World championship plans come crashing down for cyclist

Auckland cyclist Myron Simpson has had his world championship plans derailed after breaking his collarbone while competing in Australia at the weekend.

Simpson, part of BikeNZ's endurance track cycling squad, crashed during the annual International Madison competition with Timaru's Shane Archbold in Bendigo, Victoria.

He crashed along with Archbold during a Madison Hot Lap which is a traditional lead-in to the major race.

BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott said it was a blow to the squad and Simpson.

"Myron will get some expert medical opinion. He is hopeful of being back on his bike for the world championships next month but we will wait for a full medical check on the injury," Elliott said. "Myron is a key part of our endurance track programme so it's disappointing but unfortunately it is a part of track cycling."

Simpson and Archbold were joined by other BikeNZ riders Gemma Dudley, Pieter Bulling and Alex Frame competing in the annual circuit of track races in Victoria. Archbold had won the Sid Patterson Grand prix in Melbourne last week and was just pipped for the Bendigo International Madison with a stand-in partner following Simpson's demise.

Archbold and Dudley have returned to go into camp with the BikeNZ squad ahead of the world championships in Melbourne in April.

Frame (Christchurch), who won two medals at last year's junior world track championships, has now been added to the camp in cover for Simpson.

The team for the UCI World Championships from 4-8 April in Melbourne will be named next week.