O'Shea takes out pursuit gold in Astana‎

The win for O’Shea, 22, comes on the back of a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit. 

The London Olympic Games hopeful has impressed at the first leg of the four-part series in Kazakhstan. He qualified fastest in the individual pursuit in 4:21.439 - slightly quicker than his gold medal ride. 

The former junior world champion is racing his first world cup since 2009. O’Shea was a genuine gold medal contender in the madison at the 2009 world titles but was forced to withdraw from the meet days before after contracting chicken pox. 

He missed a berth at the 2010 titles after suffering from a severe case of glandular fever, which derailed his season on the track and with his former AIS Continental team on the road. 

Australian omnium world champion Michael Freiberg finished sixth in the event whilst men’s keirin world champion Shane Perkins placed ninth in the Olympic discipline.

Shulika defeated Meares 2-0 in the sprint. 

The world cup series includes rounds in Colombia (1-3 December) and China (20-22 January) with the fourth and final leg at the London Olympic Games velodrome from February 17-19. 

The final round is also the official Games track cycling test event.

Cycling Central will be live streaming tonight’s world cup races in Astana from 8.50pm (AEDT). 

Women's sprint 

1. Lyubov Shulika (UKR)

3. Olga Panarina (BLR)

Men's individual pursuit 

2. Dominique Cornu (BEL) 4:24.184

3. Nikias Arndt (GER) 4:25.738 

1. Christos Volikakis (GRE)

2. Chris Hoy (SKY)

3. Sergei Borisov (MTT)

1. Roger Kluge (GER) 24

2. Ho Sung Cho (KOR) 34 

3. Elia Viviani (ITA) 36

Selected: 4. Edward Clancy (GBR) 40, 6. Michael Frieberg (AUS) 45.