Illegal bike setup sees New Zealand disqualified from Commonwealth Games team pursuit
They were just five millimetres out
Staff members at Cycling New Zealand (CNZ) have taken responsibility for a technical blunder that saw their men's team pursuit squad disqualified from the Commonwealth Games and prevented from riding for a bronze medal.
The disqualification occurred after the qualifying run in the team pursuit at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane, where one of the team's bikes was found to not comply with UCI regulations due to the vertical distance between the arm rests and the tips of the aero bars being a few millimetres out.
According to stuff.co.nz, the bike failed a pre-race inspection by UCI commissaires ahead of the team's qualifying run, with adjustments made by team mechanics not doing enough for it to pass a post-race inspection after the team of Regan Gough, Nicholas Kergozou, Campbell Stewart, and Tom Sexton had set the third fastest time.
>>> Australia smash Britain's team pursuit world record at Commonwealth Games
"We have regulations that pertain to the setup that the bike can be configured in and one of our bikes was found to be non-compliant for the front end of the bike," said CNZ high performance director Martin Barras, whose appeal against the decision was dismissed by commissaires.
"It was very, very close to the mark, but it was a failing on our part. I have to be blunt about that and we have to deliver material that is in compliance with the rules. The difference was about 105 or 106mm, when it should be 100mm."
Barras also said that he was unsure how the bike had failed to pass technical checks after it had been deemed compliant at the Track World Championships in March, but said that the compression of the arm rest pads could have elongated the gap between the pads and the ends of the aero bars.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
>>> Commonwealth Games 2018 cycling: Everything you need to know from the Gold Coast
New Zealand's disqualification saw the Welsh team of Sam Harrison, Rhys Britton, Joe Holt, and Ethan Vernon promoted to fourth place in qualifying, but they were unable to take bronze as the medal instead went to Canada who beat the Welsh quartet by just under a second.
Meanwhile the gold medal went to the host nation, as an Australian team of Leigh Howard, Sam Welsford, Jordan Kerby, and Alex Porter beat the English team of Kian Emadi, Ethan Hayter, Ollie Wood, and Charlie Tanfield in the gold medal final in a new world record time of 3-49.804.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
No road racing at Glasgow Commonwealth Games as organisers look to cut costs
Track and para-track cycling still a part of the schedule
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
From Grand Tour victories to gold medals: The nine best signings of 2022
We look back at the signings that made the biggest impacts during this year's season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I’ve always had ambitions on the road’: New Zealand's Aaron Gate on his Commonwealth Games success
Kiwi rider won four Gold medals at Commonwealth Games and hopes his achievement won’t go unnoticed
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Commonwealth Games 2022: Aaron Gate wins the men's road race for New Zealand in a dramatic sprint finish
New Zealander lands a fourth gold medal at the games after beating Daryl Impey of South Africa
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Commonwealth Games 2022: Georgia Baker wins women’s road race gold medal for Australia
Australia secure gold and bronze medal in dominant performance
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Commonwealth Games 2022 preview: the men’s and women’s road race
Both races will take place on Sunday 7 August in the town of Warwick
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Commonwealth Games 2022 preview: men’s and women’s time trials
Both races against the clock take place in Wolverhampton on Thursday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘If it’s not reviewed then it’s pretty criminal’ - Matt Bostock joins calls for urgent track barrier safety review
Bostock one of two riders hospitalised after velodrome incident at the Commonwealth Games 2022
By Tom Thewlis Published