Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Bayern Rundfahrt Photo ©: Schaaf |
2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships - CM
Great Britain, March 26-30, 2008
Day 1 - March 26: Men's individual pursuit qualifying & final, scratch race final, team sprint qualifying & final, Women's 500m time trial;
Men's Individual Pursuit Finals
Wiggins shows his class
By Ben Atkins and Shane Stokes in Manchester
|
Order was restored in the gold medal final as Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins class came through in victory over surprise fastest qualifier Jenning Huizenga of the Netherlands, giving the host nation their first gold medal of the championships in only the second event. The reigning World and Olympic champion has laid down the challenge to his rivals for this year's main target in Beijing in just over three month's time.
Huizenga started the fastest - taking over three-quarters of a second lead over the Briton in the first lap, but Wiggins was soon up to speed and was up by a tenth by the end of the first kilometre. He was over a second up by kilometre two, and over three by number three. Almost having his opponent in his sights in the final kilometre Wiggins seemed to ease up slightly as he sat up and punched the air as he crossed the line almost five seconds faster than the Dutchman.
"I am really satisfied, it is a great relief." Wiggins told Cyclingnews after his triumphant ride. "To win in Manchester is fantastic, a great feeling. I am just pleased I got the job done. I said before I wasn't too bothered about my time... I knew what time I was capable of riding."
The newly re-crowned champion confirmed the impression that he had eased up towards the end of qualification, which allowed the Dutch rider to get the fastest time. "I was a bit excited earlier in the day in the qualifying during the first couple of kilometres; I had to throttle back in the last kilometre so as not to do too much damage for the final."
Wiggins' split times were consistently slower than his qualifying time; Huizenga's even slower as it began to appear that his surprise performance this afternoon had taken more out of him than the defending champion. A massive roar went up on either side of the track as the partisan crowd willed the local hero around each lap. He will now join the Great Britain pursuit team - now short of the withdrawn Hayles - and hope to retain that title too.
"I think the final was just a case of going on a schedule that I knew the Dutch guy wouldn't be able to do. This is about the three events I have got here....I am back up tomorrow [in the Team Pursuit] so I had to throttle back a bit and just do enough to win it."
In the ride off for bronze, Russian Alexei Markov took an early one second lead over New Zealander Hayden Roulston, and never looked in trouble as the Kiwi could make no impression despite riding the second kilometre slightly the faster.
Huizenga shocks Wiggins in qualifying
|
The one certainty of this afternoon's qualification was that home rider and reigning World Champion Bradley Wiggins would qualify fastest – the only question was by how much. Unexpectedly, Dutch rider Jenning Huizenga, whose only notable result this season has been a silver medal at the Los Angeles World Cup – not only managed to stay with Wiggins for the whole distance, but actually overtook him on the last lap to qualify fastest. The two will meet again in this evening's final though, as Wiggins finished not far behind in second place.
Alexei Markov of Russia flew through his qualifier and caught his opponent just as he crossed the line to temporarily take the lead from a blistering Hayden Roulston, who had set the early best time. The New Zealander caught his opponent – Germany's Robert Bengsch – who was disqualified for taking pace for almost half of the race. Markov and Roulston will ride off for bronze this evening.
An odd number of riders started the afternoon session in the absence of Great Britain's Rob Hayles, who was declared unfit to start this morning after a UCI blood control found him to be over the 50% haematocrit limit.
David O'Loughlin, Ireland's only representatives at the championships, knocked almost five seconds off his personal best time – the Irish national record – but it wasn't quite enough for the medal finals and he finished in sixth place. Australian former World Champion Bradley McGee started steadily and accelerated towards the end, but was ultimately pushed into fifth. Seventeen year-old World Junior Champion Taylor Phinney (USA) put in a very solid ride for seventh place against the far more experienced opposition.
Lisouski wins in heroic solo attack
|
Aliaksandr Lisouski of Belarus was a deserving winner of the Men's Scratch Race after being the most consistently aggressive rider throughout. As early as the first few laps, Lisouski attacked his rivals in an effort to get a lap up - and the almost assured victory that would come with it. The Belarusian managed to get the back of the bunch in sight, but a surge in speed from riders at the front meant that he was unable to join on and he faded back again.
The mid part of the race was peppered with attacks from various riders, but none as effective as Lisouski's. The major incidents otherwise included a lost chain from Malaysian rider Hariff Salleh and a small crash going into the back straight that brought down young British rider Steven Burke.
As the race entered its closing stages, two pairs of riders escaped including Japanese rider Kazuhiro Mori and World Cup champion Roger Kluge. As the attack's impetus was lost, Mori set off alone and looked for all the world like he might hang on for the victory, but Lisouski was having none of it.
Attacking alone once more, Lisouski gradually reeled in the Japanese rider to catch him just before the bell. Once caught by the Belarusian rider, Mori visibly deflated and was quickly caught by the head of the bunch, but still managed to finish in an creditable sixth. Despite fading considerably, Lisouski managed to cross the line just ahead of the charging pack led by Wim Stroetinga (Netherlands) and Kluge.
Vive la France!
|
The unofficial World record holders (there is no official record due to the different lengths of tracks all over the world) managed to eclipse their previous best time in qualification this afternoon, and pushed it further still in their Gold medal final against hosts Great Britain.
As expected, the final round came down to the usual contest against perennial winners France and habitual runners-up Great Britain. This time though, the finish was nearly three-tenths of a second, rather than the two-thousandths in Mallorca last year.
Both teams managed a first lap time of just over seventeen seconds, but the French always managed to be a tenth or so quicker for each split. Great Britain finished up with a new national record, but they were no match for the storming French.
There was a technical glitch with the PA system during the playing of the winner's national anthem, so the French section of the crowd treated everybody else to an impromptu rendition of the Marseillaise.
"It was a phenomenal ride by Jamie [Staff]," a panting Ross Edgar - Great Britain's second rider in line - said after his silver medal ride. "A really, really good ride for the first lap and I was trying so hard just to keep with him. I was delighted with the ride, we did a good time; we beat the British record from last year in Parma [Mallorca].
"I think we're just moving in the right direction for the Olympics, we're keeping with them [the French], moving forward, and hopefully we can do one better when we go to Beijing," he added.
|
When asked if this performance put the British team is on target for beating its French nemesis come August, Edgar was positive that this new national record is a big step in the right direction. "Definitely, I mean, I've gone into this season looking at the big picture, the long picture, so I'm always hoping that my best form is going to come at the Olympics," he said. "It's a very long season, I've started off slow and I'm building all the way. It's just started to really go well for me now, so hopefully in these few months until the Olympics I can just improve that little bit more that we need and make the difference, when it comes down to it."
Arnaud Tournant - drafted in to replace Mickael Bourgain for the final - was clearly as jubilant to win this World title as all the rest. "Yes, it's clear, it's my fifth World Championship, but it feels as good as my first," said a delighted Tournant. "It's the result of a lot of work that's come together today."
Despite twice shattering the unofficial World record, the Frenchman was upbeat about the preparations for Beijing. The psychological matter of putting one over their main rivals is more important than the possible issue of peaking too soon. "It's a good time," he said. "I think it's the best for the Olympic Games because it's an advantage for the French team. It's the first place in the World championship, and it's a big thing, it's an advantage to get this over Great Britain and the Netherlands. It's a good start for the French team and for our preparation.
"I'm very happy," continued the popular Frenchman. "It's very difficult for me, because you have the continuance with the other front guy, it's a big level and it's not easy…I think today that it's a good start for me."
How much bearing this race will have on the forthcoming Olympic Games, only time will tell.
The race for bronze was a similarly close affair with the faster qualifying Netherlands team eclipsing their German rivals by almost half a second. The Dutch team took the lead in the first lap and gradually increased the gap in the following two to take the bronze.
Qualification
Starting in a seeded order, relatively slow times of over 45 seconds gradually increased until the top ranked teams were due. Matched against the Germans in the second to last heat, the Great Britain team posted their second ever fastest time to guarantee a place in the medal finals.
For a while it looked like Germany and Great Britain would have to ride off against each other, as the Netherlands and French were both faster in the earlier splits. The Dutch faded in the last lap though to finish third fastest, setting up yet another battle between Great Britain and France.
A few minor incidents occurred during qualification as the leading Greek rider toppled over while waiting in the gate. A technical problem for the Malaysian team forced them to abort their first attempt and they were allowed to ride again at the end of the session. These issues seemed to affect the concentration of both teams and they finished as the slowest two.
Guerra Rodriguez claims Gold
|
Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba has taken the first rainbow jersey of this year's championships with a time of 34.021. The overall World Cup winner was fastest in all the split times and eventually finished .045 seconds ahead of Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania).
"I am very happy," said the new World champion to. "Firstly because this is my favourite discipline, and secondly because my oldest coach - who means a lot to me - travelled from Canada to here to see me. That was very good for me. Also, my coach and me worked very hard to obtain the title this year.
"I waited three years to win this," she continued. "It has been difficult because I have been training after the World Championships in Vienna as a junior. I entered in the elite and was third in 2006 in France in the 500 metres. Last year in Palma I was second, and this year I got first year. It is a nice step forward."
"After today I will have a little rest and then come back and train for the Olympics," she added. Of course the only event for the fast women at this year's Olympic Games will be the Sprint.
|
With the exception of the reigning champion Anna Meares, who is at home in Australia recovering from a crash, and a few others, the running order of the Women's 500m was more or less the finishing order of last year's championships in reverse. Most of the earlier starters were consistently going a good half second faster than last year.
Sandie Clair of France started steadily but accelerated in her second lap to record a time of 34.253, which was to stand for a long time until the top favourites took their turns.
Lithuanian Krupeckaite, fourth in Mallorca last year, was slightly slower than Clair at half way, but proved even faster than the Frenchwoman in the final 250 metres to take the lead - and a guaranteed medal - with only two riders remaining.
2007 bronze medallist Natallia Tsylinskaya (Belarus) was unable to replicate anything like the same form, and could be seen to be weaving above the red line several times during her second lap and her time was way down as a result.
Guerra Rodriguez was last rider off and was almost two-tenths of a second quicker than the next fastest over lap one and, although she faded slightly in lap two, she'd done enough to overhaul Krupeckaite. Interestingly, by using tri-bars, the Cuban bucked the trend, whereby riders with sprinters bars tended to go faster in the first lap before fading and those with tri-bars tended to get faster in the second lap.
Great Britain's best medal hope Shanaze Reade blitzed the first lap in the second fastest time - until Guerra Rodriguez smashed it - but faded in the second lap to finish in a provisional fifth with 34.702. She would eventually slip to seventh.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com
- Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) was expected to qualify fastest, but was outpaced by Dutch rider Jenning Huizenga.
- UCI President Pat McQuaid opens the 2008 World Track Championships.
- Thailand’s Jutatip Maneephan was first rider off in the women’s 500m.
- Lyubov Shulika of the Ukraine in the 500m.
- Germany’s Miriam Welte digs deep.
- Virginie Cueff in the 500m.
- Sandie Clair of France heads towards a bronze medal in the 500m time trial.
- Willy Kanis of the Netherlands took fourth spot in the 500m.
- Shanaze Reade of Great Britain demonstrates the art of start-line focus.
- Silver medallist Simona Krepeckaite of Lithuania waits for the starter’s gun.
- Gold medallist Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba shows the dedication that won the 500m.
- In the men’s pursuit final , Hayden Roulston of New Zealand took fourth spot.
- Experienced Russian rider Alexei Markov on his way to bronze in the men’s pursuit.
- Bradley Wiggins on his way to a second successive gold medal in the men’s pursuit.
- Jenning Huizenga rides towards a silver medal in the men’s pursuit final.
- Bradley Wiggins on his way to a second successive gold medal in the men’s pursuit.
- One of several attacks in the men’s scratch race.
- Bunch action in the men’s scratch race.
- Denmark’s Daniel Kreutzfeldt on the attack in the scratch race.
- Bunch action in the men’s scratch race.
- Three laps to go, and things get a little tight in the bunch.
- The last lap charge in the scratch race.
- Lisouski crosses the line first in the scratch race , passing Stroetinga in the final lap.
- Gold medallist Bradley Wiggins on the pursuit podium, flanked by Jenning Huizenga of the Netherlands and Russia’s Alexei Markov.
- German sprinter Maximilian Levy shows last-lap commitment in the team sprint finals.
- The French team sprint squad in the final.
- The GB team sprint squad in the final.
- Aliksandr Lisouski receives flowers on the podium after winning the men’s scratch race.
- The podium for the men’s scratch race.
- The top three team sprint teams on the podium.
- When the PA system failed during the French national anthem, France’s victorious team sprinters were delighted when the crowd sang the French anthem to them.
- France’s winning team sprinters.
- Wiggins salutes his home crowd after winning pursuit gold for the second year running.
- The Czech team sprinters get underway.
- Poland's team sprinters settle down to work.
- Greece's lead-out man in the team sprint has an unfortunate encounter with the starting gate.
- Russia's team sprinters in the banking.
- Two thirds of the Ukrainian team sprint team!.
- China's team sprint squad in action.
- Two of the Japanese team sprint squad.
- Japan's anchor man gives it his all.
- The Australian team sprinters get up to speed.
- Spain's team sprint squad make it look easy – and stylish, too!.
- Great Britain's team sprint squad start aggressively.
- Germany's lead-out man is a big strong chap!.
- The last two in the German team sprint team give it "vollgas".
- Chris Hoy zips around the last lap for the GB team.
- Germany's anchor man tries his utmost to hold off Hoy.
- France's team sprint squad on their way to gold in the team sprint competition.
- France's team sprint squad on their way to gold in the team sprint competition.
- The Netherlands team sprinters off to a neat start.
- Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba took gold in the women's 500m sprint, with silver medallist Simona Krupeckaite and bronze medallist Sandie Clair.
- Aliksandr Lisouski of Belarus was active from the start in the men's scratch race final. He nearly gained a lap at the start of the race, then joined a late break to take victory.
- Bunch action in the men's scratch race.
Images by AFP Photo
- Robert Bengsch (Germany) tails Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) and was later disqualified for not keeping his distance.
- Jenning Huizenga (Netherlands) was the surprise fastest qualifier.
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Diana Maria Garcia (Colombia) gives a big starting effort.
- Lyubov Shulika (Ukraine) stomps on the pedals.
- Lulu Zheng (China) forces the air out as she hits the halfway point.
- Gritted teeth from Virginie Cueff (France).
- A big starting effort from Anna Blyth (Great Britain).
- Willy Kanis (Netherlands) concentrates on her ride.
- Shanaze Reade (Great Britain) heads towards the finish.
- Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez (Cuba) on her way to the gold medal.
- Jutatip Maneephan (Thailand) gulps for air.
- Kaarle McCulloch (Australia) on the drops.
- Miriam Welte (Germany) looks determined on her way to sixth.
- Jinjie Gong (China) breathing hard as she comes fifth.
- Sandi Clair (France) took bronze.
- Yvonne Hijgenaar (Netherlands) working hard, but she only achieved tenth.
- Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania) won silver, moving up from fourth best at the 250m point.
Images by John Pierce/Photosport International
- David O'Loughlin (Ireland) set a national record, but finished out of the qualifiers for finals.
- Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) defended his rainbow bands with style.
- Wiggins powered to victory ahead of Dutch rider Jenning Huizenga, who couldn't repeat his morning's stellar performance.
- Wiggins showed his experience by being able to repeat a good ride in the finals.
- Two men broke clear in the scratch race Belarusian Lisouki and Japanese Mori.
- Wim Stroetinga (Netherlands) gave it his all to take second in the scratch race.
- Brad Wiggins waves from the podium after receiving his gold medal.
- It was an exhausting day for Wiggins, but the hard work was worth the effort.
- Wiggins gets another rainbow jersey to add to his collection.
- The pursuit podium Wiggins, Huizenga and Markov.
- Taylor Phinney placed 8th but set a new 3km record, the mark for junior pursuiters.
- Phinney racked up enough points to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Images by Stephen McMahon
- Carlos Eduardo Alzate Escobar (Colombia) gets up to full steam in his qualification heat for the Men's Individual Pursuit. The Colombian rider would eventually finish in twentieth place.
- David O'Loughlin (Ireland) finished a very credible sixth overall in the Men's Individual Pursuit and shaved almost five seconds off the Irish record in the process.
- Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) was unlucky not to make the podium, eventually finishing fourth overall in the Men's Individual Pursuit.
- Alexi Markov (Russia) took a well deserved bronze medal in the Men's Individual Pursuit.
- The battle for gold in the Men's Individual Pursuit was contested by Jenning Huizenga from the Netherlands...
- ...and defending World Champion Bradley Wiggins (GBR).
- Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) , 2008 World Individual Pursuit Champion.
- The official opening ceremony consisted of a stunning display of aerial acrobatics and gymnastics.
- The poise, balance, strength and agility displayed by the acrobats was admirable.
- Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez , winner of the Women's 500m Time Trial title, was overcome with emotion while the Cuban national anthem was played to honour her victory.
- The newly crowned world champion wiped away her tears of joy and began to celebrate.
- The Men's Scratch Race was fast, furious and made for first rate sporting entertainment.
- Aliaksandr Lisouski (Belarus) gave the crowd a thrilling display of tenacity and determination to take the Men's Scratch title.
- The French team took victory in the Men's Team Sprint. The crowd very graciously sang the French national anthem when there was a technical problem with the recording.
- The energy and excitment of the World Track Cycling Championships was just too much for some people.
- A young fan cheers on proceedings beside the memorial statue to British track cycling legend Reg Harris.
- From bronze to carbon: as you might expect, there was some extroadinary equipment on display
Results
Men's individual pursuit
Qualfiying 1 Jenning Huizenga (Netherlands) 4.16.34 (56.174 km/h) 2 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) 4.17.02 3 Alexei Markov (Russian Federation) 4.18.24 4 Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) 4.18.33 5 Bradley McGee (Australia) 4.20.43 6 David O'Loughlin (Ireland) 4.20.91 7 Luke Roberts (Australia) 4.21.89 8 Taylor Phinney (United States Of America) 4.22.36 9 Antonio Tauler Llull (Spain) 4.22.65 10 Volodymyr Dyudya (Ukraine) 4.22.73 11 Alexander Serov (Russian Federation) 4.22.74 12 Dominique Cornu (Belgium) 4.22.79 13 Sergi Escobar Roure (Spain) 4.24.13 14 Jens Mouris (Netherlands) 4.24.48 15 Marc Ryan (New Zealand) 4.24.78 16 Robert Bartko (Germany) 4.25.14 17 Phillip Thuaux (Australia) 4.26.43 18 Vitaliy Popkov (Ukraine) 4.27.04 19 Sun Jae Jang (Korea) 4.28.40 20 Carlos Eduardo Alzate Escobar (Colombia) 4.29.94 21 Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) 4.33.50 22 Dominique Stark (Switzerland) 4.36.39 Finals For Gold 1 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) 4.18.52 (55.701 km/h) 2 Jenning Huizenga (Netherlands) 4.23.47 For Bronze 3 Alexei Markov (Russian Federation) 4.21.10 4 Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) 4.23.66
Men's scratch race
1 Aliaksandr Lisouski (Belarus) 2 Wim Stroetinga (Netherlands) 3 Roger Kluge (Germany) 4 Rafal Ratajczyk (Poland) 5 Angel Dario Colla (Argentina) 6 Kazuhiro Mori (Japan) 7 Andreas Mueller (Austria) 8 Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Colombia) 9 Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand) 10 Luis Mansilla (Chile) 11 Martin Blaha (Czech Republic) 12 Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Denmark) 13 Jérôme Neuville (France) 14 Tim Mertens (Belgium) 15 Ho Ting Kwok (Hong Kong, China) 16 Vadim Shaekhov (Uzbekistan) 17 Martino Marcotto (Italy) 18 Michael Friedman (United States Of America) 19 Ivan Kovalev (Russian Federation) 20 Leigh Howard (Australia) DNF Martin Gilbert (Canada) DNF Steven Burke (Great Britain) DNF Hariff Salleh (Malaysia) DNF Oleksandr Martynenko (Ukraine)
Men's team sprint
Qualifying 1 France 0.43.51 (62.048 km/h) Gregory Bauge (France) Mickaël Bourgain (France) Kévin Sireau (France) 2 Great Britain 0.43.91 Ross Edgar (Great Britain) Chris Hoy (Great Britain) Jamie Staff (Great Britain) 3 Netherlands 0.43.96 Theo Bos (Netherlands) Teun Mulder (Netherlands) Tim Veldt (Netherlands) 4 Germany 0.44.26 Rene Enders (Germany) Maximilian Levy (Germany) Stefan Nimke (Germany) 5 Australia 0.44.62 Daniel Ellis (Australia) Mark French (Australia) Ben Kersten (Australia) 6 Russian Federation 0.44.90 Sergey Borisov (Russian Federation) Sergey Kucherov (Russian Federation) Sergey Ruban (Russian Federation) 7 People's Republic of China 0.45.00 Yong Feng (People's Republic of China) Wen Hao Li (People's Republic of China) Lei Zhang (People's Republic of China) 8 Japan 0.45.03 Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan) Kiyofumi Nagai (Japan) Kazunari Watanabe (Japan) 9 Ukraine 0.45.06 Yevhen Bolibrukh (Ukraine) Yuriy Tsyupyk (Ukraine) Andriy Vynokurov (Ukraine) 10 United States Of America 0.45.13 Michael Blatchford (United States Of America) Adam Duvendeck (United States Of America) Giddeon Massie (United States Of America) 11 Poland 0.45.16 Maciej Bielecki (Poland) Kamil Kuczynski (Poland) Lukasz Kwiatkowski (Poland) 12 Spain 0.45.28 Alvaro Alonso Rubio (Spain) Hodei Mazquiaran Uria (Spain) Salvador Melia Mangrinan (Spain) 13 Czech Republic 0.45.68 Tomas Babek (Czech Republic) Filip Ptacnik (Czech Republic) Denis Spicka (Czech Republic) 14 Greece 0.45.70 Athanasios Mantzouranis (Greece) Christos Volikakis (Greece) Panagiotis Voukelatos (Greece) 15 Malaysia 0.45.71 Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia) Muhammad Edrus Md Yunos (Malaysia) Josiah Ng Onn Lam (Malaysia) Final 1 France 0.43.27 (62.397 km/h) Gregory Bauge (France) Kévin Sireau (France) Arnaud Tournant (France) 2 Great Britain 0.43.78 Ross Edgar (Great Britain) Chris Hoy (Great Britain) Jamie Staff (Great Britain) 3 Netherlands 0.43.72 Theo Bos (Netherlands) Teun Mulder (Netherlands) Tim Veldt (Netherlands) 4 Germany 0.44.28 Rene Enders (Germany) Maximilian Levy (Germany) Stefan Nimke (Germany) 5 Australia 6 Russia 7 China 8 Japan 9 Ukraine 10 United States 11 Poland 12 Spain 13 Czech Republic 14 Greece 15 Malaysia
Women's 500m time trial
1 Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez (Cuba) 0.34.02 (52.908 km/h) 2 Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania) 0.34.07 3 Sandie Clair (France) 0.34.25 4 Willy Kanis (Netherlands) 0.34.25 5 Jinjie Gong (People's Republic of China) 0.34.45 6 Miriam Welte (Germany) 0.34.67 7 Shanaze Reade (Great Britain) 0.34.70 8 Natallia Tsylinskaya (Belarus) 0.34.72 9 Anna Blyth (Great Britain) 0.34.79 10 Yvonne Hijgenaar (Netherlands) 0.34.90 11 Lulu Zheng (People's Republic of China) 0.34.99 12 Kaarle Mcculloch (Australia) 0.35.03 13 Lyubov Shulika (Ukraine) 0.35.27 14 Diana Maria Garcia Orrego (Colombia) 0.35.50 15 Virginie Cueff (France) 0.35.52 16 Jutatip Maneephan (Thailand) 0.37.54
