NZ cyclists claim four medals

The women's team pursuit squad went close to earning a gold, but came unstuck in the closing stages of their final against Australia. The New Zealand team - Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman, Ally Wollaston, Pru Fowler and Sami Donnelly, who rode in the qualifying round - led the 4000m race until they dropped their fourth rider at about 2800m.

Then the Australians, who'd already shown earlier in the day they were fast finishers, applied the after-burners and surged to a well-crafted victory. The Australians clocked 4min 10.658s and the New Zealanders 4min 12.775s, just over two seconds behind.

The New Zealanders were second in the qualifying round, just 0.229s behind Australia. In the final, they began well and there were promising signs until the Australians' strength told in the closing stages.

For Wollaston the medal was a case of better late than never. She would have been in the New Zealand team at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games but got injured competing in the inaugural Tour de France Femmes just beforehand. 'I'm super-happy to be here, fit and healthy and safe this time,' she said.

The men's team pursuiters - Marshall Erwood, George Jackson, Daniel Morton and Tom Sexton - were a depleted team because they lost Nick Kergozou in a training crash just a few days ago. Kergozou is now hospitalised with a back injury and sent the team his best wishes before they raced.

By only finishing third in qualifying behind Australia and England, New Zealand found themselves riding against Wales. It looked slightly ominous in the early stages with Wales looking smooth and the New Zealanders appearing a trifle sluggish. However, at about the halfway point things turned around the the New Zealanders won in 3min 52.310s, nearly two seconds ahead of Wales.

Nicole Murray rode herself to exhaustion in sealing the bronze medal in the women's C4-C5 individual pursuit. Riding against Australian Erin Normoyle, Murray rode at capacity for the entire journey. Even when she opened up a large lead, she never faltered. She finished in 5min 06.199s, which gave her a 28-second margin over the Australian.

With her record at major events Murray should be a household name in New Zealand. She's won 13 medals, including two gold, in world para track champs and three more in the equivalent road champs, and won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Parpalympics.

Despite all that she seemed incredibly proud to have won a medal for New Zealand in Glasgow. She said she kept reminding herself how to ride the corners and the straights, and to stay consistent. 'I find focusing on the little things is what it's all about There's a lot of noise, a lot going on in the stadium, and you've got to really concentrate,' she said.