Track World Championships - Day 3

Gregory Bauge didn’t even look like he was breaking a sweat, as he eased passed Jason Kenny, to take his third consecutive Individual Sprint World Championship.

Men’s Individual Sprint

Bauge went fourth in qualifying and was drawn against fellow Frenchman Mickael Bourgain, who had set the fastest time. Bourgain put up a solid fight in the first heat, but was eventually overpowered by Bauge, on the final straight. The second heat was more of a foregone conclusion, as the elder rider ramped up the speed. In the other semi-final, Jason Kenny continued in his ascendency, as he confidently beat Sir Chris Hoy in two. Bauge went on to face Kenny in the final and despite the Brit’s best efforts the Frenchman toppled him in two. Hoy managed to salvage some pride, by taking the bronze medal, but he was forced to go to the decider.

Men’s Points Race

Edwin Ávila Alcibiades became the first Columbian to win a senior World Championship, in 40 years. The 21-year-old only took up racing six years ago, but caused a huge upset by beating, Tour Down Under winner, Cameron Meyer by 8 points. Ávila launched his attack, a few laps before the halfway mark, countering a big one by Meyer. The peloton tried to catch the Columbian, but they just couldn’t catch Ávila, allowing him to rack up the points.

Women’s Individual Pursuit

Sarah Hammer made it four Individual Pursuit titles, in an extremely tense final against New Zealand’s Alison Shanks. The Kiwi came out of the traps very quickly and managed to get the gap up to three tenths of a second, after 2000 metres. The final moments of the race had the entire crowd on the edge of their seats, as Hammer closed down the gap. Despite Hammer’s effort, it still like Shanks would take the title, but the American snuck it on the line.

Men’s Omnium

Zachary Bell became the first winner in the man’s omnium, as he beat Bryan Coquard by only four thousandths of a second in the 200m flying lap. It was the points race afterwards which really got the crowd going, with attacks coming from the start. Eloy Teruel, Lasse Norman Hansen and Luis Mansilla, were the first to go and soon gained a lap and 20 bonus points. A further four riders gained a lap on the field, including Juan Esteban Arango, Erik Mohs, Alexey Markov and Gijs Van Hoecke. The Elimination race really through a spanner in the works, as the current leader Bell went out early and Coquard moved in to first with his first victory. A new lighting system on the bikes made it easier for riders and spectators to know who was eliminated, after problems at the European Track Championships.