will be absent, riding with his Swiss BMC team at the Tour of Catalunya in Spain. Feilding's Sergent has focussed on his professional road career with the American Radioshack team this year and signalled his potential with his first win on European soil at the Driedaagse van Westvlaanderen race in Belgium.
"I am not too sure how I will go in the individual pursuit as I have not done the build-up like last year time-wise," he said.
"I am not really looking at that as a bad thing, so I'll just go out and believe in the times I have done in the past.
"If I am not up to that, then I am not going to be in the ball park for a medal ride-off."
Sergent's best time in the 4000m event is four minutes, 15.988 seconds and he knows he will need to replicate or surpass that for a podium finish.
The two fastest pursuiters this year are Australians - Jack Bobridge, an old foe from Sergent's junior days, and Rohan Dennis. Bobridge clocked 4m 10.534s at the Australian Championships in February to eclipse the 15-year-old mark of 4m 11.114s set by Britain's Chris Boardman while using the now banned "superman" position. Bobridge's time was almost three seconds better than any other set in the standard riding position.
Dennis has the second best time ever in a standard position of 4m 13.400s achieved in January while racing Bobridge.
"Bobridge would be the favourite coming off breaking the world record so I think all eyes will be on him," Sergent said.
Sergent, who with fellow Radioshack teammate Sam Bewley are key elements of the New Zealand pursuit team, said it had not taken too long to readjust to track racing.
"It's been a different build-up to last year with less track time but I definitely think it's going to be enough.
"I got in some good, solid key sessions under my belt this week and all the track technique stuff has come back pretty quickly.
"The power and standing start stuff has taken a little bit longer but I still think I have enough time with the team to produce some solid performances.
"Some things are in the unknown, especially with the individual pursuit, but definitely with the team pursuit, everything's on track to do what I am capable of."
New Zealand won the team bronze at Copenhagen last year and Sergent said there had been some tweaking to the line-up, with Marc Ryan back for Westley Gough. Peter Latham had been moved to the front from No 3, swapping places with Bewley, with Ryan at second wheel and Sergent anchoring the side.
"Sam will be asked to pull longer turns while I remain at fourth wheel, as I usually am."
They had been working hard with the new formation and Sergent felt the foursome had gelled well.
Last year, New Zealand collected two silvers through Sergent in the individual pursuit and Lauren Ellis in the women's points race, with bronzes coming from the men's and women's team pursuit. Sergent felt this year's team looked ready to match or better that effort.
"I think New Zealand have got a pretty good chance at a good showing here," Sergent said.NZPA