KEY POINTS:
Their quest for an Olympic gold may have been stymied but New Zealand's team pursuit squad have been offered the perfect pick-me-up - an opportunity to continue Australian cycling's woes at the Laoshan Velodrome.
Two personal best rides were not quite enough to enable New Zealand to challenge world champion and overwhelming favourite Great Britain, but the prospect of securing a rare win at Australia's expense later today (10.15pm NZT) - and the bronze -should temper any disappointment.
New Zealand, second fastest qualifier after the preliminary run, were eventually shaded by Denmark last night to set a repeat of the track world championship final in Manchester in March.
Despite New Zealand lowering their best time from four minutes 00.833 seconds to 3min 57.536 over the course of the day, the Danes earned the daunting task of stopping Great Britain claim a sixth track cycling gold medal - and one that seems assured after they bettered their own world record.
The British quartet, featuring individual pursuit gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, set a new world and Olympic standard of 3min 55.202secs, a more than 1sec improvement on their world championship-winning ride.
After the morning run New Zealand's squad felt a time of 3min 57secs would be about right to make the final but that theory was debunked by the Danes, the world championship silver medallists who bounced back from a tardy first-up ride to clock 3min 56.831secs.
"They rode 3:57 at the worlds, we knew they could do that time or faster," said New Zealand team member Sam Bewley.
"We're all pretty upset. I never thought there'd be a day I'd ride 3.57 and be disappointed.
"We went out there to ride faster than 3.56 and we were on time for that until the last three laps. We died off a little bit," Bewley said, reflecting on a four-year dream that won't quite be realised.
"It's been my focus since I left the junior ranks and two years ago we realised we could be medal prospects."
All that's left now is to avenge their world championship loss to Australia - the latest in a sequence of narrow team pursuit setbacks.
"We just have to get over it, there's still a chance to become one of the few New Zealanders to win an Olympic medal," Bewley said.
For once Australia might be slightly ripe for the picking after the soon to be deposed Olympic champions timed 3min 58.663secs - a sluggish ride by their standards.
"We were on our limit," coach Ian McKenzie admitted as the Australians wait for their first track medal.
"We usually have the wood on them but right at this moment you'd say the Kiwis would start favourites."
Bewley, however, would take nothing for granted.
"They're Australian aren't they? Every sport they do they step up when they need to."
Bewley, Marc Ryan and Jesse Sergent rode both races while individual pursuit champion Hayden Roulston replaced Westley Gough for the evening ride.
Alison Shanks went close to following Roulston on to the podium but her bid for the individual pursuit bronze was sabotaged by Ukrainian Lesya Kalitovska who won the consolation final by 2.74secs.
"There wasn't much in it - I thought she was in reach," Shanks said.
"If I'd come out and really nailed the race like I did (on Saturday night) she was definitely within reach. At the end of the day I didn't back up as well."
Briton Rebecca Romero, who won a rowing medal at the Athens Olympics before changing direction, inherited Sarah Ulmer's crown, winning the individual pursuit crown comfortably over compatriot Wendy Houvenaghel.
The other New Zealander in action on the track today is Catherine Cheatley in the women's points race (8.30pmNZT).
- NZPA
