KEY POINTS:
New Zealand rider Greg Henderson finished an impressive fifth in the points race at the world track cycling championships in England today.
Henderson was prominent throughout the 40km, 160-lap race to finish only two points from a medal in Manchester.
He was in third place for much of the middle part of the race.
Vasili Kiryienka, of Belarus, played a part in most of the sprints to claim the title with 24 points, one ahead of Frenchman Christophe Riblon, who won the final two sprints in a desperate attempt to lap the field.
Peter Schep, of the Netherlands, who won three sprints early on, was nearly dropped but recovered to finish third on 19 points, one ahead of Australian Cameron Meyer, with Henderson another point back in the tightly fought race.
Henderson won two sprints, held every 10 laps, in the fifth and 10th sprints, a second placing and four fourths.
His performance will guarantee him a place in the Beijing Olympics in August.
It continues his strong performances in the points race.
He won the gold medal in the event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the bronze at the 1998 Games and was fourth in the same event at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He won the 2004 world championship in the 15km scratch race.
- NZPA
