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World Track Championships - CM
Stuttgart, Germany, July 30 - August 3, 2003
Day 2 Wrap: Gane conquers, Wiggins fulfils, Tsylinskaya repeats
By Valkerie Mangnall in Stuttgart, Germany
Gane gets it as Dajka miscalculates in keirin final
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In the keirin, Jobie Dajka did well just to make the final after a crash on the very first lap of his campaign to retain his keirin crown at the world track cycling championships today after a remarkable recovery from a crash on the very first lap of his campaign. But it was not enough to overhaul French hero Laurent Gane, who ran away with the title in a keenly-fought final.
The Australian led out with about two laps to go in the showdown for the gold medal, forcing Gane to go round him. "It's a lot earlier than I'd normally go but I didn't want to get caught in the back of it," said Dajka after the plan backfired and he was beaten into second place. "Sure, I'm disappointed to lose my world title but I'm happy with my ride because I put my best out there. I went early because if I didn't, somebody else would have and I thought I'd get the lead and make them come round me if they were good enough and unfortunately one was. This loss will just make me hungrier for gold in 2004."
Dajka had fought back after crashing on the first turn on the first lap of his heat amid a clash of wheels. He pulled hauled himself upright using the trackside barriers and rejoined the group but missed out on a top-two finish and had to advance through a repechage.
Barry Forde, the lone member of the Barbados team, won the bronze medal in a performance that was all the more impressive given that he had to win his repechage twice after officials ordered a re-run when the motorbike pacer failed to leave the track correctly on the first.
Wiggins finally delivers in men's 4000m individual pursuit
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Luke Roberts was again the bridesmaid in the 4000m IP, forced into the silver medal position in the individual pursuit for the second year in a row - this time by impressive Briton Bradley Wiggins. With fellow Australian and reigning champion Brad McGee out due to illness, Roberts was hungry for victory.
"This year I was coming to win it but I knew it would be a big challenge against him (Wiggins) so I bumped my gear up a bit higher to try and get on top of him early," said Roberts, who slashed six tenths of a second off his personal best. I did ride a good time but unfortunately he rode a better one so it's second again."
Wiggins, who won the world junior title in 1998 said victory seemed to be a long time coming. He credited his win to several factors - Great Britain endurance coach Simon Jones, guidance from world record holder Chris Boardman, who started working with the national squad in December, and a stint with FDJeux.com in Europe, particularly at this year's Giro d'Italia.
"Some of the days I was having in the mountains there, that brought me on as a rider," Wiggins said. I'm a little bit stronger, mentally more than anything. I just needed to suffer a little bit more and know where that fine line is. It's five years now after the junior world pursuit title so I've added a senior to that.
"A lot would say it's a long time coming really. I made a bit of a balls up of it last year and it was nice to get it right this year."
Wiggins was trailing at the halfway point before bringing the race home to win in four minutes 18.576 seconds ahead of Roberts' 4:19.306.
Spain's Sergi Escobar Roure beat Great Britain's Paul Manning in the ride-off for bronze.
Tsylinskaya once again in women's 500m time trial
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Natalia Tsylinskaya of Belarus set her sights on a sprint double with victory in the 500m time trial. The defending champion clocked 34.078 seconds ahead of 2001 winner Nancy Contreras Reyes, from Mexico, who rode 34.516. China's Cuihua Jiang was third in 34.746.
