Harris (r) with her medal alongside winner Vera Carrara and runner-up Dorronsoro Oladerria (l)
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Nikki Harris received the perfect boost to her Commonwealth Games build-up when she won her first senior cycling medal at the UCI Track World Cup in Sydney.
The Derby teenager won the bronze in the 20 kilometres points race and said: "I can't believe it.
"I didn't even qualify for the final in the Manchester leg of the World Cup so the first priority was just to reach the final. I then stuck to my plan."
British team-mate Rob Hayles took gold in the 4,000m individual pursuit.
Hayles earned his victory despite an illness which had prevented him from training for a week.
He caught Russian opponent Alexander Khatuntsev with four-and-a-half laps left and finished in four minutes, 24.805 seconds.
Harris will represent England in the points race and road race in the Games in Melbourne.