KEY POINTS:
BEIJING - Second time round, Hayden Roulston is taking an understated approach to the Olympic velodrome experience, though he will be delighted to step into the limelight at Laoshan tonight.
Beijing is Roulston's second Olympics and one where he is to join Gary Anderson and Sarah Ulmer as New Zealand's only track cycling medallists when he rides for a place in the individual pursuit final.
The 27-year-old from Ashburton made an encouraging start in qualifying, recording the second fastest time behind British defending champion and overwhelming favourite Bradley Wiggins, who lowered the Olympic record to four minutes, 15.031 seconds over the 4000-metre endurance test.
Roulston's time of 4min 18.990sec was just a tad slower than his personal best and he optimistically predicted he could go faster when the competition resumes at 8.30pm NZT.
His brief is to be among the top half of the eight remaining riders - the two fastest will battle it out for gold at 10.55pm (NZT); the other two will ride off for the bronze.
Roulston was happy with his time - and the method with which he handled the first day of what is a daunting assignment.
Once the individual pursuit is complete he has the team pursuit and then madison with Greg Henderson to contend with.
So far so good.
"It's probably the hardest race of the championships to be honest, the first race of the Games," he said.
"To come away with that sort of time and feeling like I did during it, I'm pretty happy."
Roulston, who warmed down with an ice bath, was already a cool customer when he rode the penultimate race in qualifying with world championship silver medallist Jenning Huizenga.
The Dutchman was pedestrian compared to his podium-making performance in Manchester five months ago. Roulston caught him just after the halfway mark and Huizenga was eventually the 18th and last qualifier in 4min 37.097secs.
"It's very surprising to go from riding four 16s at the worlds to whatever he rode here," Roulston mused.
"It makes you think a bit."
Still, a relaxed Roulston was more concerned with his own performance and recovery.
"It just felt like another ride for me. It didn't feel, fast, didn't feel slow. It was quite weird to be honest.
"I kept well away from the atmosphere. When I first arrived here I had a bit of a look around, but I warmed up downstairs well away from the hype."
Roulston did keep an eye on the times of those before though and was able to plan accordingly.
"We'd seen the earlier times, they weren't overly quick so I knew what I had to do.
"It's really a waste of time riding a 4:15 if you can qualify in second place with a 4.18. (Today) is basically where it counts."
Wiggins timed 4min 15.031secs. Russian Alexei Markov was the third fastest in 4min 21.498secs.
Alison Shanks was also secure in the top eight in the women's 3000m individual pursuit field after managing the fourth fastest time of 3min 34.312 - a personal best for the 25-year-old from Dunedin.
However, it is unlikely she will dislodge the current top three. Great Britain again dominated with Wendy Houvenaghel (3min 28.443) and Rebecca Romero (3min 28.641) setting the pace. Lesya Kalitovska from the Ukraine was third fastest with a time of 3min 31.942.
Regardless of how she fares later today, Shanks' first Olympic experience has been memorable.
"To come in from world's ranked seventh and to make fourth fastest time is a great confidence booster. It was by no means perfect though, I've got more in the tank."
New Zealand have another medal chance today when Henderson, who was fourth in Athens, again lines up in the men's points race.
- NZPA
