Dutch Take Command at track worlds
Carson, Calif. (March 25, 2005)—A standing-room only sellout crowd of 2,580 fans witnessed a changing of the guard at the ADT Event Center Friday evening as Olga Slyusareva (RUS) lost a world championship points race for the first time in four years. Instead, it was Vera Carrara (ITA) who dethroned the 2004 Olympic gold medalist en route to her first-ever world title. Carrara’s race was the first of four contested on an evening that also included finals in the men’s 4km individual pursuit, kilometer time trial and kerin.
The women’s 100-lap points race started off with the entire field tentative to make a move. Early on it appeared that the sprinter-friendly event would play into Slyusareva’s hands, but then in a post-sprint move Carrara made her breakaway stick eventually lapping the field with 46 laps to go. By lapping the field, Carrara picked up a 20-point bonus that propelled her into the lead with just under half of the race remaining. It appeared at that point that Slyusareva’s streak of world championship titles would end. Then fighting back, Slyusareva, with two sprints remaining, was within striking distance. It came down to the final sprint with Carrara in the lead by four points (28) over Slyusareva (24). Slyusareva needed to win and have the Italian not score, but to no avail. Sylusareva’s streak came to an end when Carrara simply marked the Russian the entire way to the line, placing second in the final sprint to win her first rainbow jersey by two points over the defending champion 31-29.
”I’m very, very happy,” said Carrara of her win. She went on to note that in the final laps she knew she needed to stay at the front and stay with Slyusareva to ensure her win.
Kate Bates (AUS) earned the bronze medal with 21 points.
Erin Mirabella (La Habra, Calif.), touted as one of the U.S. Team’s best hopes for a medal after a world cup victory and an Olympic bronze medal last year, placed 13th after failing to score any points.
In the men’s 4km individual pursuit, Robert Bartko (GER) clocked a 4:27.732 to overcome an early deficit on his way to besting defending world champion Sergi Escobar Roure (ESP) for the gold medal. The win marks Bartko’s second world championship, last earning the honor six years ago in 1999. Escobar Roure posted a 4:29.930 in his silver medal performance.
”It was a very hard race having to ride against the defending world champion. I didn’t feel that good going in because I have an illness but I knew I could ride a 4:26,” said Bartko after his world championship ride.
In the bronze medal ride, Levi Heimans (NED) took the honors, posting a 4:30.707, a mark nearly three seconds faster than his head-to-head competitor Alexander Serov (RUS).
In the men’s one kilometer time trial final, Theo Bos (NED) finally came of age winning his first world title in the event after a steady line of improvement over the last year. Bos clocked a time of 1:01.165 to best silver medalist Jason Queally (GBR) and outgoing world champion Chris Hoy (GBR) who rode a 1:01.230 and a 1:02.262 respectively. The 21-year-old Bos is track cycling’s youngest star with popularity equal to many road cycling stars in his home country.
”I’ve trained a long, long time for this event, last year I was a little bit short of becoming world champion and this year I become the best kilometer rider,” said Bos afterwards.
Success for the Netherlands didn’t end there as Teun Mulder (NED) captured the final world title of the evening, the men’s keirin. Impressively, Mulder led out the entire final lap and held on to take his first-ever world keirin championship.
”I was very nervous for the final because in the beginning, this morning, all of the events went so well. There were a lot of expectations to do well here, but then when you win, it’s unbelievable” said Mulder.
The two wins this evening further solidified the Netherlands’ place as one of the most powerful track countries in the world. It currently leads the overall medal standings of these games with a total of five medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
The keirin final also saw Barry Forde, the lone Barbados rider at the championships, take the silver medal and Shane Kelly (AUS) the bronze.
Looking ahead, racing will begin at 10am for Saturday’s morning session. Events will include the men’s 200m time trial for sprint qualification, the women’s 3km individual pursuit qualifying round, and the men’s team pursuit qualifying round.
About USA Cycling
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.
The women’s 100-lap points race started off with the entire field tentative to make a move. Early on it appeared that the sprinter-friendly event would play into Slyusareva’s hands, but then in a post-sprint move Carrara made her breakaway stick eventually lapping the field with 46 laps to go. By lapping the field, Carrara picked up a 20-point bonus that propelled her into the lead with just under half of the race remaining. It appeared at that point that Slyusareva’s streak of world championship titles would end. Then fighting back, Slyusareva, with two sprints remaining, was within striking distance. It came down to the final sprint with Carrara in the lead by four points (28) over Slyusareva (24). Slyusareva needed to win and have the Italian not score, but to no avail. Sylusareva’s streak came to an end when Carrara simply marked the Russian the entire way to the line, placing second in the final sprint to win her first rainbow jersey by two points over the defending champion 31-29.
”I’m very, very happy,” said Carrara of her win. She went on to note that in the final laps she knew she needed to stay at the front and stay with Slyusareva to ensure her win.
Kate Bates (AUS) earned the bronze medal with 21 points.
Erin Mirabella (La Habra, Calif.), touted as one of the U.S. Team’s best hopes for a medal after a world cup victory and an Olympic bronze medal last year, placed 13th after failing to score any points.
In the men’s 4km individual pursuit, Robert Bartko (GER) clocked a 4:27.732 to overcome an early deficit on his way to besting defending world champion Sergi Escobar Roure (ESP) for the gold medal. The win marks Bartko’s second world championship, last earning the honor six years ago in 1999. Escobar Roure posted a 4:29.930 in his silver medal performance.
”It was a very hard race having to ride against the defending world champion. I didn’t feel that good going in because I have an illness but I knew I could ride a 4:26,” said Bartko after his world championship ride.
In the bronze medal ride, Levi Heimans (NED) took the honors, posting a 4:30.707, a mark nearly three seconds faster than his head-to-head competitor Alexander Serov (RUS).
In the men’s one kilometer time trial final, Theo Bos (NED) finally came of age winning his first world title in the event after a steady line of improvement over the last year. Bos clocked a time of 1:01.165 to best silver medalist Jason Queally (GBR) and outgoing world champion Chris Hoy (GBR) who rode a 1:01.230 and a 1:02.262 respectively. The 21-year-old Bos is track cycling’s youngest star with popularity equal to many road cycling stars in his home country.
”I’ve trained a long, long time for this event, last year I was a little bit short of becoming world champion and this year I become the best kilometer rider,” said Bos afterwards.
Success for the Netherlands didn’t end there as Teun Mulder (NED) captured the final world title of the evening, the men’s keirin. Impressively, Mulder led out the entire final lap and held on to take his first-ever world keirin championship.
”I was very nervous for the final because in the beginning, this morning, all of the events went so well. There were a lot of expectations to do well here, but then when you win, it’s unbelievable” said Mulder.
The two wins this evening further solidified the Netherlands’ place as one of the most powerful track countries in the world. It currently leads the overall medal standings of these games with a total of five medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
The keirin final also saw Barry Forde, the lone Barbados rider at the championships, take the silver medal and Shane Kelly (AUS) the bronze.
Looking ahead, racing will begin at 10am for Saturday’s morning session. Events will include the men’s 200m time trial for sprint qualification, the women’s 3km individual pursuit qualifying round, and the men’s team pursuit qualifying round.
About USA Cycling
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:
