Day One, Wednesday, August 27, 1997, Evening Session
All results and reports kindly supplied by Graham Dowden.
Opening CeremonyI arrived at the velodrome some way through the opening events, the entire place was in darkness and throbbing to the sound of a didjeridoo, which probably did nothing for those trying to warm up on rollers with their Walkman's. When the Aboriginal dance group finished there was a song and shortly after a somewhat muffled speech from the ever immaculately dressed UCI President Hein Verbruggen. Darkness descended after his opening words, and a sudden train of fireworks shot past his head to light two more flares on the dias. Welcome to Australia Hein, sorry we almost burnt your suit.Speaking of well dressed, the entire French team then marched on to receive their prize for winning this year's World track Cup by 326 points from Australia at 317 and Italy at 316. Yes, the French are the best dressed in the corral for my money, and always wear their team kit, followed by the Italians with their airbrushed Pinarellos. So much for asides, lets get back to the racing. One moment, I just remembered the real meaning of well dressed. Who but a beautiful Italian woman could or would appear at 10 o'clock on a Tuesday morning at a velodrome, dressed in a flowing pale cream dress with matching stockings, only set off by a deep dark eyes and a mane of raven hair? Forza Italia! MadisonEver watched a Madison? This was my first and it goes like this: pairs of riders from each country ride 200 laps (50km), with one rider going for it while the other wheels around, and changing the active for resting rider by means of a hand sling. Sprints happen every so many laps, with points awarded for each place. If you get a lap up you win, otherswise its the team with the most points.Australian hopes rested with Brett Aitken and the evergreen Stephen Pate, winner of more Aus track races than you can poke a stick at, as well as numerous medals at world championship level, just as Aitken has in pursuit over the years. They were up against such luminaries as two time Madison World Champions Martinello and Villa of Italy, Risi/Betschart SWI and Pieters/Slippens NDL, who do this kind of thing for a living over winter in Six Day events. But it was not just these guys who shone, although they did a lot of driving. Also very present were the Danish and Argentinian pairs. And so on to the race ... AUS got the first sprint as Aitken slung in Pate just at the bell to lead from the front for the first 5 points, with SWI second and DEN third. At the second sprint it was DEN 7, AUS 5, SWI 5, NDL 3, with UKR picking up the next to rise to 4th place. ESP and the ARG brothers Juan and Gabriel Curuchet tried a break, getting to half a lap out with the bunch splintering behind them as they tried to bring them back. Points after Sprint 4: DEN 9, ESP 6, SWI 6, AUS 5, UKR 5 The bunch came together but RUS, NZL and NDL had been dropped a lap and were out as far as the results mattered. The Italian team came to the fore, doing much of the work and taking various points along with the Danes. Points after Sprint 5: DEN 11, SWI 9, ITA 8, ESP 6, UKR 6 Germany tried a break and got to half a lap with ESP but the break was run down before the next sprint. Points after Sprint 6: DEN 13, ITA 11, SWI 10, GER 6, ESP 6 Australia scored a win in sprint 7 but failed to rise into contention, then the Argentines ran out to a lone break and score on the following sprint. By sprint 9 it was: Points after Sprint 9: ITA 19, DEN 16, SWI 13, ESP 11, AUS 10 ARG sat up and the bunch came together, which was the signal for ESP to make a lone break, with SWI trying to run them down. Points after Sprint 11: ITA 23, SWI 17, ESP 16, ARG 13 One of the Spanish riders pulled not one, but both feet right out of the pedals, but managed to get them back in, and continue the lead at about half a lap, and taking more sprint points. In fact, they are getting so far ahead that the main bunch is almost in the same straight by sprint 12. Points after Sprint 12: ITA 24, ESP 21, SWI 20, DEN 18, ARG 13 Well that was it. In the next few laps they get on board the main bunch and won, barring another team getting away. ARG tried hard to do this and are followed by SWI, but neither team can make it, so at the final sprint for double points it is ... A suprising and excellent victory for Spain, especially considering that it was a lone break of two riders against 28, and no other teams were organised or able to chase them down. Results - Final Points after Sprint 14: 1. Spain (Miguel Alzamora-Juan Llaneras) 21 pts at one lap: 2. Italy (Silvio Martinello-Marco Villa) 30 3. Argentina (Gabriel y Juan Curuchet) 28 4. Denmark (Tayeb Braikia-Jakob Pill) 24 5. Switzerland (Kurt Betschart-Bruno Risi) 20 6. Australia (Brett Aitken-Stephen Pate) 15 7. Germany (Guido Fulst-Carsten Wolf) 8 8. Holland (Peter Pieters-Robert Slippens) 6 9. New Zealand (Julian Dean-Glen Thomson) 3 10. Great Britain (Jonathan Clay-Bryan Steel) 2 11. Russia (Dimitri Galkine-Marat Ganeev) 0 12. Colombia (John Ramirez-Marios Silva) 0 Keirin, FinalBefore we get down to the action believe me when I say it is almost impossible to write coherent notes while watching a Kerin semifinal, screaming your lungs out and taking photos. So just fire up the video recorder and sit back with the remote on slow motion and rewind if you really want to know what happened.First semi saw Nothstein, Magne, Niewand and Fiedler set for some very rapid action. It was Niewand on the motor to start with Nothstein on his shoulder leading, then Magne and Fielder. Fielder moved up and started getting his shoulder into big Marty with Magne coming up the outside. Hell broke loose as the motor came off with Nothstein leading most of the way and some desprate sweeps up and down the banking behind him. Into the final bend bodies were driving hard ahead until there was a sudden crash and Kamiyama of Japan goes tumbilng downhill with Niewand sliding like someone else's chunder down the steepest part of the banking to land in an agonised and immobile pile on the hard green floor of the Speed Dome. People came running, the crowd was on its feet while into the distance Marty Nothstein led the charge of the remainders across the finsish. Not that anyone except the finsishing line camera saw it. The Japanese guy picked himself up while Gary lay there until carted off on a bright orange stretcher surrounded and paramedics and various other helpers. Bummer guys, bummer. But the show goes on, and even before Niewand was taken out, the next heat was lining up. This included hot favorite and home town boy Hilly, opposed by Van Zyl of RSA, Chiappa ITA and others. OK US reader, Christan Arrue was also in there. On the motor is was Hill all over again, just like the qualifiers. Off the motor it was Arrue up the outside, then Hill, CHiappa, Hill leading again and driving hard for the line but Chiappa drives in and just gets it on the line. Somewhere in the outgoing straight Peter Jacques of GBR did himself and his body no favours by coming down alone but thankfully wandering back to the GBR bearpit with no major wounds. So to the final, and once again it was Hill on the motor, with Van Zyl, Nothstein, Chiappa, Fielder and Magne. This time someone was getting the shoulder into him, which brought cries of "Leave Darryn alone" and "Get off him" from the little boy somewhere up the stands behind me. Not that you need too much to worry about when you are made of as much meat as there is in a five trailer road train. Chiappa was in the lead with two to go as the motor came off and the pace accelerated beyond manic but for some reason Hilly was trailing right off the back. Out of the mayhem shot Magne like a cork out of vintage Bollinger, roaring to a lead of several bike lengths while the best of the rest desparately scrabbled for second place. Chiappa took second on the line but was relegated to 5th with Fielder downed to 6th for unsafe activites. Both appealed, so we will just have to wait until Thursday night for the commisaires to deliberate before the silver and bronze winners can be announced. As for the gold, bravo Frederic Magne, 1997 World Kierin Champion by enough space for cases of Bollinger ... And in case you were wondering, Gary Niewand comes wandering back in a loose grey jumper and jeans, looking only slighty stiff, to have a yarn with the rest of the Aussie camp. The Japanese guy comes over to apologise. You can see Gary shrug to him in that uniquely Australian way: "Hey, mate, it happens". Kamiyama wanders off. Good to see you back, Gary Niewand. Results 1. Magné (Fra) 10,901 2. Van Zyl (SAf) 3. Nothstein (USA) 4. Hill (Aus) 5. Chiappa (Ita) 6. Fiedler (Ger) Individual Pursuit, Men, Quarter FinalsA suprising quarter final round of the Men's Individual Pursuit, considering that the competitors were reasonably evenly matched in their qualifying times. Expecting some closely fought battles, it was indeed unexpected to once again see men caught.First of the pairs started as Neuville FRA (qual 4.26) gained a small early lead which was then reversed by Steinweg GER (qual 4.27), who gained 0.3, then 2 and 3 seconds to nearly catch the Frenchman at the end as he fell well into the second rank of times in his second excursion. Steinweg GER 4.26.124 bt Neuville FRA 4.33.272 Phillip Ermenault FRA (qual 4.24) rode away from Martinez Oliver ESP (qual 4.27) to catch him with two to go and post a scorching fastest time yet, despite the time board going dead for most of the match. Once again, the Spaniard's time was well below his qualifier. Ermenault FRA 4.20.03 ct Martinez Oliver ESP 4.30.7 In the third round Collinelli ITA (qual 4.24) was even with Lehman GER (qual 4.25) for the first two laps then simply rode away with his mouth closed and looking very easy while the German laboured to a 3 second deficit. Collinelli ITA 4.24.06 bt Lehman 4.27.426 Last off was the precocious Markov (qual 4.24) of Russia, at 17 the holder of the Olympic team pursuit gold medal, and now riding individual a year later. Too bad the equally young talent of Brad McGee was not able to meet him this time. The young, lean and very tanned Russian (almost the same colour as his brown disc wheels I have to note), opened an early lead that was never challenged, and nor did he himself look aerobically challenged as he rode away from Simonenko UKR (qual 4.31) to be in the same straight by one to go. Markov RUS 4.23.39 bt Simonenko UKR 4.30.9 So what of the finals? If Ermenault can repeat his performance then he is looking good, but I would be very suprised if Markov and Collinelli at least have not got a considerable amount left which they have not yet showed. Experience favours Collinelli, youth Markov, who would probably then be the youngest world champion ever. As for Steinweg, his times have been a little slower, but he may well also have been saving himself, and the entire German sqaud has so far showed excellent discipline and management which may well bear fruit. Stay tuned ...
Results
Next off was Danny Day, first of the suprising three Australian riders in the event, who set off to a huge roar from the crown and posted a reasonalable 1.05.31. This was neared by Darren McKenzie-Potter of New Zealand, who ran 1.05.930 accompanieed by a cheer squad of Kiwis wearing large silly black and white snowboarder's hats. Lone Slovakian Leskovar entry posted 1.06.487 on a bike without aero bars, followed by fastest time so far Sky Christopherson of the USA at 1.04.950. The Argentinian Colla set a slow 1.07+ on a bike with such an extreme downward slope of its top tube that it was a wonder he didn;t slide into the front wheel. Shortly after, Ardaun Tournant of France scorched the track at 1.03.519 for fastest time, followed by the unfortunate Armenian, who remained so by posting the slowest 1.07.771. Things were heating up as now. German Stefan Nimke started with a mighty shout from himself or his assembled handlers, raced to the fastest split at lap 3 and despite starting to rock in the home lap set the fastest again at 1.03.470. Next Australina hope Graham Sharman was practically blown up the back straight by the roar of the crowd in the stalls, but hit the wall like a squash ball and laboured home in 1.07.473. Japanese Jumonji practically snapped himself out of the starting gate, such was his effort, held it and finsihed for a good 1.04.655 on a rear Araya disc with shiny letters which flashed in the light. For no apparent reason I have a closer look at Craig McLean of GBR with the binos. From behind his position locked in the starting gate I can clearly see the thin impression of a seam on his smooth right calf where his warmup tights have been. Five pips and the electronic gun and he explodes out of the gate, I can clearly see every distinct band of muscle and sinew, I never knew there were so many in the lower leg. With good reason - he is fastest at the first split but pays for it dearly 20 seconds later, hitting the wall with one to go slowing painfully visibly and fighting through a thick fog of lactate with every atom of his will. "That must really hurt", says the guy sitting next to me. Time for his suffering: 1.05.339. Most of the next few guys are around the 1.05 mark until Herve Thuet of France takes the gate, blasting out and holding it without rocking, and I kid you not, mouth closed, to bring in 1.044.441. Allez, Herve! Now its down to the last two, Soren Lausberg of Germany and Australia's last and best hope, Shane Kelly. Lausberg starts with a shout from the German handlers which is taken up mightily by the crowd in the back straight as they see his fastest last split, and he brings German hopes home to post the fastest time and first under 1.04 of 1.03.097. Now he is first to the other German rider's second place. Shane Kelly is wearing very shiny black shoes as he is clamped in to the pedals by Charlie Walsh. The gun goes and Kelly is out of the gate like a wild lean wolf, not one molecule of his energy devoted to anything but the pedals. The crowd lights up like a furnace, growing to a fury as he passes each straight. I can't remember his splits were but they are good. Charlie Walsh has moved right under me on the back bend, dancing with excitement and waving his stopwatch, on the last bend it looks as if he has a mad ferret in each leg of his trousers. Human noise fills the entire Speed Dome and Kelly rams it home hard and straight and true across the wide white line of victory. Instantly the entire crows is standing, roaring, cheering, clapping, shouting him round the victory laps as he slows to meet Charlie then across to the finish to embrace his Dad. Three times consecutive World Kilometre Champion, is it any wonder that there are tears in his eyes on the podium as the anthem plays? Results 1. Kelly (Aus) 1.03,156 2. Lausberg (Ger) 1.03,39 3. Nimke (Ger) 1.03,470 4. Tournant (Fra) 1.03,519 5. Thuet (Fra) 1.04,441 6. Jumonji (Jap) 1.04,659 7. Sharman (Aus) 1.04,743 8. Krejner (Pol) 1.04,902 9. Christopherson (US) 1.04,950 10. Escuredo (Spa) 1.04,9997 |