Cycling: British women edge out NZ in team pursuit

Britain's Wendy Houvenaghel and Elizabeth Arminstead on their way to the team pursuit gold. Photo / AP

New Zealand have won their second medal at the world track cycling championships in Poland with the women's pursuit team taking a silver behind Britain.

New Zealand's team of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaimie Neilsen clocked three minutes 23.993 seconds to Britain's 3min 22.720sec in the final this morning.

Shanks won the gold medal in the women's individual pursuit yesterday.

The winning British team comprised Wendy Houvenaghel, Elizabeth Arminstead and Joanna Roswell.

Earlier, Beijing World Cup round winner Jesse Sergent had a disappointing qualifying ride to miss out on a medal chance in the men's individual pursuit.

The Feilding rider, in his first time as an individual pursuiter at the world championships, went out too fast and faded over the final kilometre.

He clocked 4min 21.253sec, more than three seconds outside his winning time at Beijing World Cup.

"I just went out just too fast and then got bogged down trying to get back on pace," Sergent said.

"At around 2km I was counting down the laps knowing I had just not got the early phase of the race right. A real experience for me, and one I will really learn from."

Sergent, the national record holder, will now focus on the men's team pursuit.

Fellow Manawatu rider Simon Van Velthooven did not qualify in the men's kierin.

In the men's scratch race, Christchurch's Hayden Godfrey tuned up for the defence of his omnium title with an eighth placing.

- NZPA