New Zealand cyclist Gate pedals for Paris redemption after Tokyo crash

New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate will be on a mission at the Paris Olympics to make up for a crash at the Tokyo velodrome three years ago which denied the nation a medal in the men's team pursuit.

Gate came off his bike at high speed after clipping the wheel of team mate Jordan Kerby, paving the way for Australia to cruise to an unlikely win in the bronze medal decider.

With his heart broken along with his collarbone, the Aucklander apologised to the nation on television before beating a retreat to Belgium for surgery.

Gate has since mounted a string of world podiums and was named New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year in 2023, beating out All Blacks rugby hero Ardie Savea among the finalists.

But the Tokyo setback remains a vivid memory for the 33-year-old as Paris looms into view.

"The worst thing for me was just letting the team down," he told Reuters in an interview from his home base in Andorra.

"We’d put in so much work to be there and we were absolutely firing. We were going the best a New Zealand team pursuit has ever gone.

"That’s why I’ve been really focused on delivering my job for the team for this current Games through the entire cycle."

Gate can be satisfied he has done that much, helping New Zealand to bronze medals in the team pursuit and Madison at last year's world championships in Glasgow.

That followed a sensational Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where he won the individual pursuit, points race and team pursuit titles along with a bonus, fourth gold medal in the road race.

Winning the team pursuit at Birmingham was a special moment as Gate celebrated gold with Kerby.

"It was a little bit of redemption in a way because it was also the last race for my team mate. It felt pretty special to wind up with him again and