2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships - CM

Great Britain, March 26-30, 2008

Photography

Stage 5 - March 30: Men's omnium: 200m TT, scratch race, individual pursuit, points race, 1km TT; Men's kilometre TT, Women's keirin 1st round, repechages, 2nd round, 7th-12th & final; scratch race final;, 444km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• Pursuiter does sprints: Former world pursuit champion Robert Bartko winds it up for the flying 200m time trial in the Omnium title, which combines five track events.
• World Keirin champion Jennie Reed of the USA behind the Derny during one of the women's Keirin heats.
• French sprinter Clara Sanchez waits on the start line in the women's Keirin.
• The women take the start in the Keirin , battling for position behind the Derny.
• In the men's Omnium, six-day specialist Robert Slippens uses a rubberised skinsuit and some go-faster gaffer tape in the pursuit round.
• Travis Smith of Canada waits in the starting gate in the pursuit round of the men's Omnium title.
• Ghislain Boiron checks his toe straps before his start in the pursuit round of the men's Omnium.
• Leigh Howard of Australia in pursuit action during the men's Omnium, heading towards a silver medal overall.
• Gold medallist in the men's Omnium, New Zealand's Hayden Godfrey riding the pursuit round.
• In the men's Kilo time trial, Frenchman Michael D'Almeida heads towards the silver medal.
• Germany's Robert Forstemann gets out of the starting gate in the men's Kilo.
• Teun Mulder of The Netherlands powers his way to victory in the men's Kilo.
• "How did I do?" - Mulder checks the scoreboard after his winning ride in the kilometre time trial.
• The Omnium also features a scratch race , which Hayden Godfrey of New Zealand won on his way to Gold in the Omnium.
• Britain's Steven Burke holds off Russia's Evgeny Kovalev and Belgium's Tim Mertens for a sprint during the Omnium points race.
• On the podium for the Kilometre time trial , winner Teun Mulder still can't believe he has won!.
• Sprint action from the second round of the women's Keirin .
• Women's scratch race: The bunch ride high on the banking of the Manchester Velodrome, underneath the statue of legendary sprinter Reg Harris.
• A bunch shot from the women's scratch race.
• The sprint for second place in the women's scratch race , with Cuba's Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso and Belinda Goss of Australia heading towards silver and bronze medals.
• Eleonora Van Dijk of The Netherlands was a very happy winner of the women's scratch race, with a solo break in the closing laps.
• Former world Madison champion Walter Perez of Argentina knuckles down to a kilometer time trial as part of the Omnium.
• Smile time: Eleonora Van Dijk , Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso and Belinda Goss are happy to be on the women's scratch race podium.
• Keirin final: Jennie Reed lurks near the back of the string, ready to power past the others to win gold.
• Reed launches her winning move in the Keirin final, outsprinting Pendleton for the line.
• A delighted Jennie Reed waves to the crowd after taking the Keirin crown.
• Men's Omnium medallists: Winner Hayden Godfrey alongside silver medallist Leigh Howard and bronze medallist Aliaksandr Lisouski.
• Quality podium: Keirin winner Jennie Reed, flanked by 2007 champion Victoria Pendleton and 2006 champion Christin Muche.

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

• Jess Varnish (Great Britain) battles Jennie Reed (United States Of America) in the women's keirin.
• Jennie Reed (United States Of America) takes heat 3 of women's keirin.
• Jennie Reed (United States Of America) head to head with Jess Varnish (Great Britain) in the women's keirin.
• Jennie Reed during her first round heat of the Keirin.
• Reed focused on the task at hand.
• Reed's win came as an upset to the home country favourite and defending champion, Victoria Pendleton.
• Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand) took his countries first gold of the meet.
• Jennie Reed takes the title.
• Reed was ecstatic with her winning ride.
• Godfrey accepts his new jersey to the delight of the crowd.
• Reed in the colours of world champion.
• Reed on the podium, flanked by two former world champions in the discipline, Pendleton and Christin Muche (Germany).

Images by AFP Photo

• Teun Mulder (Netherlands) enjoys his first rainbow jersey
• Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands) celebrates from the field after winning the women's scratch race from a solo breakaway.
• Godfrey takes a victory lap after winning the men's omnium.
• Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand) gave the Kiwis gold in the men's omnium.

Images by Stephen McMahon

• Leigh Howard (Australia) was one of the early starters in the Men's Omnium Sprint 200m t.t.
• Gianpaolo Biolo (Italy) after his short, sharp 200 metres.
• Germany's Roberto Bartko concentrates on the task in hand.
• Evgeny Kovalev (Russia) on his flying lap.
• The home crowd was keen to see twenty year old Steven Burke (Great Britain) in action.
• Ghislain Boiron (France) took victory in the Sprint 200m t.t. component to the Men's Omnium event in a time of 10:481 seconds and at an average speed of 68.695 Km/h.
• Bobby Lea (USA) finished in a very respectable fifth place and only a shade over a fifth of a second off the winning time.
• Robert Slippens (Netherlands) builds up a head of steam on his way to a time of 11.132 seconds.
• His win in the men's scratch race has not affected Aliaksandr Lisouski's (Belarus) determination.
• Walter Fernando Perez (Argentina) powers his way into the first turn on his flying lap in the Sprint 200m t.t.
• Winner of the men's omnium in the 2007 World Championships, Alois Kankovsky (Czech Republic) is an imposing figure on and off the bike and travels with considerable grace for such a tall rider.
• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) won her heat ahead of Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba in the First Round of the Women's Keirin event.
• The second heat of the women's keirin was a closely fought contest. Here, Swetiana Grankowskaja (Russia), Anna Blyth (Great Britain) and Willy Kanis (Netherlands) jockey for position on the final lap.
• Competitors take a moment to compose themselves before the start of the Scratch race, the second event in the Men's Omnium.
• The short repose over, the serious business begins again.
• Reona Sumi (Japan) was active early on in the Men's Omnium Scratch race.
• Riding with determination and aggression, Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand) was victorious in the Men's Omnium Scratch race.
• The rules stipulate that riders must stay behind the derny until it has left the track. With no brakes to regulate speed, the riders use the incline of the track to maintain steady progress.
• Tension builds as the derny purrs its way around to pick up the stationary riders at the start line.
• Diana Maria Garcia Orrego (Colombia) leads the group as the steady pace of the derny begins to increase.
• Aliaksandr Lisouski (Belarus) looking comfortable during the Individual Pursuit component to the Men's Omnium.
• Walter Fernando Perez (Argentina) concentrates on riding the black line.
• Vasileios Galanis (Greece) maintained quite an upright position during his run in the Individual Pursuit component to the Men's Omnium event.
• Tim Mertens (Belgium) on the move. Note the clever positioning of the power meter. Top marks to Tim's mechanic.
• Gianpaolo Biolo (Italy) settles into position for the 3000 metres ahead.
• Alois KanKovsky (Czech Republic) pumping out some serious watts.
• Travis Smith (Cananda) on the lookout for the best line into the first turn.
• The alienesque figure of Roberto Bartko (Germany) on his way to the fastest time for the Individual Pursuit in the Men's Omnium.
• Leigh Howard (Australia) rode consistently to take the bronze medal in the Men's Omnium.
• After five separate events, the most consistent finisher, and the 2008 World Men's Omnium Champion, was Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand).
• Unfortunately, with a flight to catch, time ran out for me before the end of the afternoon session.

Stage 4 - March 29: Men's keirin 1st round, repechages, 2nd round, 7th-12th & final, Madison final; Women's sprint semifinal & final, points race final;,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• The Keirin riders line up for the start.
• Azizulhasni Awang in the Keirin, moments before crashing on the finish line.
• Shaken but not stirred: Minus half a skinsuit, Josiah Ng (Malaysia) walks back to the rider's enclosure.
• Girl power: Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) gets ready to come around the outside of Jennie Reed (United States of America).
• Crowd pleaser: Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) waves to the crowd after winning a sprint match on her way to retaining her world sprint title.
• French duo Arnaud Tournant and Kévin Sireau mix it with Jamaica's Ricardo Lynch in the Keirin repechage.
• German pair Carsten Bergemann and Stefan Nimke make it clear to Theo Bos (Netherlands) that there will be no easy way past in the Keirin.
• Defending champion Katherine Bates (Australia) was watchful in the women's points race.
• Denmark's Trine Schmidt was the first to gain a lap on the bunch, and the 20 points that come with it.
• Trine Schmidt (Denmark) gets her breath back in the bunch after her lap gain in the women's points race.
• The women's points race, with the bunch riding high on the Manchester banking.
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Italy's Vera Carrara also gained a lap, and Carrara is keeping a close eye on Vos.
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) shows her delight at winning her first world points race title.
• Women's points podium: Marianne Vos, Trine Schmidt and Vera Carrara.
• The Keirin riders head off into the distance.
• The Derny leads the Keirin riders around the track. At this stage of the race, things are fairly orderly. The full chaos starts when the Derny peels off with two and a half laps to go!
• With the Derny gone, the riders get down to business. Matthew Crampton of Great Britain heads towards a win in round two of the Keirin.
• First things first: After winning the sprint final Victoria Pendleton's (Great Britain) first wish was for a congratulatory hug from her dad...
• ...before being swamped by the media as she climbs off her bike
• Belgium's Kenny de Ketele throws in partner Iljo Keisse during the men's madison.
• Denmark's Alex Rasmussen and Michael Morkov have been one of the revelations of this year's six-day season, also winning the World Cup Madison series. They took the bronze medal at the worlds.
• Experienced six-day rider Joan Llaneras throws his partner Carlos Torrent into the race.
• Full stretch: The French pair in mid-handsling with Britain's Mark Cavendish paying close attention
• Top dogs: Leading six-day rider Bruno Risi comes into a handsling with partner Franco Marvulli. The Swiss pair were Madison champions in 2007, but had to settle for fifth place this year.
• Silver: The German pairing of Roger Kluge and Olaf Pollack do the handsling thing on their way to the silver medal in the Madison.
• Pain: Bruno Risi's face shows the strain as the Swiss pair fight hard.
• Teamwork: Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins from Great Britain enjoy the moment after winning the Madison title. This is the second time that Cavendish has been world Madison champion.
• Wiggins and Cavendish are surrounded by photographers as Wiggins is congratulated by his wife and son.
• Happy chappies: Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) celebrate on the podium after winning the Madison title.
• Madison podium: Winners Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, flanked by third-placed Alex Rasmussen and Michael Morkov of Denmark, and Roger Kluge and Olaf Pollack of Germany.
• All smiles: Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) celebrates her win in the women's sprint, sharing the podium with Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania and Jennie Reed of the USA.
• Keirin winners: Britain's Chris Hoy on the Keirin podium, with Christoph Volikakis of Greece and Teun Mulder of the Netherlands.

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

• Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins handslinging their way to victory in front of the ecstatic home crowd.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) ahead of Teun Mulder (Netherlands) in the men's Kierin final.
• It's been a big week but Chris Hoy (Great Britain) had one more victory in him.
• Play it again sam: Chris Hoy (Great Britain) holds the British flag high once more.
• Rebecca Quinn (United States Of America) focused during the women's points race.
• Vera Carrara (Italy) checks her status.
• Home rider Elizabeth Armitstead (Great Britain) participates in the women's points race.
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) on her way to winning the women's points race.
• Vera Carrara (Italy) rides during the women's points race on Saturday.
• Vera Carrara (Italy) delighted with the bronze medal in the women's points race.
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) tops the podium in the women's points race.

Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net

• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) checks her advantage as she goes away on her own in the closing laps of the points race
• Trine Schmidt (Denmark) gasps for air as she recovers from taking a lap on the bunch
• Belem Guerrero (Mexico) made some enthusiastic attempts to get away in the points race
• Catherine Cheatley (New Zealand) had a relatively quiet race with just one real attack
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) with a lap to go
• Marianne Vos celebrates her Points Race win
• The Points Race podium: Trine Schmidt, Marianne Vos and Vera Carrara
• Vera Carrara (Italy) in the bunch
• Jennie Reed (USA) accelerates away from Shuang Guo (China) on her way to bronze
• Simona Krupkaite (Lithuania) looks for Victoria Pendleton in the gold medal ride-off
• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) celebrates her second gold medal of the Championships
• Jennie Reed (USA) rides away from Shuang Guo as she wins the decider and takes the bronze medal
• Jennie Reed (USA) celebrates her first ever World Championship medal
• Emma Jones, pro with Team Swift, interviews Victoria Pendleton after the sprint final for Eurosport TV
• Victoria Pendleton chases Krupkaite in the second heat of the final. She caught the Lithuanian close to the line
• Pendleton is mobbed by photographers as she shares her moment of victory with her family

Images by Stephen McMahon

• Lithuanian athlete Simona Krupeckaite beat Guo Shuang of China to win the first semifinal of the Women's Sprint event.
• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) celebrates her victory in the final of the Women's Sprint event.
• The Women's Sprint podium : Silver went to Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania), gold to Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) and Jennie Reed (USA) took the bronze.
• The explosive spectacle of the Men's Keirin was up next.
• A strong nerve and excellent judgement are essential, as demonstrated by Shane Perkins (Australia).
• A crash during the qualifying rounds of the Men's Keirin caused some damage to the track surface.
• Ricardo Lynch (Jamaica) relaxes between rounds of the Men's Keirin.
• Stefan Nimke (Germany) leads compatriot Carsten Bergemann in the Men's Keirin.
• The Women's Points race was a straight final.
• Svetlana Paulikaite (Lithiuania) sets the pace with Trine Schidmt of Denmark in tow.
• Belem Guerrero Mendez (Mexico) focuses on holding her position in the pack.
• Obviously giving her very best effort, Catherine Cheatley (New Zealand) snatches a glance at the scoreboard.
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands) looking composed and determined as she attempts to lap the field.
• Her efforts reaped the ultimate reward: Marianne Vos (Netherlands), Women's Points Race World Champion for 2008.
• The medal winners for the Women's Points Race: Silver for Trine Schimdt (Denmark), gold for Marianne Vos of the Netherlands and Vera Carreara of Italy took the bronze.
• Fabio Masotti (Italy) is propelled into action by teammate Angelo Ciccone in the frenzy of action and reaction that was the Men's Madison.
• Reach out for me: Iljo Keisse and Kenny De Ketele (Belgium).
• The Swiss duo of Bruno Risi and Franco Marvulli almost came a cropper during a changeover.
• Fortunately they both stayed upright and actually looked quite elegant in the end.
• The strain of his efforts is obvious on the face of Michael Friedman (USA) as he catapults teammate Colby Pearce into action.
• Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) were the team to watch in the Men's Madison event.
• Jens Mouris and Peter Schep (Netherlands) strive to remain at the head of affairs.
• Argentinian pairing Juan Esteban and Walter Fernando Perez pass in a flash of blue and white.
• Carlos Torrent Tarres (Spain) manages to a quick glance at the scoreboard as he slings teammate Joan Llaneras Rosello into action.
• Volodymyr Rybin and Lyubomyr Polatayko of the Ukraine make a successful exchange.
• Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) in full flight is a beautiful thing to behold.
• Mark Cavendish senses victory may be around the next bend.
• Cavendish and Wiggins brought the home crowd to their feet with a fantastic victory in one of the most entertaining events of the programme by taking victory in the Men's Madison.
• The teammates celebrate another win for Great Britain.
• Wiggins and Cavendish gave the home crowd something more to cheer about.
• To the victors, the spoils.
• The podium for the Men's Madison: Silver for Roger Kluge and Olaf Pollack of Germany, gold for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and Michael Morkov and Alex Rasmussen took the bronze.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) had some unfinished business to attend to: the final of the Men's Keirin.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) took a convincing victory in the final of the Men's Keirin.
• Chris Hoy receives another rainbow jersey.
• Hoy's first act as the newly crowned World Keirin Champion was to sign an autograph for this young fan.
• Bradley Wiggins and his number one fan. A key member of the British Cycling Youth Development squad was given a guided tour of the velodrome

Stage 3 - March 28: Men's sprint semifinal & final, points race final; Women's sprint 200m qualifying, 1/16 finals, 1/8 finals, 1/4 finals, repechages & 5th-8th, team pursuit qualifying & final;,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) is set to vie for the women's sprint world title.
• Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton give her all in the women's sprint quater finals.
• Home soil hero Chris Hoy (Great Britain) was speechless after his win.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) sprints to victory, claiming another gold medal for the host nation.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) has rated this as one of his best victories.
• Great Britain's Chris Hoy shows off his new gold medal.

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• The winning Great Britain team in the new women's pursuit event.
• Defending champion Victoria Pendleton during the sprints.
• Yvonne Hijgenaar of the Netherlands shows grit and determination during the sprint.
• The German women's pursuit team show its pleasure at securing the bronze medal.
• The Ukrainian women's pursuiters get underway, heading to a silver medal.
• Coach power: The Ukrainian coach offers a little vocal encouragement.
• The taste of victory! Rebecca Romero, Wendy Houvenaghel and Jo Rowsell celebrate their win for Great Britain.
• Kévin Sireau and Mickäel Bourgain go head-to-head in the sprint semis.
• Britain's Victoria Pendleton comes around the outside of Yvonne Hijgenaar of the Netherlands during the women's sprint event.
• The men's points race took place in front of a capacity crowd at the Manchster Velodrome.
• Vasili Kiryienka was never far from the action in the points race.
• Spain's Joan Llaneras is highly experienced, and took part in several attacks.
• Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus) shows his happiness when he realises he has won.
• Victoria Pendleton celebrates a win in one of the sprint matches, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
• Contact sport: Cuba's Lisandra Guearra Rodriguez and Jennie Reade of the USA get physical during the women's sprint quarter final.
• World sprint champion Chris Hoy (Great Britain) shows Kévin Sireau (France) the way home in the sprint final.
• Britain's winning women's pursuiters pose with their gold medals.
• Sandie Clair of France in sprint qualifying.
• Young British sprinter Anna Blyth during sprint qualifying.
• Natallia Tsylinskaya of Belarus had a nasty crash during the sprint matches.
• A Chinese sprinter heads into her qualifying lap.
• Dana Glöss of Germany tries to come around Hijgenaar in the sprints.
• The Belgians fielded a very young team in the women's pursuit event, but they coped superbly.
• A delighted Chris Hoy smiles during a television interview immediately after winning his first world sprint title.
• Men's points race podium: Vasili Kiryienka, Peter Schep and Christophe Riblon.
• Sprinters on the podium: World sprint champion Chris Hoy is flanked by Mickäel Bourgain and Kévin Sireau.

Images by Stephen McMahon

• Statue of British cycling legend Reg Harris oversees the warm up session at the start of Day 3.
• The Manchester Velodrome is an impressive venue and deserves its reputation as the best indoor track in the world.
• The buzz of tyres on timber and friendly conversation among the riders filled the velodrome during the warm up session on Day 3.
• Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez (Cuba) was back in action during qualifying in the Women's Sprint event.
• Victoria Pendleton set a new British record during qualifying for the Women's Sprint event.
• Rebecca Romero leads the British team on their way to setting the standard in the Women's Team Pursuit event.
• The youthful Belgian team at full speed in the qualifying rounds of the Women's Team Pursuit. The most senior member of the squad is just eighteen years old.
• Belarus finished their qualifying round in a time of 3:29:878, good enough for fourth place and a place in the final for bronze.
• Some formation problems hindered the progress of the Dutch team. They eventually finished in sixth place out of seven teams.
• The German trio on their way to third spot in qualifying. They will contest the bronze medal with the team from Belarus.
• Is that a smile of excitement or a grimace of pain? The Russian squad finished in fifth position.
• Yelizaveta Bochkarova of the Ukraine composes herself before the start.
• Bochkarova leads the Ukrainian trio on their way to second place in qualifying. They will meet Great Britain in the battle for gold.
• The evening session opened with the semifinals of the Men's sprint event. French riders Mickaël Bourgain and Kévin Sireau were first to start.
• Germany overcame Belarus to take the Bronze medal in the Women's Team Pursuit.
• Great Britain get rolling on their way to victory.
• The Ukrainian team had to settle for silver.
• Roberto Chiappa was gracious in defeat to Chris Hoy (Great Britain). The Italian rider eventually finished fourth overall.
• Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus) held off Christophe Riblon (France) by a single point to take victory in the Men's Points Race.
• Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) digging deep in the fast and furious Men's Points Race.
• Tactics played a major role in the battle for bronze between Clara Sanchez (France) and Guo Shuang (China).
• Kévin Sireau (France) did his very best but had to settle for silver behind Great Britain's Chris Hoy in the Men's Sprint contest.
• The German team were obviously pleased with their bronze medals in the Women's Team Pursuit.
• Second place went to the team from the Ukraine.
• Winners of the Women's Team Pursuit: Rebecca Romero, Wendy Houvenaghel and Joanna Rowsell from Great Britain.
• The new World Men's Sprint champion, Chris Hoy of Great Britain.
• Chris Hoy's family were present to witness his sublime victory.
• The new world champion was both exhilarated and exhausted by his victory over Kévin Sireau of France.
• The winner's podium for the Men's Points Race: Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus), Christophe Riblon (France) and Peter Schep (Netherlands).
• An emotional Chris Hoy (Great Britain) celebrates.

Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net

• The Russian coach spurs the team on in the qualifying round of Team Pursuit
• Lisandra Guerra (CUB) concentrates
• Yvonne Hijgenaar (NED) looks for Victoria Pendleton (GBR) in theoir sprint quarter final
• Clara Sanchez (FRA) watches Guo in the sprint
• Shuang Guo (CHN) with a gap over Clara Sanchez (FRA) in the sprint quarter finals
• Simona Krupkaite (LTU) leads Willy Kanis (NED) in the sprint quarter finals
• The GB team on the way to gold
• Germany wait to start their bronze medal ride
• Lithuania were fourth in the Team Pursuit
• The Germans in a tight line in the bronze ride off - Team Pursuit
• Germany finish together to take bronze in the Team Pursuit
• The GB team wait to start the Team Pursuit final
• Ukraine took silver in the Team Pursuit
• Great Britain in line and on their wa to gold
• The podium for the Team Pursuit : Ukraine, Great Brtiain and Germany
• Victoria Pendleton during her sprint qualifying ride
• Victoria Pendleton slautes the crowd as she qualifies fastest in the sprint
• The Ukrainian team are World Cup Champions in Team Pursuit
• Wendy Houvenhagel leads the GB team away
• Rebecca Romero tows her team-mates around Turn 1 during the Team Pursuit Qualifying
• The young Belgian team start the Team Pursuit
• Falling into line - the Belarus team start their qualifying ride in the Team Pursuit
• A changeover by the Belarus team
• The Dutch team set off in pursuit qualifying
• The Dutch team get it back together after their formation as stretched by a powerful effort from Marlijn Binnedijk
• The German team in flight
• A change from the German team during the Team Pursuit qualifying
• Russia's starting effort in the Team Pursuit

Stage 2 - March 27: Men's team pursuit qualifying & final, sprint 200m qualifying, 1/16 finals, 1/8 finals, 1/4 finals, repechages & 5th-8th; Women's individual pursuit qualifying & final, team sprint qualifying & final;,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

• Josiah Ng (Malaysia) just missed out on the finals.
• Ng clocked a 10.352 in qualifying.
• Josiah Ng represents Malaysia but has spent a large part of his career in the USA.
• Bradley Wiggins leads the Great Britain team on its way to a new world record.
• Ed Clancy, Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning and Geraint Thomas give it their all and come out on top.
• Bradley Wiggins leads the Great Britain team to victory.
• Robert Bartko, Daniel Becke, Henning Bommel and Patrick Gretsch could only manage ninth place for Germany.
• Sam Bewley, Westley Gough, Hayden Roulston and Marc Ryan qualified third in the team pursuit, but Tasman rival Australia beat them in the final.
• Great Britain's men's team pursuit squad show off their world-beating formation.
• A rider swaps off as the Great Britain team powers towards the finish line.
• The British team celebrate its Men's team pursuit world title and record.
• Great Britain's Edward Clancy, Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning and Geraint Thomas; the world's quickest Men's team pursuit squad.
• Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton put down a stunning time to win the world title.
• Pendleton and Reade looked in danger at one point but recovered to take the pursuit title.
• As happy as Vicky: Pendleton was uncertain of her form...surely that's been cleared up now though.
• Pendleton is in fine form heading towards August’s Beijing Olympic Games.
• On top of the world: Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade defend their world title in the women's team sprint.
• Sarah Hammer (United States Of America) wasn't able to bring home the Women's Individual pursuit title.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) hammered home the Women's Individual pursuit world title.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) is clearly delighted with he win.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) celebrates with a home crowed in Manchester.
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) celebrates his quarter final victory in the men's sprint.
• Italian Roberto Chiappa did The Macarena while still riding to celebrate his quarter final men's sprint win.
• Jason Kenny (Great Britain) wasn't able to beat Mickaël Bourgain (France) in the men's sprint quarter final.
• Mickaël Bourgain (France) won his quarter final men's sprint heat over Jason Kenny (Great Britain).
• Theo Bos (Netherlands) gave his all in the men's sprint but it wasn't good enough to make the gold medal final.
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) was so confident he attempted to win the race without holding on!
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) digs deep to beat his men's sprint opponent.
• Theo Bos (Netherlands) had every reason to look over his shoulder, he will lose the men's sprint world title for the first time since 2005 after being knocked out.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) showed defending champion Theo Bos (Netherlands) who is boss in Britain.

Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net

• Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)
• Elenora Van Dijk (Netherlands) catches Tatiana Guderzo (Italy).
• Olga Slyusareva (Russia) concentrates on her line.
• Yelizaveta Bochkarova (Ukraine) rode against Slyusareva.
• The starting effort from Elena Chalykh (Russia).
• Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic) looks controlled as she sets off.
• World Cup Champion, Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania), is guarenteed a start in Beijing.
• Verena Joos (Germany) finished 10th.
• Lesya Kalitovska (Ukraine) is escorted from the start by her coach.
• Alison Shanks (New Zealand), mid race.
• Maria Luisa Calle Williams (Colombia) finished eighth.
• Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) will ride off for bronze against Kate Mactier (Australia).
• Andy Sparks encourages Sarah Hammer (USA) away from the start.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) during her qualifying ride.
• Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands) was fifth fastest in qualifying.
• Min Hye Lee (Korea) up close
• Karin Thurig (SUI) finished ninth fastest.
• Katie Mactier (Australia) working hard.
• Leire Olaberria Dorronsoro (Spain) pulls away from the start.
• Svetlana Paulikaite (Lithuania) puts in a big effort.
• Tara Whitten (CAN) waits to start.
• Whitten's starting effort.
• Maria Luisa Calle Williams (Colombia).
• Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) gives everything as she starts.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) qualified fastest and salutes her home crowd.

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• François Pervis (France) comes around Mark French (Australia) in the sprints.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) was in the mood for knocking Dutch riders out of the sprints, here putting Teun Mulder out of the competition.
• Shane Perkins of Australia and Kazunari Watanabe of Japan in sprint action.
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) is always exciting to watch.
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) and Ross Edgar (Great Britain) close up.
• Roberto Chiappa (Italy) shows Kévin Sireau (France) the way to the finish line.
• Ryan Bayley (Australia) tries to hold off Theo Bos (Netherlands) in the sprints.
• Maximilian Levy (Germany)crossed the line ahead of Chris Hoy (Great Britain), but was relegated for a rule infringement.
• The repechage saw Kévin Sireau (France) and François Pervis (France) desperately trying to stay in the competition.
• The Italian women's sprint team.
• The Chinese women's sprint team on their way to a silver medal.
• Germany's women's sprint duo head towards a bronze medal.
• The French women's sprint pair.
• Britain's victoriuous women's sprint team, world champions for the second year in a row.
• Theo Bos (Netherlands) in full flight.
• Two French sprinters: Gregory Bauge (France) pins Kévin Sireau (France) high against the fence.
• Gregory Bauge (France) and Kévin Sireau (France) get serious about it.
• Mickael Bourgain (France) shows Jason Kenny (Great Britain) the way to the finish line
• Theo Bos (Netherlands) and Chris Hoy (Great Britain) went to a full three matches before Hoy came out on top.
• The GB team pursuit squad celebrate their victory on the podium.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) savours her win; the former rower is a recent convert to cycling.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) with her first world championship gold medal.
• Romero with Sarah Hammer (USA) and Katie Mactier (Australia) on the women's pursuit podium.
• Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade (Great Britain) took gold again in the women's team sprint.
• Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade (Great Britain) had plenty of smiles on the podium.
• The full podium for the women's team sprint, with the Chinese and German duos.
• The two German riders were pleased with their result.
• Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade (Great Britain) posed happily for photographers when they got off their bikes, and waved to the enthusiastic crowd.
• Emotion: Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) realises that she has just won her first gold cycling medal.
• Emotion: Sarah Hammer (USA) after the finish of the pursuit final.
• The Australians during the qualifying.
• The Aussies did enough to get into the bronze medal run.
• The Australians looked good on the Manchester track.
• Brad McGee is leading the Aussies here.
• Australia clocked a time of under 4:01.
• But they could not get into the final.
• The Manchester velodrome makes sure you know where you are at all times.
• New Zealand managed to get the third-best time.
• The Kiwis will face Australia in the race for third.
• The New Zealanders were slightly faster than Australia – a sign for things to come in the medal run?
• White helmet to go with the black outfit, that's New Zealand.
• Every rider uses their own specific positioning.
• Denmark was on fire.
• The Danish team recorded the best time in the qualifying.
• They even beat the host Great Britain.
• We are red, we are white we are Danish dynamite!
• The effort shows on this rider.
• Denmark celebrated their quali-run, but they also want to be World Champion now.
• And for that they will face Great Britain in the final.
• The all-white British team.
• Their switch-offs were perfect.
• The shoe covers looked fast or is that duct tape?
• It's essential to get back behind the last rider smoothly.
• Great Britain is the defending champion.
• The fast team offered the rear view for their opponents.
• Another perfectly executed switch.
• The British team looked like from outer space.
• And their out-worldly speed supported that theory.
• Sarah Hammer (USA) was quick in the pursuit and qualified for the finale.
• Rebecca Romero from the host nation posted the fastest individual pursuit time in the women's 3000 metres.

Images by Stephen McMahon

• The Korean team started the qualifying rounds of the Men's Team Pursuit and expectations were high. They finished in twelfth position.
• Colombia was next up, finishing in a time of 4:09:96 , good enough for eleventh place.
• Focusing before the off: the French team wait for the start of their qualification run. They narrowly beat the time of the Spanish team to finish in sixth position.
• The French team in action...
• ...and getting the split time information.
• Spain finished seventh, in a time of 4:05:138 just over half a second slower than the French squad.
• The Russian squad clinched fifth spot by a quarter of a second from France.
• The Netherlands had to settle for eighth place in a time of 4:05:302.
• Bradley McGee leads the Australian squad to fourth place in the Men's team Pursuit.
• The German team on their way to ninth position.
• New Zealand took third place in qualifying, beating Australia by the tiny margin of just over a tenth of a second.
• The Danish team took the start looking determined and focussed. They took a convincing victory in qualifying.
• The Ukranian team had to complete the final kilometre of their qualifying session with three out of four riders.
• A tightly knit quartet: Great Britain, defending champions in the Men's Team Pursuit, finished in second place and will duke it out for gold with the Danes.
• Tara Whitten (Canada) in action during the qualifying rounds of the Women's Individual Pursuit.
• Colombian rider Maria Luisa Calle Williams sporting a very distinctive aero helmet featuring illustrations of an eagle and galloping horses.
• Another particularly cheezy design of helment was worn by Karin Thürig (Switzerland).
• Katie Mactier (Australia) accelerates on to her first lap in qualifying for the Women's 4000 metres Individual Pursuit.
• Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) at full speed.
• Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) salutes the crowd after her victory in the Women's 4000 metres Individual Pursuit.
• Roberto Chiappa was kept under close observation in his qualifying heat of the Men's Sprint event.
• The British Men's 4000 metres Team Pursuit team were obviously ecstatic at having won and setting a new world record in the process.
• Dana Glöss and Miriam Welte (Germany) in pursuit of a place on the podium of the Women's Team Sprint.
• Great Britain's Rebecca Romero took gold in the Women's 3000 metres Individual Pursuit.
• The medal tally for Great Britain was added to by Lulu Zheng and Victoria Pendleton with victory in the Women's Team Sprint.
• Ryan Bayley (Australia) and Theo Bos (Netherlands) after their battle in the qualifying rounds of the Men's Sprint event.
• Breathe the pressure: Chris Hoy (Great Britain) composes himself before his battle with Theo Bos in the qualifying rounds of the Men's Sprint.
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) overcame Theo Bos (Netherlands) in a very closely fought duel.
• There were several paracycling events included on the evening programme for the second day of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
• Russ White in action as part of the paracycling component to the evening programme.

Stage 1 - March 26: Men's individual pursuit qualifying & final, scratch race final, team sprint qualifying & final, Women's 500m time trial;,  

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

Preview

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

• Arnaud Tournant (France) will make up part of the formidable French team sprint squad
• Natalian Tsylinskaya and Victoria Pendleton will go head to head in the sprints.

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

• Sarah Hammer (USA) hopes to recover from back problems to regain her rainbow jersey.
• The Australian team pursuiters will hope to regain past glory.

Images by John Veage

• Volodymyr Dyudya (Ukraine) is a medal contender for the pursuit.
• Roger Kluge (Germany) is a favourite in the scratch race.

Images by AFP Photo

• Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) returns to defend his title in the pursuit.

Chris Hoy interview

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Steve Thomas

• Chris Hoy is world Keirin champion and hopes this will be his event for Olympic gold.
• Hoy is adjusting to life after the kilo.
• The British sprint team took a narrow loss to the French in Mallorca.
• Hoy chats with World Sprint Champion Theo Bos

Images by AFP Photo

• Chris Hoy hopes to stand on the top step in Beijing.

Danish Madison team interview

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

• Rasmussen goes for the sprint in Los Angeles.
• Rasmussen bears no resemblance to his skinny namesake who wore polka dots in the Tour de France.
• Rasmussen and Mørkøv have made a perfect partnership in the Madison.
• Mørkøv on the attack in Los Angeles.
• The Madison exchange takes practice and precision.

Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

• Mørkøv celebrates the pair's win in Copenhagen.
• Alex Rasmussen and Michael Mørkøv took home the World Cup in the Madison.