COPENHAGEN, March 26, 2010 (AFP) – The demands of early season stage races like the Tours of Oman and Qatar have been given the thumbs-up by medal-winning stars at the world track cycling championships.

Australian Cameron Meyer, New Zealand’s Jesse Sergent and Taylor Phinney of the United States are among several up and coming road racers finding success easy to come by at Ballerup’s Super Arena.

And although the trio already have a solid base riding the boards of the velodrome, their recent experiences of competing with the elite road racing peloton are being used to good effect on the track.

Ahead of likely further medals the trio have won two golds and a silver between them so far — and all three were in the Gulf states last month.

“I had a perfect build-up to the championships on the road, racing at the Tour of Oman and the Tour of Qatar,” said Sergent, who won silver in the men’s individual pursuit behind American Taylor Phinney.

“It was pretty tough day in, day out and gave me a good basis for coming into the championships.”

Sergent and Phinney are both based in Boulder, Colorado and race for the under-23 Trek/Livestrong road team run by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

While both will soon be expected to move up to full ProTour elite level, Phinney, the son of former Olympic cycling champions, has other aims too.

After successfully defending his world title from 2009, he said the 14-year-old world record of 4:11.114 is in his sights despite the 4km event’s recent removal from the Olympic programme.

That world mark was set by Britain’s Chris Boardman on August 29, 1996, albeit employing an aerodynamic ‘Superman’ position that has since been banned by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

“Having a road base definitely helps a lot with the track, but (the individual pursuit) is so high-powered and so high intensity that it’s also so much different,” said Phinney.

“Boardman did it, he rode the Tour de France then broke the world record.

“I think I have a couple of years to go but that world record is what I really want, so I think eventually we’ll get it.”

Meyer, who will also race the men’s Madison, joined brother Travis and pursuit bronze medalist Jack Bobridge at the Garmin ProTour road team in 2009.

After winning the Tour of Japan in 2008, Meyer was given his Giro d’Italia debut last year and lasted 13 stages.

He placed a commendable third overall in the one-week Tour of Oman in February behind established pros Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen.

After that result, he admitted: “I’m still very new to professional racing but I learned a lot in Oman. Getting through this (race) and ending it with a good result looks good for the rest of the season.”