Cycling: Disappointment hangs heavy on Henderson's shoulders

New Zealand captain Greg Henderson shows his disappointment. Picture / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand's hopes of a golden finale to the track cycling programme were dashed when they were pushed out of the medals in the keenly awaited 80-lap scratch race last night.

Former world champion Greg Henderson was nowhere to be seen in the mad-cap scurry in which teammate Tim Gudsell joined the list of fourth-place finishers.

Away in a five-man break after 15 laps, Gudsell, with plenty of help from Henderson and Hayden Godfrey, buried himself in the bunch but could not foot it in the gallop to the line.

The Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish took gold, their first since the Kingston Games in 1966.

Australia's Ashley Hutchinson was second and Scot James McCallum held off Gudsell for bronze.

A crestfallen Henderson's eyes watered as he reflected on a heart-breaking campaign - both personally and at team level.

"I feel partially to blame. I didn't honestly see it happening.

"I feel gutted because I know what I'm capable of doing and then to go on and on and on about it I feel like a bit of a [fool] as well.

"There's no should, or would or could - I just didn't do it properly.

"I'm supposed to be leading the team and to come away with nothing - I'm annoyed at myself."

It has been a poor return for the much-touted and well-prepared New Zealand track team who had only Hayden Roulston's points race silver and a frustrating team pursuit bronze to show for their efforts.

Team pursuit hopes were dashed in Saturday's qualifying team pursuit ride when Jason Allen cried off after 3000m leaving his teammates to attempt, in vain, to ride the last 1000m.

They failed by less than a second to push Australia out of the gold medal ride and then cruised to a disappointing bronze when they swamped the Malaysians.

Ali Shanks gave her all last night in continuing her remarkable introduction to cycling by finishing a close fourth in the 3000m individual pursuit.

Ahead by 1s before the halfway point of the 12-lap square-off with England's Emma Jones, Shanks just failed to hold on, fading slightly only in the last couple of laps.

Shanks rode 3m 40.878s (at 48.895km/h) - fractionally slower than her qualifying time - to Bates' 3m 40.057s.

Shanks got her chance to chase a medal when England's Wendy Houvenaghel was disqualified for a breach of UCI rules - repassing the rider [fastest qualifier Katie Mactier] who has passed her.

Shanks was elevated to fourth with her 3m 40.733s effort. Teammate Paddy Walker was sixth fastest, with 3m 44.191s.

Shanks sliced an amazing 12s off her previous race best, although she had clocked 3m 45s in training.

"We settled on a 3m 41s schedule so to go a bit faster was great," said Shanks. "I was aware we were pretty even late in the race but that's when the experience factor comes in."

It was a far cry from the other international arena Shanks had been is as a member of the New Zealand A netball team. "This is so different than netball," she said. "There you have all your team-mates around you and there are 60 minutes to change things if you muck up. Here there are no second chances."

Shanks said the two rides last night had given her renewed confidence ahead of tomorrow's 25km individual road time trial when she, Sarah Ulmer and Melissa Holt, will carry New Zealand hopes.