Aussies lead medal haul after 3 days
Carson, Calif. (March 25, 2005)—Australia posted a four-medal performance this evening at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships to lead the medal count with one session remaining to join Great Britain and The Netherlands as the class the 33-nation field.
The Aussie women claimed gold, silver and bronze tonight and the men’s team pursuit squad also scored some hardware to push their total medal count to seven. The Netherlands has six and Great Britain seven. No other country has more than two.
Kicking off the medal competition this evening was the men’s scratch race that warmed up the 2,750 spectators for a scintillating evening of world-class bike racing.
The beginning of the men’s 15km scratch race started slow with all of the riders tentative to make a move. Then, with around 36 laps to go the pace in the field began to quicken as the riders streamlined into a fluid single file line. It wasn’t until 24 laps to go though that Angelo Ciccone (ITA) made the first legitimate move of the race, but the field swallowed him up within two laps.
With 12 laps to go, the most threatening move of the night, an attack from American Jame Carney (Durango, Colo.) quickly opened up a half-lap lead on the remainder of the 19-rider field. In front of a hometown crowd, Carney put forth a tremendous effort that came up just short as he was caught with four laps to go.
Destined for a mass sprint, the field’s faster sprinters amassed at the front for the ensuing mad dash to the line where world cup champion Alex Rasmussen (DEN) held off defending champion, Greg Henderson (NZL) and third place finisher Matthew Gilmore (BEL). Two-time world champion Franco Marvulli (SUI) placed fifth.
”It feels great, biggest victory in my career, said Rasmussen. “It was a lot of pressure riding in the world cup leader’s jersey because everyone keeps an eye on me, but it went perfect, perfect race.”
An all-Australian affair in the women’s 3km individual pursuit final ended with last year’s silver medalist Katie Mactier claiming a well-deserved world title. Mactier clocked a 3:38.720 to best countrywoman Kate Bates by four seconds. Mactier, the runner-up at both last year’s world championships and the Olympic games, has been consistently near the top of the standings in international events and a world title is the proverbial icing on the cake. “I’m so happy,” said Mactier. “All the hard work has finally paid off.”
In the consolation round, Karin Thurig (SUI) took the bronze with a time of 3:45.490 ahead of Elena Tchalykh (RUS).
The men’s team pursuit final seemed different without the Australian train that has won the world championship three years running. Instead, the British team of Steven Cummings, Robert Hayles, Paul Manning, and Christopher Newton won their first-ever team pursuit world title with a time of 4:05.619 over the young team from the Netherlands (Levi Heimans, Jens Mouris, Peter Schep, Niki Terpstra) that rode a 4:09.971.
”It feels fantastic. We’ve been trying for such a long time now – five years and it finally paid off. We kept plugging away and it finally paid off,” said Newton.
The bronze medal match was won by Australia (Matthew Goss, Ashley Hutchinson, Mark Jamieson, Stephen Wooldridge) over New Zealand (Jason Allen, Timothy Gudsell, Peter Latham, Marc Ryan) with a time of 4:07.717.
In the women’s sprint, the much-anticipated final between the Meares sisters, Anna and Kerrie of Australia, occurred in the consolation round as neither qualified for the gold medal match-up. Anna was ousted earlier in the evening by Victoria Pendleton (GBR) and Kerrie by Tamilia Abassova (RUS). In the ensuing best-of-three gold medal contest, Pendleton won two straight to earn another world title for the British contingent.
In the bronze medal round, it was younger sister Anna besting Kerrie to give the Australian squad their fourth medal of the evening.
”I didn’t feel like I was actually there, I’m stumped for words. Is it real? Let me pinch myself,” said a stunned Pendleton after her victory.
During the men’s early sprint rounds, Theo Bos (NED), the top seed and defending world champion, was the victim of ninth-seeded Jobie Dajka (AUS) in a quarterfinals upset. Riders moving on to Sunday’s semi-finals and finals include Dajka versus René Wolff (GER) in heat one and Mickaël Bourgain (FRA) versus fellow Frenchman Grégory Bauge. Bourgain is heavily favored going into the final rounds to win the world championship.
During the men’s early sprint rounds, Theo Bos (NED), the top seed and defending world champion, was the victim of ninth-seeded Jobie Dajka (AUS) in a quarterfinals upset. Riders moving on to Sunday’s semi-finals and finals include Dajka versus René Wolff (GER) in heat one and Mickaël Bourgain (FRA) versus fellow Frenchman Grégory Bauge. Bourgain is heavily favored going into the final rounds to win the world championship.
In the men’s sprint 5-8 finals, Edgar Ross (GBR) bested Dutchmen Teun Mulder and Theo Bos and Craig McLean (GBR).
The 2005 UCI Track Cycling World Championships conclude on Sunday with one afternoon session. On tap is the madison, women’s keirin, women’s scratch race and men’s sprint.
For complete event reports following the competition, visit www.usacycling.org.
For complete information on the 2005 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, visit www.usacycling.org.
A copy of the 2005 UCI Track Cycling World Championships media guide is available here.
For a photo gallery of images from the week’s competition, click here.
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 Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.
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 Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.
This Article Published March 26, 2005 For more information contact:
