29th Olympic Games - JO

Beijing, China, August 9-23, 2008

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Event 13 - August 16: Men's Points Race Final

Favorite wins gold

By Rob Jones in Beijing

Joan Llaneras was one of the favourites for this event, but he initially struggled, while Germany's Roger Kluge took a lap and the early lead.

The race was very complicated," said Llaneras. "My initial plan was to try to earn some early points and build up an advantage, but the race was not very controlled, and many riders were attacking."

"Everyone was watching what I was doing, and when Kluge gained a lap, it was even more challenging," said Llaneras. "It was the riders who shouldered the responsibility for the race, who did well, like Kluge, [Chris] Newton and myself. In the second half of the race it became possible to ride more to a plan, and I was able to attack and take one lap, and then another."

Llaneras, Kluge and Great Britain's Newton were the only riders to take two laps on the field and, while Llaneras had the title wrapped up with one sprint remaining, Kluge had to beat Newton in the final sprint to clinch silver.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

• The points race looks chaotic at times and the racers better not lose track of the situation.
• Single file means pain as the riders are stretched out at full speed.
• Joan Llaneras of Spain leads in one of his breaks where he snatched up the necessary points to win the race.
• Cameron Meyer had a great race but ended without a medal in fourth place.
• The points racers are close to the barrier as they try to sneak away from each other in order to gain a lap.
• Here German's Roger Kluge is ahead of Spain's Joan Llaneras, but in the end Kluge finished second, behind Llaneras.
• Roger Kluge (red jersey) keeps an eye on things.

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

• Riders head off.
• Roger Kluge (Germany) was attentive from the start.
• Spanish rider Joan Llaneras leads Greg Henderson of New Zealand.
• Chris Newton had a great race.
• Iljo Keisse is an experienced six-day rider from Belgium.
• Gold medalist Joan Llaneras (Spain).
• Zach Bell (Canada) was one of the most aggressive riders in the race.
• The Queen of Spain (middle) was in the stands to watch Joan Llaneras win.
• Zach Bell's cheering section consisted of his mom, girlfriend, her mom and team mate Svein Tuft.
• Kluge racked up early points.
• Bobby Lea (USA) was the first to lap the field but then fell off the pace and was a DNF.
• Chris Newton (Great Britain) took home the bronze.
• Llaneros and Newton chase down a dangerous move.
• Roger Kluge won silver.
• Newton and Llaneros watch for other dangerous riders.
• Llaneras (Spain) won gold by two points.
• Llaneras in the centre with gold while Kluge on the left shows off silver and Newton the bronze medal.

Images by Casey Gibson/www.cbgphoto.com

• Canada's Zack Bell suffers in the points race.
• Points race riders Keisse and Ignatiev.
• The points race under the Velodrome roof.

Results

1 Joan Llaneras (Spain)                60 pts
2 Roger Kluge (Germany)                58
3 Chris Newton (Great Britain)         56
4 Cameron Meyer (Australia)            36
5 Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus)           34
6 Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Denmark)         29
7 Zachary Bell (Canada)                27
8 Makoto Iijima (Japan)                23
9 Milan Kadlec (Czech Republic)        22
10 Greg Henderson (New Zealand)        13
11 Rafal Ratajczyk (Poland)            10
12 Iljo Keisse (Belgium)                8
13 Angelo Ciccone (Italy)               8
14 Volodymyr Rybin (Ukraine)            8
15 Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong)              5
16 Milton Ariel Wynants (Uruguay)       5
17 Mikhail Ignatyev (Russia)            4
18 Juan Esteban Curuchet (Argentina)    1
19 Marco Arriagada (Chile)              1
20 Peter Schep (Netherlands)             
21 Christophe Riblon (France)         -17
DNF Bobby Lea (United States)            
DNF Chun-Kai Feng                        

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