Cycling: Pursuit team to ride for bronze after missing shot at gold

The New Zealand pursuit track cycling team will secure one of the easiest bronze medals in our Commonwealth Games history tonight -- providing they don't fall over on the Vodafone Arena velodrome.

Third place will count for little because the quartet were hoping to challenge for the gold medal ride to be contested by England and the Olympic title and world record holders Australia.

The New Zealand combination of Jason Allen, Hayden Godfrey, Tim Gudsell and Marc Ryan were condemned to a meaningless ride off with Malaysia after clocking 4min 07.307sec for the 4000m endurance test.

Malaysia clocked 4min 24.496sec -- a massive 17sec slower than the New Zealanders.

Barring a crash or mechanical failure, New Zealand will repeat their placing in Manchester four years ago where they also had the bronze sealed before they saddled up.

England, featuring three members of the Great Britain's world championship-winning team last year, were the fastest qualifiers in 4min 05.248sec.

Australia, beaten just once in their last six Olympic, world championship or Commonwealth finals are expected to improve on their qualifying mark of 4min 06.522sec.

South Africa (4min 29.364sec) were the only other entrant, but by lining up they ensured a full complement of medals would be awarded.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Williams has a faint chance of a medal in the women's sprint though she will have to beat current world champion Victoria Pendleton of England to make contest the gold medal ride.

The other semifinal is between Australia's Meares' sisters Kerrie and Anna.

Anna Meares won the 500m time trial on Thursday while Kerrie took the bronze indicating Williams will have her hands full facing either Queenslander.

Justin Grace is also through to the quarterfinals of the men's sprint.

- NZPA