World Track Championships - CM

Melbourne, Australia, May 26-30, 2004

Event program and results

Tales from the track

News and gossip from day 4 of the Melbourne World Track Championships

David meets Goliath at the 2004 Track Worlds

By Mal Sawford

Michael Ford & Sean Eadie
Photo: © Mal Sawford

Victorian teenager Michael Ford smashed Brad McGee's ten year old under-19 3000m individual pursuit world record at the Australian Championships last month, taking over two seconds off McGee's long standing record with a sensational 3:17.775. Ford was one of the stars of the Aussie titles, claiming gold in the individual pursuit, team pursuit and Madison, and silver in the points race.

The eighteen year old was rewarded with a berth in the Australian squad at the Sydney World Cup, where he produced a creditable time of 4:35.388, to finish fifth in his first effort at the 4000m distance.

Ford was a spectator on the second night of competition at Vodafone Arena, where he was dwarfed by popular Australian sprinter Sean 'Big Man' Eadie. The diminutive youngster tips the scales at 68kg, and almost breaks the 5 feet 6 inches (168cm) mark. In comparison, Eadie races at 98kg and stands a towering 6 feet (183cm) tall!

Watching the medal round of the men's individual pursuit, Cyclingnews asked Ford if he thought he had what it takes to make the step up to the senior ranks. "Two years till I'm at this level" was his frank response.

Eadie concurred. "Michael certainly has the talent to be at this level in two or three years. The only difficulty for him will be the depth Australia will have in the endurance ranks, to try to break into the team, but he has certainly got the ability."

With riders like Michael Ford waiting in the wings, Australia's track endurance squad will definitely be kept on their toes!

Day 4 News from the Melbourne World Track Championships

• French track cycling legend Florian Rousseau has told Cyclingnews that he plans to retire from the sport after this year's world championships.The classy sprint legend was unable to secure a berth for Athens in the talent-heavy French track squad that includes Arnaud Tournant, Laurent Gane and Mickaël Bourgain who combined to win the team sprint gold on Wednesday.
• Japanese rider Hiroyuki Inagaki just scraped in to qualify for the first round of the men's world championship sprint today thanks to a little-used UCI rule that requires a draw to be conducted if two riders tie for the final qualification place.
• There's more ways for a cycling-mad guy to get to elite events than by actually racing a bicycle.Ben Kelly from Adelaide is the perfect example. Not quite quick enough on the bike himself to race at international level, he gets his fix by working as a mechanic for the Australian national team when it is on the road.
• Victorian teenager Michael Ford smashed Brad McGee's ten year old under-19 3000m individual pursuit world record at the Australian Championships last month, taking over two seconds off McGee's long standing record with a sensational 3:17.775. Ford was one of the stars of the Aussie titles, claiming gold in the individual pursuit, team pursuit and Madison, and silver in the points race.