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Sydney Track World Cup - CDM
Sydney, Australia, May 14 - 16, 2004
Tales from the track
News and gossip from Day 2 of the 2004 Sydney Track World Cup
By Karen Forman in Sydney
Cycling's long standing first aider turns barista
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Something was brewing centre-track at Sydney's Dunc Gray velodrome today - and it wasn't necessarily a secret race-winning plan.
Rather, it was a plunger of aromatic black imported coffee specially brewed by an unlikely barista for the foreign team managers and coaches who had been complaining about the instant variety being offered up.
First aid volunteer Anne Marie Trudgett , 29, probably one of the longest-standing cycling first aiders in the country (she started when she was seven) took pity on the caffeine starved folk and turned up with her coffee plunger from home and a container of decent coffee, added hot water - and found herself one of the most popular people in the middle of the track.
"The Polish team told me that our instant coffee tasted like, er, shit," she said.. "So I bought my plunger and my coffee and I made coffee for them," the mother of one and former orthopaedic and plastics nurse told Cyclingnews, mid-round.
"I ended up doling it out to the Dutch and the Italians as well - and a good number of Aussie officials too."
Those who know her (and most people on the NSW cycling scene do), were amazed to see the affable cycling-mad volunteer trackside at all. Four weeks ago, the young woman who is more used to be on the giving end of first aid, found herself the recipient of medical attention when she suffered a stroke at the Australian Masters Track Championships, after suffering from a severe migraine headache.
"John Bundy (from the popular Sydney cycling family) took me to the local medical centre. I didn't find out till three days later that I had had a low line stroke," she said.
Anne Marie was back on track for the nationals two weeks later but got sick again on the first night and had to go home. But she said there was no way she was going to miss the World Cup. Good thing she didn't. Barry Forde from Barbados was a most appreciative recipient of her attention when he crashed in the keirin on the first day of competition and suffered a concussion and facial injuries.
"That's what keeps me coming back," she said. "It's the appreciation of riders like Barry, who let us know that they appreciate what we do."
The worst crash she has had to deal with occurred a year ago when a rider suffered a fractured skull, punctured lung, fractured eye socket and brain bleed. "Luckily the rider is quite well now and back on the bike."
She's delighted to be back, but feeling a tad sad that she won't be off to the world championships in Melbourne in a fortnight to minister first aid. "In the 23 years I've done cycling I've never done a world titles. I really feel like I have earnt my place at the worlds with the number of hours, late nights. But apparently it's not possible. If anyone needs me, though, I will be there with bells on!"
Meanwhile, she has other things to think about. Looking after the riders at the World Cup and tomorrow's brew.
"I think I might try a different coffee tomorrow. The Italians said it wasn't strong enough."
More Day 2 News from the Sydney Track World Cup
- Funny how those gifts you give in jest tend to come back at you. If Sean Eadie had won the men's' sprint at the UCI Track World Cup in Sydney this weekend, he would have found himself standing on the podium wearing a pair of pretty pink size 42 Converse All Stars boots - and probably a pink face to match.
- Something was brewing centre-track at Sydney's Dunc Gray velodrome today - and it wasn't necessarily a secret race-winning plan. Rather, it was a plunger of aromatic black imported coffee specially brewed by an unlikely barista for the foreign team managers and coaches who had been complaining about the instant variety being offered up.
