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UCI Track Cycling World Cup - Manchester
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We've got all the reports, results and photography from a thrilling first ten hours of track racing which opened the 2009/10 World Cup season. There were stand-out rides from Olympic heroes Chris Newton, Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy, but the performance by Geraint Thomas in the Individual Pursuit set the tone for an evening fitting of the title ‘Classic.'
Photostream from the Evening session
Women's Sprint
Victoria Pendleton has managed to re-assert her status as the world's number one sprinter, but at the opening World Cup Classic it wasn't an easy task. First scared in the semi final by Belarusian Panarina, who took the first round with the kind of authority one only associated British sprinters with. That meant a long road to the final for Pendleton, and an even longer one when she reached the promised land to face arch-nemesis Guo.
Guo took a similar approach to Panarina but with a distinct rudery - coming around the Olympic Champion in round two - a move the crowd thought could only exist in their cycling nightmares. Once more it went to a decider which Pendleton edged thanks to a thunderous home support which drowned out the commentator.
By the time Panarina reached the bronze medal finals there was nothing left from a rider who had shelled all her bullets in the semi final against Pendleton. Krupreckaite found it almost too easy, taking a straight match win and with it the final podium position.
Women's Sprint Final Heat Three
Pendleton GBR 2-1 Guo CHN
Women's Sprint Final Heat Two
Pendleton GBR 1-1 Guo CHN
Women's Sprint Bronze Final Heat Two
Panarina BLR 0-2 Krupreckaite LTU
Women's Sprint Final Heat One
Pendleton GBR 1-0 Guo CHN
Women's Sprint Bronze Final Heat One
Panarina BLR 0-1 Krupreckaite LTU
Women's Sprint Semi Final Heat Three
Pendleton GBR 2-1 Panarina BLR
Pendlton will face Guo in the final.
Women's Sprint Semi Final Heat Two
Pendleton GBR 1-1 Panarina BLR
Guo CHN 2-0 Krupreckaite LTU
Women's Sprint Semi Final Heat One
Pendleton GBR 0-1 Panarina BLR
Guo CHN 1-0 Krupreckaite LTU
Men's Kilometre TT
Full Result
German Stefan Nimke restored confidence that Britain can be beaten on the track by taking a convincing win in the Kilo, on a night when the home nation dominated. The rider in second position however was a Brit - David Daniell - but his time of 1.01.698 was not enough to trouble the experienced German, who ruled the distance which defines the tracks ultimate test of power and endurance.
Men's Points Race Final
Full Result
Chris Newton added yet another title to his impressive arsenal as he took the opening World Cup Classic. In a ride that verged on sublime and judging that was at best bizarre, Newton followed his winning form at the previous weeks National Championships with more of the same this evening.
Lining up at the start, Newton nervously adjusting shoes, helmet and jersey, rolling back and forth on the railings would face 120 laps as the whistle sounded.
The first significant attack came from Kluge and from here the confusion arose. With a mass group clearing from the front of over ten riders and the lap imminent, the peloton broke down and it was no longer clear at which point a lap would be gained. The group, containing Newton, was told that the lap would not stand and this prompted the veteran rider to attack on a points hunt. However, after several more laps it was decided that the lap would stand - putting Newton in an envious lead position but no doubt angering those who did nothing to hinder his points mission earlier in the race.
A flurry of attacks following this realization followed and with only a few riders in the race Newton was left exposed to chase all dangerous attacks, picking up single points when possible. This tactic paid off as the final sprint approached - the only way Kluge would win was a first place and nothing from Newton. Such a result was never possible thanks to several heroes who catapulted off the front with three to go and Newton was assured his victory. Kluge only went on to claim third, despite being equal on points with Kwok - the Hong Kong rider getting the silver on countback.
1. C. Newton GBR 37
2. T. H. Kwok HKP 33
3. R. Kluge GER 33
Men's Keirin Finals
Dominated by Chris Hoy, nothing seemed impossible in a pair of Keirin finals which Britain dominated. No amount of superlatives could describe Hoy's final showing - an event worth the ticket price alone. Bullying his way to the wheel of the derny, Hoy was in no mood for the tactics which had dominated the previous races, where there were two Brits to consider. The task was simple; to lead from the front and win alone - and that's the exact way the race would be concluded. Hoy gave the opportunity, electing to gap the derny by two bike lengths on the penultimate lap and start his acceleration later than anyone else but even this was not enough. Volikakis was on the wheel for a good time, but it was one-by-one on the boarded graveyard that Hoy left in his wake.
It was a similar case of domination by Jason Kenny in the small finals, albeit for only the final lap. Kenny tonight proved that he has the horses, just not the head.
Men's Keirin Finals - Result
1. HOY Chris SKY
2. VOLIKAKIS Christos GRE
3. LEVY Maximilian GER
4. NIBLETT Jason JAY
5. SCHMIDT Yondi NED
6. CECI Francesco ITA
Men's Keirin Minor Final
7. KENNY Jason GBR
8. PERVIS François COF
9. PERKINS Shane AUS
10. VYNOKUROV Andrii UKR
11. TANG Qi CHN
12. TEKLINSKI Adrian GDZ
Women's Scratch Final
Result
Belinda Goss AUS, played a perfect tactical game in the women's scratch final, where all eyes were on home rider Lizzie Armitstead - something that would prove to be to her detriment. The first attack came following 32 laps by Italy's Barbara Guarischi. Her effort served to launch an attack by Cuban Gonzalez on lap 26, who was swiftly joined by a further nine riders. Six of these would break away after a move launched by Olds and Romanyuta and followed by Koedooder, Goss, Machacova and Armstrong.
Gaining a lap was relatively straight-forward, especially when Armitstead gave chase with several different riders. As the bunch eased off Armitstead increased her lead to them, but the main problem remained; any lull in pace by the peloton allowed the escape group closer to gaining that lap. And with ten to go, as the junction was made, the six with a lap would keep the pace high to bring back Armitstead and with it any chance of a medal.
The positions were eventually decided in a bunch sprint where Armitstead finished fourth, but with a lap already in the bank medal positions were concluded by Romanyuta and Olds.
Men's Individual Pursuit Finals
In a stunning ride to stop the clock with a lap remaining, Geraint Thomas took the win in the Individual Pursuit. Finishing to pistol fire and a standing ovation from the Manchester Velodrome, an atmosphere described by UCI President Pat McQuaid as the best in the world, Thomas was on course to beat his morning time and possibly the World Record before he lapped Corneau and the race was ended.
Receiving the World Cup Leaders garment and with thirty seconds of silence to enjoy what had previously been a cauldron of partisan support, the performance by the Welshman set the tone for an evening fitting of the title ‘Classic.'
A fast start was always going to pay dividends but the second minute presented concerns for Thomas, whose lead was reduced to 0.210 by the one and a half minute mark. However a full recovery was made by 2km and with a 3.11.582 time for 3km and the catch imminent the crowd support hit new levels, the champion virtuel crowned.
Gold Medal Final
1. THOMAS Geraint GBR
2. CORNU Dominique BEL +1 lap
Bronze Medal Final
3. SHCHEDOV Vitaliy UKR 4.25.902
4. MUNTANER JUANEDA David ESP 4.28.609
Keirin Second Round
Heat One:
First to the wheel is Perkins, but there is a lot of hesitation early on in this first heat of the second round. The first three progress to the final and there's only one chance to get it right. Sitting second wheel is the World Champion Max Levy. As the derny pulls off its Tang, while Perkins and Levy drop right to the back before launching an attack on the final lap for the win from the back.
1. LEVY Maximilian GER
2. PERKINS Shane AUS
3. TANG Qi CHN
4. VYNOKUROV Andrii UKR
5. CECI Francesco ITA
6. VOLIKAKIS Christos GRE
Heat Two:
It'll be interesting to see the tactics used by GBR in this race after the big gaps left in previous rounds. From the start Hoy is into third wheel while Kenny weaves at the back. First wheel is Teklinski, second Niblett. As the derny winds up to the final half lap Hoy leaves the gap, not so big this time. Kenny comes over the top and a big kick from Hoy keeps both riders in contention. From lap two Kenny sits out front while Teklinski and Hoy are out the back. Pervis' attack triggers the final wave as Hoy comed to take the long way round with Niblett in the wheel. Kenny however gets boxed in and the tactic to assure two Brit riders make the final has not worked this time.
1. HOY Chris SKY
2. NIBLETT Jason JAY
3. SCHMIDT Yondi NED
4. TEKLINSKI Adrian GDZ
5. PERVIS François COF
6. KENNY Jason GBR
