Cycling: Henderson through to points race final

Defending champion Greg Henderson motored into the final of the Commonwealth Games points race after emerging from qualifying with ease at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne today.

Henderson will have two compatriots for company - and support - when the 22-man final is raced in tonight (about 10pm NZT) after Hayden Roulston and Richard Bowker also made it through the second of two heats.

Needing to finish inside the first 11 in the 15km 60-lap heats, Henderson was fifth behind leading Australian Sean Finning.

Bowker was second in his heat behind Scotland's Sean Oliphant, while Roulston was fifth.

Henderson, considered New Zealand's leading medal home in the track component of the cycling programme, is also seeking a gold in Sunday's track race before switching to the men's road race a week later.

- NZPA