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UCI Track Cycling World Cup - Beijing

DAY 1: Friday, 21st of March | |

Men's Team Pursuit

Multi-Olympic medallist, Chris Newton, who is now the coach of the GB team's Men’s Endurance squad, watched as his young charges rode brilliantly to a Bronze medal in the Team Pursuit. Whilst winners Russia were in a class of their own, the fight for the minor placings was close: in qualifying, the young GB foursome were only hundredths behind the time of the Spanish team which went through to the final for Gold and Silver. GB founf themselves up against Holland in the Bronze medal final.

If the 4:08 from the GB team in qualifying was good, better was to come in the final as they caught their rivals on their way to a great time of 4:05 and a Bronze medal. Racing for Great Britain were the Isle of Man’s Mark Christian, Andy Fenn, Erick Rowsell and first year Academy rider and Junior World Madison Champion, Simon Yates.

Men's podium with the GB foursome on the right. Mark Christian, Simon Yates, Erick Rowsell and Andy Fenn. Picture: http://www.tissottiming.com/

1. Russia  caught
2. Spain

3. Great Britain 4.05 caught
4. Holland

Men’s Omnium - Day 1
The depth of talent in GB's programmes was clearly seen in the Men’s Omnium when first year Academy rider, Sam Harrison of Wales, was in second position after three events. It was only in December of 2010 when Sam was riding a Development World Cup practice event in Wales under the guidance of Chris Newton.

At that bad-weather shortened event, Sam rode a 4,000 Individual pursuit in 4.26 which is a world class time, especially for a rider doing the Omnium. In Beijing, Sam qualified for the Omnium easily  by being part of a select group to take a lap in his heat.

Sam Harrison competing at Revolution 32 the day before he travelled to Beijing.

The first event of the Omnium Final was the 250 metre "Flying Lap" sprint round the track and a time of 13.659 for Sam was good enough for 5th place, ahead of some established names. Sam followed that with 6th in the crucial Points race, probably the hardest and most unpredictable race of the omnium.

Whilst three riders took a lap and were out of reach, Sam scored well throughout the race, winning the 11th sprint and crossing the line second at the end to finish within three points of the fourth placed rider, the experienced Zac Bell of Canada.

That put Sam into second place overall and he consolidated that position in the final event of day 1 with another fine ride in the Elimination event. Like the Points race, the ‘Devil take the Hindmost’ is a tough event with plenty of sprinting as riders do their best not to be the last across the line - which means eliminated from the race.

Pacing himself well, Sam was third in the Elimination race behind two riders who are amongst the very best in this event, Scully Thomas of New Zealand and Roger Kluge of Germany. This meant after the first day, the first year senior was in second place overall, a stunning performance.

Men’s Team Sprint

Great Britain were represented by the experienced David Daniel, backed up by Peter Mitchell and the new rider in the team, Philip Hindes. Racing against senior squads from around the world, the British trio did their job admirably, grabbing Olympic qualifying points with a fine sixth place.

1. France
2 Russia
3 China
4 Japan

6 Great Britain (David Daniell, Peter Mitchell Philip Hindes)

Other Events

In the other events held on day 1, the GB team were not represented. In the Women's Team Pursuit, the New Zealand team took the Gold after beating the Canadian team in the final while the Australian trio won the Bronze medal after finishing ahead of the team from Holland.

The Chinese duo of Junhong and Jinjie were the fastest in the Women's Team Sprint, beating the Dutch riders Kanis and Hijgenaar in the final by almost seven tenths of a second. The Bronze medal went to the Lithuanian riders Krupeckaite and Gaivenyte. Day 1 Results  in Full