Australia finish Track World Cup with eight-medal haul

Australia have finished with an eight-medal haul at the track cycling World Cup in New Zealand.

Georgia Baker and Alex Manly on their way to winning gold in the madison at the UCI Track World Cup in Cambride, New Zealand Source: Guy Swarbrick/Cycling Australia

Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly grabbed Australia's only gold on Saturday night in the women's madison securing victory with double points on the final sprint and winning four of the first six. 

“It was a pretty tough madison actually. Not too many teams out there, but it was definitely a tough mado for Alex and I,” Baker said.

“We were just focusing on trying to get a consistent ride. Trying to get our changes and our timing right, trying to break the Madison down and just get all the basic things right and hope to come out with a result.

“That just goes to show all of our hard work in Adelaide paid off here.”

Baker, who claimed silver in the madison at the world championships earlier this year, and Manly finished 10 points clear of Poland, with the Subway New Zealand trade team a further 13 points back in third.

The Kiwi hosts dominated the three-day meet in Cambridge, winning five golds. 

Australia's two medals on Sunday included a silver medal to Cameron Meyer and Kelland O'Brien in the men's madison, well beaten on points by world class New Zealand duo Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart.

Sprinter Stephanie Morton picked up a bronze in the women's keirin, a result the world champion described as pleasing in her first major event since undergoing knee surgery.

"I wasn't really sure what to expect coming into this week," Morton said. "It's the first real big race back since the op and I'm really happy with where I've landed, really happy with the progression and looking forward to Brisbane."

Nathan Hart finished fourth in the men's sprint, with world champion Matthew Glaetzer having been eliminated in the round of 16. 

Glaetzer provided one of the highlights of the meet for Australia when he snared bronze in the men's sprint on Saturday in his first competitive event since being diagnosed with thyroid cancer six weeks ago. 

"It's pretty surreal to be honest. It's the best third place I've got in my career," Glaetzer said.

"I exceeded my expectations by about three positions with this third place and very special in the considerations of what I've been through and it's a credit to my team around me, just taking it one day at a time and not letting something get in your way."

Like most of the team in Cambridge, Glaetzer will ride in Brisbane, before preparing for his first round of radiotherapy treatment as he sets his sights on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Anna Meares Velodrome will stage this week's world cup, from Friday to Sunday.