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World Track Championships - CM
Copenhagen, Denmark, September 25 - 29, 2002
Event program and results Qualifying 1/16 Finals 1/8 Finals 1/4 Finals Semi-finals Finals Women's Sprint
Men's Sprint
A close shave
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Australian Sean Eadie celebrated his first ever individual world title by allowing arch-rival Arnaud Tournant to shave off his beard on live television after clinching the men's sprint title over fellow Australian Jobie Dajka.
"The last time I shaved was on May 23. Tournant told me that if I won today he was going to shave it off. And sure enough after I collected my medal he came across with the razor and did it!"
It was a dominant ride by the Australians at the World Track Championships, topping the medal tally with four gold, five silver and four bronze medals.
The men's sprint final came down to an all-Aussie showdown after Eadie and Jobie Dajka beat the French duo of Florian Rosseau and Arnaud Tournant in their respective semi-final heats.
In the battle for the gold medal, things were looking good for Dajka after he won the first round in the best of three final. However a then full-bearded Eadie came back to take the next two rounds and in doing so, became the 2002 men's world sprint champion.
The final step of the podium was occupied by Florian Rosseau, beating an out-of-form Tournant, who may also have been feeling the pressure as a result of a failure by French to secure a gold medal in the first four days of competition.
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The gregarious Eadie doesn't mind a bit of clowning around. At the Australian national titles in Perth five years ago, he shaved a Superman "S" onto his chest hair (of which he has a lot). Everytime he took his skin suit off, the running joke was he should go and find a phone box to get changed in.
More recently, Eadie has transformed his alter-ego once again, bestowing the nickname of Brutus from the famous cartoon Popeye after growing a beard. Who knows what character's next in store now his bushy facial accessory has been removed!
Cycling Australia Team Report
By Gennie Sheer
Two beanies are better than one
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"Big Man", "Yeti", "The Beast", "Brutus", "The Bear", "The Pirate" - the black, bushy, beard of Sean Eadie, 33, has seen him called many things this week, but the sweetest name he heard was Sprint World Champion at the Track Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Sydney cyclist came from one heat down in the best of three to claim a hard fought victory over compatriot, Jobie Dajka from South Australia, 20, in the blue riband event which signalled the end of Australia's most successful Championships in history.
The team finished on top of the medal table with four gold, five silver and four bronze medals.
Eadie and Dajka put on one of the most spectacular performances of the Championships. Dajka, the young gun, who claimed the keirin world crown on Day 1 and teamed with Eadie and Ryan Bayley in the silver medal Team Sprint trio, won the first heat by the barest of margins - so slim that the judges must almost have considered awarding a dead heat from the photo.
But Eadie, the "old man" of the team, came back like a man possessed in the second heat and sailed past Dajka for a comfortable win.
In all the heats, but especially in the final and deciding match up, the capacity Danish crowd, who for most of the week have been politely restrained, broke loose with chants of "Eadie, Eadie, Eadie". His beard and his outgoing personality had made the qualified primary school teacher the King of Copenhagen, and the locals loved him.
Dajka led out with one and a half laps to go and Eadie matched him wheel to wheel as they rounded the final corner into the home straight. Across the line a gasp went up from the crowd as both riders threw their bikes forward in a last desperate lunge for victory.
As the riders waited for the official decision the crowd leapt to its feet, affording the pair a standing ovation. Moments later Eadie was announced as the winner and the first thing he did was ride up to the grandstand to hug his father Barry, mother Barbara and 16 year old brother Michael who has down syndrome.
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"It's fantastic to have my family here," said Eadie. "They were at the Commonwealth Games and now they are here except my little sister (Cherie, 14, who has attention deficit disorder) couldn't be here because she is competing in the Special Olympics and has already won five swimming medals."
"I was tenth last year in the sprint and I'm getting getting old so this year I was inspired to really do the job otherwise I might have to retire and get a real job!" Eadie joked. "Last year I also felt I'd let the team down (Eadie, Dajka and Bayley took silver in the 2001 Team Sprint) and that the other boys had won the medal with not much help from me, so I really wanted to prove this year that I could make it up to them."
In November last year Eadie says he considered packing it all in and going home because he wasn't fitting in with the established set up in Australia.
"But this year when Martin (Barras, National Track Coach) was appointed I harassed him and asked for him to send me all the paperwork about the training program, the schedule, the travel, the lot," said Eadie. "He did that and we communicated a lot and it has really rejuvenated my career."
"Martin and the team environment this year has been amazing. Every rider comes to the World Championships with good form and condition but it's he mindset and what you bring to the race mentally that gives you the edge, and Australia has certainly proved that."
Eadie was seen mumbling into his beard only moments before the start of each sprint final round, psyching himself up for the race.
"It's like a formula one car," he explained. "The engine is ready but I go through the checklist in my head and it's different for each race and each rider. For the second race it was, 'be aggressive, be assertive, make the race. See, do and act.'"
When asked for seemingly the hundredth time why he had the "Eadie trademark beard", the 90 kilograms muscle man told the international media "It's a beanie for my face. I have one for my head and this one is for my face."
But "the beanie" was soon gone as French former world champion Arnaud Tournant headed to the Australian enclosure brandishing an electric razor in his hand.
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"I promised him (Tournant) if I won he could be my personal barber," said Eadie whose look after the Frenchman's amateur barber effort was the closest to clean shaven he has been since May 23 this year.
"That's the last time I shaved, the last time I had a beer and the last time I had something else as well."
The beer situation was also soon rectified when he was handed one by a teammate before the medal ceremony much to the delight of the crowd.
For Dajka the disappointment of losing was lessened somewhat because of who had defeated him:
"After last year he has come back and the way he has raced this year has really spurred me on to race better so I am really happy he has finally won a victory for himself," said Dajka. "I gave it everything in all three rounds and left every last ounce of energy on the track but he was just too good and he thoroughly deserves his win."
Dajka says the battle between the two "good mates" was always going to be tough:
"I just got to him in the first one and I couldn't believe how he just blew me away in the second heat," explained Dajka. "I kept getting up to him and then he would kick again but if you told me last year or even last month that I would leave here with a gold and two silver medals I would have called you crazy, so I'm absolutely rapt with my performances."
Barras for his part was almost beside himself when Dajka and Eadie won through to the final for gold by respectively downing last year's gold medallist Tournant and bronze medallist and former world champion, Florian Rousseau also of France. Rousseau went on to win the bronze medal.
But the gold medal battle was truly memorable or as the locals described it and the overall performance of the Australians, "uforglemmelig" (Danish for unforgettable).
"The sprint final was real heavy metal racing and the results of the team this week have been stupendous," said Barras who has had to reach for the thesaurus on a daily basis to find a new superlative to describe the team's efforts.
"Every single member of this team put themselves on the line and even those who won't go home with a medal can go home proud of what we achieved here," he said. "There are people saying to me: 'Well the only way now is down,' but I think that is crazy."
"Sure, we may not be AS successful next year but our goal is Athens and the way this team is shaping up we are well on track," said Barras. "Also the aim is for us to be known as the best team, not just in the medals but in how we conduct ourselves in training and off the track. We want to walk into an event and have people respect us and know "we're the real business" and this week has put us well ahead of that goal as well.
Aussies vs French in finals
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The men's sprint competition has been narrowed down to four riders, who will meet each other in tomorrow's semi-finals and finals. It will be a battle between the French, with reigning World Champ Arnaud Tournant going up against Australia's Jobie Dajka in the first semi, and Florian Rousseau, who will face Sean Eadie in the second semi.
Tournant is feeling the pressure of France's failure so far to secure a gold medal. He missed the kilometre gold by a thousandth of a second and in the teams sprint, the French 2001 world champions failed to claim a medal. Tournant was today fined by officials for unsportsmanlike conduct after he shoved and yelled abuse at his quarter final rival, Matthias John of Germany, after they crossed the line in a hard fought first heat. John was later relegated to second behind Tournant who then won through in the second heat but the crowd booed the French star who has already been criticised for his behaviour in the wake of two defeats.
But Dajka, who's sizzling form left two time Olympic champion, Jens Fiedler (Ger), in his wake in the quarter finals knows that Tournant will present a different challenge but one he is keen to face.
"It brings out the best in me to have a little bit of fear of and a truckload of respect for my rival," Dajka explained. "Today I felt sensational, like my feet weren't even touching the pedals so we'll see if I can hold that for tomorrow."
Eadie will come up against last year's bronze medallist Florian Rousseau, after decisively downing 2001 silver medallist, Laurent Gane of France in straight heats in the quarter finals.
"Well you know I would have had to come back to the track tomorrow to race for 5th to 8th anyway so I figured I may as well come back and race for a medal," joked Eadie who also admitted he hadn't expected to progress so far.
"We prioritised Team Sprint and gave it everything last night for that and just missed out on gold so the sprint is a big surprise," he said. "But I'll take what I can get."
"The whole team is just riding on an emotional high because of the performances here and it's giving us all something extra to feed off," said Eadie. "The attitude is like ‘Yes we've come here to race and yes we are ready!'."
When asked about the possibility he may meet his team mate Eadie in the final, Dajka spoke for both riders.
"We train together, compete against each other in training and then team up for the team sprint," said Dajka. "Like any team situation we get along and sometimes we clash but if Sean and I get on the line against each other we'll kill each other for the win."
US Team Report
By Kelly Walker, USA Cycling
Jeff Labauve (Metairie, La. - Team Focus 2004), the only U.S. rider competing in the men's sprint, will not progress to the men's 1/8 final heats on Sunday, after losing his 1/16 final and repecharge heats Saturday morning. He qualified for the 1/16 final round, after finishing 18th in the morning 200-meter time trial.
"Realistically, my preparation hasn't gone all that well for the past couple of weeks," said Labauve. "So, just to qualify was good. But the time wasn't what I thought it should have been. I was expecting a top-12 result in qualifying, and then to make it in through the first round. But, the way this whole season has been, we've really focused on the World Cups to win the overall World Cup title."
When asked what his plans are now that the competition season is over, Labauve said, "I'm getting married! I'll go to Durango [Colorado] for Jame's [Carney] wedding on October 12, and then I get married a week later in New Orleans."
Photos
Images by Mike Gladu/www.velodrome.com
- Florian Rousseau and Arnaud Tournant await the all-France Bronze Medal Final in front of a full House at Siemens Arena
- Arnaud Tournant drew the obligation and leads out ride one
- Florian Rousseau simply had more speed this week that the worlds fastest man
- Sean Eadie leads out Jobie Jajka in the all-Australia Final for the Gold Medal
- The photo finish had to be called in for ride one - which showed Dajka on top over Eadie
- Floriam Rousseau leads out ride two against Tournant
- Florian Rousseau sets a fast pace for Tournant at one lap to go
- Tournant pops in the last turn, handing the Bronze to Rousseau
- Jobie Dajka leads out Eadie in the rubber match
- Eadie jumps on Dajka with one lap to go
- Eadie's powerful attack forces a third and deciding ride
- A hiresuit Eadie prepares for the deciding ride
- Dajka awaits the start of ride three
- Eadie talks over the final ride with himself
- Dajka rolls out the first lap
- Gold Medal on the line. Leaping to its feet in reaction to Eadie's 10.602 final charge, the crowd witnessed a blistering finish
- Sean Eadie accepts the adulation of the crowd
- Now done as a salute - Eadie celebrates by grooming his beard
- Your new World Match Sprint Champion - Sean Eadie
- One last look at the beard
- The podium - Dajka, Eadie and Rousseau
Images by Mike Gladu/www.velodrome.com
- Sean Eadie (AUS) blasts past in the Men's Sprint quarters
- Jens Fiedler (GER) in his Sprint heat
- Laurent Gane (FRA) lost to Eadie in the quarters
- Arnaud Tournant's winning streak stopped in the semi-final
- Jamie Staff (GBR) top seed
- Staff and Labauve in the first ride. It looked like this for three laps.
- Sean Eadie , or Brutus as he is sometimes known.
- Renee Wolff (GER) over Mickael Bourgain (FRA) in the first round.
- Labauve and Berzins (LAT) trail Bayley in the repechage, but the pair made for a better shot that the threesome.
- Rousseau and Staff in ride one of the best of three 1/4 finals
- It was close, but Staff couldn't hold onto his top seeding in his first full Worlds program.
- Rene Wolff pips Tournant, but the finish was overturned due to a slight bump on the second lap.
- Sean Eadie had Gane's number in ride one.
- Staff tried leading out the second ride against Rousseau.
- Same result as ride one - Rousseau has the advantage in the full program.
- Tournant left no doubt in ride two versus Wolff.
- Dajka let Jens Fiedler lead out the second heat, but had plenty of power in reserve to finish the job.
- Dajka celebrates making the 1/2 finals.
- Eadie polishing off Gane in fine form.
Images by Rochelle Gilmore
- Arnaud Tournant prepares to clip
- The clippers do their job
- Sean Eadie warms up
- Sean on the podium
- The new Men's Sprint world champ
- Eadie is mobbed by the media
Results
Qualifying 1 Jamie Staff (GBr) 10.130 (71.076 km/h) 2 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 10.216 3 Jens Fiedler (Ger) 10.238 4 Laurent Gane (Fra) 10.307 5 Sean Eadie (Aus) 10.326 6 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 10.352 7 Mickaël Bourgain (Fra) 10.384 8 Rene Wolff (Ger) 10.393 9 Ryan Bayley (Aus) 10.408 10 José Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa) 10.423 11 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 10.431 12 Matthias John (Ger) 10.438 13 Viesturs Berzins (Lat) 10.528 14 Kiyofumi Nagai (Jpn) 10.542 15 Theo Bos (Ned) 10.545 16 Lukasz Kwiatkowski (Pol) 10.552 17 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) 10.610 18 Jeffrey Labauve (USA) 10.642 19 Salvador Melia Mangrinan (Spa) 10.646 20 Peter Bazalik (Svk) 10.647 21 Pavel Buran (Cze) 10.648 22 Jaroslav Jerabek (Svk) 10.694 23 Arnost Drcmanek (Cze) 10.717 24 Sergiy Ruban (Ukr) 10.929 25 Michael Pedrozo Moreno (Cub) 10.951 26 Alex Rasmussen (Den) 11.024 1/16 Finals Heat 1 1 Jamie Staff (GBr) 11.317 (63.621 km/h) 2 Jeffrey Labauve (USA) Heat 2 1 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 10.844 (66.396 km/h) 2 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) Heat 3 1 Jens Fiedler (Ger) 10.751 (66.970 km/h) 2 Lukasz Kwiatkowski (Pol) Heat 4 1 Laurent Gane (Fra) 10.985 (65.543 km/h) 2 Theo Bos (Ned) Heat 5 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 11.182 (64.389 km/h) 2 Kiyofumi Nagai (Jpn) Heat 6 1 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 11.121 (64.742 km/h) 2 Viesturs Berzins (Lat) Heat 7 1 Matthias John (Ger) 11.006 (65.418 km/h) 2 Mickaël Bourgain (Fra) Heat 8 1 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 10.822 (66.531 km/h) 2 Rene Wolff (Ger) Heat 9 1 José,Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa) 11.402 (63.146 km/h) 2 Ryan Bayley (Aus) 1/16 Final Repechage Heat 1 1 Ryan Bayley (Aus) 10.721 (67.157 km/h) 2 Viesturs Berzins (Lat) 3 Jeffrey Labauve (USA) Heat 2 1 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) 10.999 (65.460 km/h) 2 Mickaël Bourgain (Fra) 3 Kiyofumi Nagai (Jpn) Heat 3 1 Rene Wolff (Ger) 10.916 (65.958 km/h) 2 Lukasz Kwiatkowski (Pol) 3 Theo Bos (Ned) 1/8 Finals Heat 1 1 Jamie Staff (GBr) 11.119 (64.754 km/h) 2 Rene Wolff (Ger) Heat 2 1 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 11.042 (65.205 km/h) 2 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) Heat 3 1 Jens Fiedler (Ger) 10.561 (68.175 km/h) 2 Ryan Bayley (Aus) Heat 4 1 Laurent Gane (Fra) 11.132 (64.678 km/h) 2 José Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa) Heat 5 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 10.893 (66.097 km/h) 2 Florian Rousseau (Fra) Heat 6 1 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 10.783 (66.771 km/h) 2 Matthias John (Ger) 1/8 Finals Repechages Heat 1 1 Matthias John (Ger) 10.800 (66.666 km/h) 2 José Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa) 3 Rene Wolff (Ger) Heat 2 1 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 10.791 (66.722 km/h) 2 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) 3 Ryan Bayley (Aus) Quarter Finals Heat 1 1 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 10.696 11.131 2 Jamie Staff (GBr) Heat 2 1 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 10.873 11.031 2 Matthias John (Ger) REL Heat 3 1 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 10.777 10.668 2 Jens Fiedler (Ger) Heat 4 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 10.958 10.840 2 Laurent Gane (Fra) Semi Finals Heat 1 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 10.934 10.763 2 Florian Rousseau (Fra) Heat 2 1 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 10.814 10.722 2 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) Finals For Gold and Silver 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 10.575 10.602 2 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 10.787 For Bronze 3 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 11.254 10.775 4 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) For 5th - 8th 5 Jens Fiedler (Ger) 10.736 (67.064 km/h) 6 Laurent Gane (Fra) 7 Matthias John (Ger) 8 Jamie Staff (GBr) For 9th-12th 9 Rene Wolff (Ger) 10.598 (67.937 km/h) 10 Ryan Bayley (Aus) 11 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) 12 José Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa) Final ranking 1 Sean Eadie (Aus) 2 Jobie Dajka (Aus) 3 Florian Rousseau (Fra) 4 Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 5 Jens Fiedler (Ger) 6 Laurent Gane (Fra) 7 Matthias John (Ger) 8 Jamie Staff (GBr) 9 Rene Wolff (Ger) 10 Ryan Bayley (Aus) 11 Ainars Kiksis (Lat) 12 José Anton Villanueva Trinidad (Spa)
