New Zealand cycling star Ally Wollaston earned her second rainbow jersey after a brilliant victory in the four-discipline omnium at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark today.
The 23-year-old has become the first New Zealander rider to win two world championship titles at the same track world championships, after following her win in the elimination yesterday with the omnium triumph at the Ballerup Sports Arena in Copenhagen today.
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Wollaston was in fine form in the omnium, starting watchfully with ninth place in the 7.5km scratch race, before topping the tempo race, winning 10 of the 26 sprints and gaining a lap on the field.
The Waikato professional, who won the individual elimination world title yesterday, repeated that in the omnium elimination where she again showed superior speed and nous to dominate, and claim a narrow lead in the overall competition.
Wollaston stayed calm as the attacks came in the pivotal 20km Points race, with points awarded for sprints every 10 laps and 20 bonus points for lapping the field.
Great Britain’s Jessica Roberts went solo to gain a lap and an eight-point lead but the kiwi rider stayed with her plan, scoring points on six of the eight sprints including winning the double-points final sprint.
She impressed with her speed, strength and cycling intellect to finish on 131 points, 11 clear of Roberts with Norway’s Anita Stenberg third.
“As I was yesterday, I am blown away and still a little bit lost for words,” said Wollaston. “I knew after yesterday that the form was there but to put it together on omnium day is a different story.
“I am just really happy with today’s performance . When Jess (Roberts) went for the lap, I was questioning whether I had it in the final. But I had to try to stay calm and back my last sprint.
“I started the day with not such a great scratch race but managed to back it up with a few good races after that.”
Tomorrow Wollaston has a day off, with kiwi attentions turning to her Paris Olympic teammate Bryony Botha, who competes in the individual pursuit, where she is the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and has claimed silver and bronze medals in the last two world championships.
Wollaston returns on the final day to contest the individual points race.
She joins fellow kiwi riders Alison Shanks and Aaron Gate as double rainbow jersey winners on the track.
The men’s sprint trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins stand alone with three world championship titles, although Wollaston has the chance to join them with one event remaining on Monday (NZ time).
Caption: Ally Wollaston in action and on the podium after her victory in the women’s omnium on day three of the UCI Track cycling World championships in Copenhagen. (Credit: SWPix