World Junior Track Cycling Championships - CDM

Australia, August 21-25 2002

Event program and results    Women's Sprint  

Men's Sprint - August 24-25, 2002

French repeats for Australia

By Karen Forman In Melbourne

Mark French
Photo: © Tom Balks

Australian cyclist Mark French has become only the third male rider in junior world championships history to successfully defend his sprint title. The 17-year-old from Melbourne collected the gold medal for the second consecutive year after beating German powerhouse Michael Seidenbecher 2-0 on his home track in a crowd-thrilling final at Vodafone Arena tonight.

The bronze medal went to French rider Francois Pervis, who scored two wins against favoured Cuban, Ahmed Lopez.

It was a second gold medal for French, after his keirin gold on the first night of these championships, and most definitely his favorite. "This is better, for sure, yes," he said after being congratulated by his personal coach Hilton Clarke, Australian team head coaches Gary Sutton and sprint coach John Beasley. "I am over the moon. Nobody has defended the title. There was a lot of pressure but it is gone now. I feel great."

It was a much better day for French than the sprint qualification day yesterday, when he was flat and tired after his all-out effort for the Australian team in their failed men's team sprint bid, and recording a disappointing result against the Korean rider Jeong Wook Choi.

Mark French
Photo: © Tom Balks

"I was not happy with it," he said. "The Koreans and Japanese go two laps out, like they do in a keirin. This takes it out of a sprinter. I was tired and didn't get much sleep the night after the team sprint, so John sent me to bed early last night and I had a good night's sleep and woke up feeling good today," he said.

"John wouldn't tell me my times in the warm up today, and I was nervous. This is more than what I expected and am very happy." French led out in the first heat against Seidenbecher, with a supportive home crowd clapping in tempo.

At the bell French took off and was first out of the set. The German them jumped on onto his pedals, trying to close the gap, but didn't quite make it in time. The win went to French in 11.124, at an average of 64.725km/h for the last 200m.

Much to French's surprise, the German declined the opportunity to take the lead in the second heat and it was a repeat of the first, although this time Seidenbecher got closer. French won in 11.219 in very close run to the line, at an average speed of 64.177km/h.

Lopez and French
Photo: © Tom Balks

Earlier today, in the first round of the semi final, French met Lopez for what commentators expected to be a very exciting match. "I was surprised that he didn't want to lead out. Usually if you start from behind and lose, you want to start from the front the next time, but he didn't. He played right into my hands."

French had the lead and kept Lopez high on the track. Lopez tried to go to him at the bell, got half a wheel in front at the turn, but French managed to shoot his wheel across the line first to win in 11.05.04.

In the second round of the semi final, the two were pulled up for headbutting and interfering with each other and the round was re-started. French gave Lopez a full two bike lengths start as they went for the sprint and led him as they went for the line in 11.088.

He said tonight the shananigans was all about "sprinter stuff. Part of the sprint is just showing who is bigger and stronger," he said. "He is bigger, but I'll give it to him."

French is a tactics man, who controlled the race and his opponents. "I like making people do what I want them to do," he said. "I watch a lot of videos and talk to guys like (former world track champion and Olympic medallist) Gary Neiwand. I've been talking to (Australian national champion) Sean Eadie, too. Not that he's the fastest, but he's one of the smartest. He is in control of the race."

He paid compliments to his coaches, particularly Beasley whom he said had taught him to always have a Plan B when sprinting. "John and Gary have had some sleepless nights," he said. "John is actually having his head shaved tonight - he said he would if we won the sprint. I am doing it myself. We would like to do Sutto (national endurance coach Gary Sutton) as well."

Neiwand, meanwhile, was at the track tonight and the former champion very complimentary of the younger riders. "The juniors are showing great potential and doing really good times," he said. "The talent here in Australia is really unbelievable."

Beasley described French as a top young talent with a big future ahead. "I have known Mark French for a while now and he is a fierce competitior," he said.

"Unfortunately after the teams sprint he was physically and mentally exhausted. It didn't go to plan and he was disappointed because he put a lot of energy into it. I said to him, 'let's survive today and tomorrow will be a different day', and that is what happened. He got up this morning, was very bright-eyed and very sharp in the warm-up.

"The German looked good, but Mark had incredible power. I knew if anyone was going to beat him, they would have a tough job. He is a special athlete; so dedicated. He is very gifted. At one training camp he was in bed at 8pm watching sprint video after sprint video. He sets a great example for the rest of the year."

Beasley said the German's ride had been predictable. "Every race he took the option to ride from behind, while Mark is very efficient riding from both the front and the back." he said. "If he continues with the same passion and dedication, he will be a world and Olympic class athlete. He's got what it takes. The only thing that will stop him is Mark himself."

Photography

Photos by Tom Balks

• Mark French (Australia) gets ready for a sprint match in the men's sprint
• Francois Pervis (France) focuses before the men's sprint
• The Australian team pose for photos
• Michael Seidenbecher (Ger) pulled Silver in the Sprint
• Francois Pervis (Fra) and Ahmed Lopez (Cuba) fight for Bronze
• Francois Pervis on the way to Bronze
• Top place riders in the Men's Sprint
• Mark French and Ahmed Lopez rub shoulders during the sprint
• Ahmed Lopez being closely followed by Mark French
• Gold medal winner in the Men's Sprint, Mark French

Results

Qualifying

1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)            10.665 (67.511km/h)
2 Mark French (Australia)                   10.748 (66.989km/h)
3 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)                        10.785 (66.759km/h)
4 Wade Cosrove (Australia)                  10.792 (66.716km/h)
5 Francois Pervis (France)                  10.818 (66.556km/h)
6 Mickael Murat (France)                    10.918 (65.946km/h)
7 Jeong Wook Choi (Korea)                   10.968 (65.646km/h)
8 Fillip Ditzel (Czech Republic)            11.058 (65.111km/h)
9 Gregory Bauge (France)                    11.113 (64.789km/h)
10 Alexey Hamachev (Russia)                 11.123 (64.731km/h)
11 Daniel Lebl (Czech Republic)             11.150 (64.574km/h)
12 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)                11.151 (64.568km/h)
13 Matthew Haynes (Great Britain)           11.156 (64.539km/h)
14 Alex Rasmussen (Denmark)                 11.177 (64.418km/h)
15 Jaroslav Flendr (Czech Republic)         11.189 (64.349km/h)
16 Michael Spiess (Germany)                 11.200 (64.286km/h)
17 Robert Eichfeld (Germany)                11.277 (63.847km/h)
18 Tim Veldt (Netherlands)                  11.288 (63.785km/h)
19 Hernan Sanchez (Columbia)                11.299 (63.722km/h)
20 Arif Abassov (Russia)                    11.318 (63.615km/h)
21 Javier Caballero (Mexico)                11.339 (63.498km/h)
22 Edwin Van Kerkhof (Netherlands)          11.370 (63.325km/h)
23 Alex Sommer (Australia)                  11.371 (63.319km/h)
23 Andrew Williams (New Zealand)            11.371 (63.319km/h)
25 Andrew Lakatosh (USA)                    11.388 (63.224km/h)
26 Anton Roudoy (Russia)                    11.442 (62.926km/h)
27 Dominiek Andries (Belgium)               11.490 (62.663km/h)
28 Carlos Monroy (Columbia)                 11.500 (62.609km/h)
29 Rodrigo Barros (Columbia)                11.525 (62.473km/h)
30 Hung Wu Po (Taiwan)                      11.772 (61.162km/h)
31 Mohd Sayuti Mohd Zahit (Malaysia)        11.874 (60.637km/h)
32 Walker Starr (New Zealand)               11.911 (60.448km/h)
33 Mohd Rizal Tisin (Malaysia)              12.006 (59.970km/h)

1/8 Finals

1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)        12.558 (57.334 km/h)
2 Michael Spiess (Germany)

Heat 2

1 Mark French (Australia)               13.451 (53.528 km/h)
2 Jeong Wook Choi (Korea)

Heat 3

1 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)                    11.086 (64.947 km/h)
2 Alexey Mamachev (Russia)

Heat 4

1 Wade Cosrove (Australia)              11.362 (63.369 km/h)
2 Gregory Bauge (France)

Heat 5

1 Francois Pervis (France)              11.723 (61.418 km/h)
2 Daniel Lebl (Czech Republic)

Heat 6

1 Mickael Murat (France)                11.591 (62.117 km/h)
2 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)

Quarter Finals

Heat 1 - Race #1

1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)        12.333 (58.380 km/h)
2 Daniel Lebl (Czech Republic)

Heat 1 - Race #2

1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)        11.491 (62.658 km/h)
2 Daniel Lebl (Czech Republic)

Heat 2 - Race #1

1 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)             11.488 (62.674 km/h)
2 Mark French (Australia)

Heat 2 - Race #2

1 Mark French (Australia)               11.483 (62.701 km/h)
2 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)

Heat 2 - Race #3

1 Mark French (Australia)               11.977 (60.115 km/h)
2 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)

Heat 3 - Race #1

1 Mickael Murat (France)                11.101 (64.859 km/h)
2 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)

Heat 3 - Race #2

1 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)                    11.167 (64.476 km/h)
2 Mickael Murat (France)

Heat 3 - Race #3

1 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)                    10.915 (65.964 km/h)
2 Mickael Murat (France)

Heat 4 - Race #1

1 Francois Pervis (France)              11.132 (64.678 km/h)
2 Wade Cosrove (Australia)

Heat 4 - Race #2

1 Wade Cosrove (Australia)              10.997 (65.472 km/h)
2 Francois Pervis (France)

Heat 4 - Race #3

1 Francois Pervis (France)              11.157 (64.533 km/h)
2 Wade Cosrove (Australia)
 
5th-8th Ride
 
5 Wade Cosrove (Australia)                      11.316 (63.627km/h)
6 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan)
7 Daniel Lebl (Czech Republic)
8 Mickael Murat (France)
 
9th-12th
 
9 Jeong Wook Choi (Korea)                       11.944 (60.281km/h)
10 Gregory Bauge (France)
11 Michael Spiess (Germany)
12 Alexey Hamachev (Russia)
 
Semi finals
   
Heat 1 - Race #1
 
1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)        11.828 (60.873km/h)
2 Francois Pervis (France)
  
Heat 1 - Race #2
 
1 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)        11.475 (62.745km/h)
2 Francois Pervis (France)
 
Heat 2 - Race #1
 
1 Mark French (Australia)               11.504 (62.587km/h)
2 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)
 
Heat 2 - Race #2
 
1 Mark French (Australia)               11.088 (64.935km/h)
2 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)
  
3rd-4th - Race #1
 
1 Francois Pervis (France)                      11.242 (64.046km/h)
2 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)
 
3rd-4th - Race #2
 
1 Francois Pervis (France)                      11.326 (63.571km/h)
2 Ahmed Lopez (Cuba)
 
Final - Race #1
 
1 Mark French (Australia)                       11.124 (64.725km/h)
2 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)
 
Final - Race #2
 
1 Mark French (Australia)                       11.219 (64.177km/h)
2 Michael Seidenbecher (Germany)