Track World Championships - Day 5

Anna Meares became the second woman to win three rainbow jerseys, in one world championship, as she won a dramatic Kerin.

Women’s Kerin

The big surprise of this event was Victoria Pendleton’s failure to reach the major final, after she was squeezed out in the final sprint. Pendleton was the first woman to win three golds in one championship, but she has failed to take any home with her this time. Mears went in to the final as the big favourite, however she had to contend with Frenchwoman Clara Sanchez. Shuang Gou led the group around on to the final lap, but it nearly came a cropper when Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez crashed. The Cuban caught her elbow on Gou’s leg, which sent her flying down the track, but fortunately she hit no one else. Sanchez took the chance to jump the group, as Gou slowed down, with Meares right on her wheel. The Aussie showed to power, we all know she has, to obliterate the rest of the group. Olga Panarina put in a stunning sprint to go over the top of two riders, to take silver, and Sanchez took bronze.

Track Cycling World Cup - Round Up Day 3

All was still to play for on the final day in Manchester with Great Britain putting on a stunning performance to take gold in the men’s team pursuit.

Opening up the evening session was the men’s team sprint where France edged out Germany to claim their second gold of the weekend. Kevin Sireau joined Gregory Bauge and Michael D’Almeida who qualified quickest, before taking the final by two tenths. Record Holders Great Britain took third place just ahead of Team Jayco.

Track Cycling World Cup - Round Up Day 1

Manchester played host to the final World Cup event of the track season and with the World Championships in Apeldoorn only a month away, this one meant business.

The opening day of the World Cup was an all out battle between Great Britain and Australia, with Kevin Sireau of France the only one from neither nation to take gold. Australia claimed both the men’s pursuit and women’s team sprint. Anna Meares continued her great season by taking gold with Kaarle McCoulloch, by three tenths over China. Star of the European Championships Sandie Clair had to settle for bronze, when she and Clara Sanchez beat Great Britain.

In the men’s individual pursuit Rohan Dennis beat British Road Champion by nearly half a second to take gold. Dennis won Gold in last year’s team pursuit at the World Championship, but this year he will be looking for the individual. Great Britain took their first gold in the women’s team pursuit and almost smashed the record in the process.