Four more titles on the line Friday night
Carson, Calif. (March 25, 2005)—The second night of the 2005 UCI Track Cycling World Championships at the ADT Event Center in Carson, California, will highlight the unpredictable and dangerous men’s keirin, women’s 25km points race, the men’s 4km individual pursuit finals and the kilometer time trial. Favorites to win coveted rainbow jerseys this evening include perennial women’s points race champion Olga Slyusareva (RUS) and top qualifier in the men’s individual pursuit, Robert Bartko (GER).
In the Friday morning session, the men’s keirin qualifying and repechage rounds were filled with plenty of action and drama in both the form of a harrowing crash involving Michael Rodriguez (PUR) and American Christian Stahl, and a call to re-ride the last of this morning’s repechage heats.
In the final repechage round, the pace motorcycle pulled off one lap early leaving the field to decide how many laps remained (the motorcycle is supposed to pull off with 2.5 laps remaining instead of the 3.5 done so in the questioned repechage). The rider most affected by the decision to re-ride was Josiah Ng (MAS), the winner of the round.
Riders who looked strong and should be threats this evening’s final include first round winners Teun Mulder (NED), who was exceptionally quick and could be considered the favorite, Jobe Dajka (AUS), René Wolff (GER), and José Antonio Villanueva Trinidad (ESP). Other riders that have the ability to win include Barry Forde (BAR), Shane Kelly (AUS), and current world champion and southern California resident Jamie Staff (GBR).
The morning qualifying session in the 4km individual pursuit yielded top qualifiers Robert Bartko (GER) 4:25.807, Sergi Escobar Roure (ESP) 4:28.858, Levi Heimans (NED) 4:28.943, and Alexander Serov (RUS) 4:30.437. Escobar Roure will attempt to defend his 2004 world championship title against the top-seeded Bartko. The Spanish rider will need to improve his time by just over three seconds to keep pace with the German 2000 individual pursuit Olympic gold medalist. Heimans and Serov will face off this evening for the bronze medal with Heimans being considered the favorite having qualified nearly two seconds faster than the Russian.
The women’s 25km points race tonight will showcase Russian star Olga Slyusareva, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and winner of every world championship points race since 2001.
Slyusareva heads a star-studded field that includes: Belem Guerrero Mendez (MEX), the 2004 Olympic points race silver medalist, Erin Mirabella (USA), the Athens Olympic points race bronze medalist, Vera Carrera (ITA), the 2004 world points race silver medalist, Katherine Bates (AUS), the 2001 world championship silver medalist in the event, Mandy Poitras (CAN), and Lyudmyla Vypyraylo (UKR), the 2004/05 world cup points race champion. Strong competition is expected to make the racing extremely fast.
The women’s sprint opened during the Friday morning session with reigning 500m time trial world champion, Natalia Tsylinskaya (BLR) setting the fastest time (11.278) in qualifying just over one tenth of a second faster than second seed Yvonne Hijgenaar (11.386). Tsylinskya unfortunately was relegated in her 1/4 final ride against Kerrie Meares (AUS). With her relegation, Tsylinskaya was sent to the 5-8 finals which she easily won. Other surprises included the fall of 2004 Olympic sprint gold medalist Lori-Ann Muenzer, and second seed Hijgenaar that also sent them to the 5-8 final.
Anna Meares (AUS), the 2004 world championship sprint silver medalist, qualified tenth but was able to move through the rounds and secure her place in the final four to be contested Saturday evening. With the top-two seeded riders out of the competition the door is wide open for who will become the new world sprint champion. Joining Meares in the final four are Kerri Meares (AUS), the 2002 world championship sprint silver medalist and older sister of Anna, Victoria Pendleton (GBR), and Tamilia Abassova (ITA).
In Saturday evening’s other final, the men’s kilometer time trial, a duel is expected between reigning Olympic champion Chris Hoy (GBR) and Theo Bos (NED).
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Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 50,000 members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information visit www.usacycling.org or contact, USA Cycling Director of Communicaitons, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.
In the Friday morning session, the men’s keirin qualifying and repechage rounds were filled with plenty of action and drama in both the form of a harrowing crash involving Michael Rodriguez (PUR) and American Christian Stahl, and a call to re-ride the last of this morning’s repechage heats.
In the final repechage round, the pace motorcycle pulled off one lap early leaving the field to decide how many laps remained (the motorcycle is supposed to pull off with 2.5 laps remaining instead of the 3.5 done so in the questioned repechage). The rider most affected by the decision to re-ride was Josiah Ng (MAS), the winner of the round.
Riders who looked strong and should be threats this evening’s final include first round winners Teun Mulder (NED), who was exceptionally quick and could be considered the favorite, Jobe Dajka (AUS), René Wolff (GER), and José Antonio Villanueva Trinidad (ESP). Other riders that have the ability to win include Barry Forde (BAR), Shane Kelly (AUS), and current world champion and southern California resident Jamie Staff (GBR).
The morning qualifying session in the 4km individual pursuit yielded top qualifiers Robert Bartko (GER) 4:25.807, Sergi Escobar Roure (ESP) 4:28.858, Levi Heimans (NED) 4:28.943, and Alexander Serov (RUS) 4:30.437. Escobar Roure will attempt to defend his 2004 world championship title against the top-seeded Bartko. The Spanish rider will need to improve his time by just over three seconds to keep pace with the German 2000 individual pursuit Olympic gold medalist. Heimans and Serov will face off this evening for the bronze medal with Heimans being considered the favorite having qualified nearly two seconds faster than the Russian.
The women’s 25km points race tonight will showcase Russian star Olga Slyusareva, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and winner of every world championship points race since 2001.
Slyusareva heads a star-studded field that includes: Belem Guerrero Mendez (MEX), the 2004 Olympic points race silver medalist, Erin Mirabella (USA), the Athens Olympic points race bronze medalist, Vera Carrera (ITA), the 2004 world points race silver medalist, Katherine Bates (AUS), the 2001 world championship silver medalist in the event, Mandy Poitras (CAN), and Lyudmyla Vypyraylo (UKR), the 2004/05 world cup points race champion. Strong competition is expected to make the racing extremely fast.
The women’s sprint opened during the Friday morning session with reigning 500m time trial world champion, Natalia Tsylinskaya (BLR) setting the fastest time (11.278) in qualifying just over one tenth of a second faster than second seed Yvonne Hijgenaar (11.386). Tsylinskya unfortunately was relegated in her 1/4 final ride against Kerrie Meares (AUS). With her relegation, Tsylinskaya was sent to the 5-8 finals which she easily won. Other surprises included the fall of 2004 Olympic sprint gold medalist Lori-Ann Muenzer, and second seed Hijgenaar that also sent them to the 5-8 final.
Anna Meares (AUS), the 2004 world championship sprint silver medalist, qualified tenth but was able to move through the rounds and secure her place in the final four to be contested Saturday evening. With the top-two seeded riders out of the competition the door is wide open for who will become the new world sprint champion. Joining Meares in the final four are Kerri Meares (AUS), the 2002 world championship sprint silver medalist and older sister of Anna, Victoria Pendleton (GBR), and Tamilia Abassova (ITA).
In Saturday evening’s other final, the men’s kilometer time trial, a duel is expected between reigning Olympic champion Chris Hoy (GBR) and Theo Bos (NED).
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 50,000 members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information visit www.usacycling.org or contact, USA Cycling Director of Communicaitons, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.
This Article Published March 25, 2005 For more information contact:
