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.

Track World Championships - Day 2

Great Britain destroyed their rivals, to take a dominant gold medal in the women’s team pursuit in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

Women’s Team Pursuit

The team of Wendy Houvenaghel, Laura Trott and Danielle King demolished the United States, by almost two seconds. The result is proved all the better, considering Trott and King were making their Elite debuts at World level. New Zealand took their first medal of the championships, by beating Australia in to third. The slow track at Apeldoorn has caught a few people out, but the British team made sure they were perfectly honed for it and it showed.

Track World Championships - Day 1

Olga Panarina became the first gold medallist of the 2011 World Championships, as she took victory in the women’s 500 metre time trial.

Women’s 500 t.t.

The Belarusian just managed to pip Sandie Clair, to the win, by two tenths of a second, with a time of 14.649 seconds. Clair took gold in this event at the European Championships, but didn’t have enough in the tank. The event has fallen out of favour since it was axed from the Olympics, but that didn’t stop a top class field taking part. Just behind the leading pair, were Miriam Welte and Willy Kanis.  

Men’s Team Pursuit

Australia was the surprise winners in the team pursuit, as current Olympic Champions Great Britain, only managed a bronze medal. The Aussies put out a formidable team of; Jack Bobridge, Rohan Denis, Michael Hepburn and, Commonwealth time-trial bronze medallist Luke Durbridge. Russia had no answer to Australia and crossed the line almost five seconds down. Great Britain’s performance was almost as good, despite not having their normal big hitters, as they took three seconds out of New Zealand.

Franco Pellizotti banned by CAS after being cleared in Italy

Franco Pellizotti may have been forgiven, for thinking he’d got off scot free, after the UCI brought him to court for abnormalities on his biological passport.

The Italian has been convicted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after the UCI appealed the original decision. Pellizotti was provisionally suspended, before the 2009 Giro d’Italia, and has had all of his results since then removed.

He had been cleared by an Italian court in October and even went as far as threatening to sue the UCI. The cycling governing body has managed to get their own back, after the CAS lumped the Liquigas rider with an 115,000 Euro fine. The UCI are applauding this as a success for the biological passport; as much as it is a success, it is another case of one court saying one thing and another saying something else. If a rider is to be banned, they should have a total ban, and there shouldn’t be so many decisions turned over.

Bring Back Team Radios

The UCI’s ban on team radio has taken a lot criticism since it began earlier on in the year. There has already been a protest in the opening stage of the Challenge Mallorca.

Teams rode the stage with the banned radios, claiming the issue was to do with safety and not Directors trying to control the races, which the UCI has indicated. There have also been protests in Argentina and Italy, with teams complaining about the lack of input they had in the decision. There have been requests, made by the Cycling Professionals Association, for certain options to be considered. These have included only having one rider per team with access to a radio or limiting use to hazard warning.

One Cycling Discipline isn't Enough, A Marianne Vos Profile

Dutch rider Marianne Vos is probably the definition of an all-rounder, winning races in mountain biking, cyclo-cross, road and track racing.

Born 13th May 1987 in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; she took to cycling, aged six, after watching her brother racing. Vos would have to train with her brother’s team as she couldn’t take part in racing. Eventually she took up cyclo-cross at the age of eight, where she was old enough to take part in races. Not satisfied with just one sport she also took up, the popular Dutch sports, inline and speed skating.

Awang is out of hospital after surgery

Don't watch this if you are a little squeamish, but here is the video of the crash during the Kerin final where Awang got a splinter through his leg.



The Malaysian rider has been discharged from hospital, after having the splinter surgically removed, and has been ordered to rest for two weeks.

Standings after the final round in the Track World Cup

After the fourth and final round of the Track World Cup in Manchester, here is a run down of all the standings and a link to the PDF.

Men's Sprint

1. Kevin Sireau (Fra) 42pts
2. Tsubasa Kitatsuru (JPN) 24pts
3. Jason Kenny (GBP) 20pts

Men's Individual Sprint
1. Rohan Dennis (AUS) 12pts
2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) 10pts
3. Marc Ryan (NZL) 8pts

Men's Team Pursuit
1. Spain 32pts
2. New Zealand 29pts
3. Great Britain 28pts

Men's Team Sprint
1. France 36pts
2. Great Britain 27pts
3. New Zealand 22pts

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 2

Chris Hoy made up for his disappointment in the men’s sprint by winning the men’s kerin, while Victoria Pendleton had to settle for third in the women’s sprint.

In the Omnium Shane Archbold moved New Zealand from bridesmaid to bride, with a resounding victory ahead of Ho-Sung Cho. The Kiwi won his fourth omnium, since taking the sport up in November, with 15 points; under half of Cho’s. Taking no less than three victories, a third, fourth and fifth; it was plain sailing to New Zealand’s first gold of the event.

Anastasiya Chulkova made it the first gold medal for Russia in the women’s scratch race ahead of ,2008 Kerin champion, Jennie Reed. Chulkova looked like she might make a lap on the group; after staying away for most of the race and, despite being pulled back towards the end, won by a convincing margin.