Track World Cup Day 2 Report

Navigation:

UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics 2011 - Day 2 Report

Day 1 Report, 18 February 2011 | Event Home-Page | Day 2 Results

DAY 2 VIDEO & IMAGES

DAY 2 REPORT:

EVENING SESSION

That Keirin pile-up!

Men's Keirin

Chris Hoy took gold in perhaps the most dramatic Keirin final ever witnessed on Manchester's boards, with a five rider pile up on the final lap (video above).

The final started innocuously enough - Hoy took third wheel at the start and then laid off, dropping back to fifth as the derny peeled off. Hoy waited, biding his time and causing some nail biting in the crowd. Just when it looked as if he'd left it too late, he launched his attack, powering around the outside of his adversaries, who just couldn't match his speed. Then chaos erupted - Hoy crossed the line arms raised, while behind, all five remaining riders crashed. Hoy, unaware, celebrated while Dawkins, Niblett, Peralta, Kuczynski and Awang frantically picked themselves up and dragged their battered bikes and bodies across the line. Peralta barged past Dawkins in an attempt to salvage something from the race and was later demoted. Awang also remounted but later collapsed on the apron and was stretchered off, a huge splinter through his calf. Only Hoy escaped the carnage. Pole Kuczynski also remounted to cross the line and was initially awarded third place, but was later demoted to fourth behind Awang, who had, by this time, left the building on a stretcher. An incredible race...

Earlier, round two of the men's keirin saw two electrifying heats. First up was a scorching performance from New Zealand's Edward Dawkins, who won his heat from Jayco's Jason Niblett. However, the crowd was saving its collective voice for Chris Hoy in the second heat. And the big Scot didn't disappoint - powering away from his opponents in the final lap, with only Peralta of Spain being dragged along in his wake. All of the above progressed to the final, along with 'pocket rocket' Awang and Poland's Kamil Kuczynski.

Men's Omnium

Kilo TT - Kankovsky of the Czech Republic won the Omnium Kilo with a very respectable 1:03.264 from Cho of Korea. GB's Ben Swift posted a 1:05.180. However, the big news was that Shane Archbold from New Zealand took the overall victory, rounding off his Omnium campaign with a fourth place in the final event.

Scratch Race - Ho Ting Kwok of Hong Kong took the win in the Men's Omnium Scratch launching a solo attack with around 10 laps to go. The race was dominated by attacks and splits, with GB's Ben Swift working hard to close down breaks. It looked as if it was heading for a bunch sprint until the Hong Kong rider slipped away, forcing a last gasp chase. However, Kwok was determined to make it stick, staying clear and taking the win. Cho of Korea led the pack home, with Archbold, who'd been quiet throughout, taking 5th just ahead of Swift in 6th.

Women's Scratch

Russia's Anastasiya Chulkova won a frenetic Women's Scratch race which also saw a heavy crash involving two riders. Great Britain's Laura Trott, riding for HPM, was combative throughout but was badly placed in the final throes, finishing near the back of the field.

Women's Omnium - Points 20km

Jarmila Machacova of the Czech Republic won a hectic and aggressive points race which saw multiple lap gains and breakaway attempts. GB's Lizzie Armitstead was combatant throughout, attacking repeatedly and gaining a lap in the latter stages of the race. Machacova's win catapulted her into the overall omnium lead after two events.

Women's Sprint

Anna Meares took gold in the Women's sprint, beating China's Shuang Guo 2 -1 in a thrilling finale to a dramatic evening session. In match one, Guo tried to out-fox Meares, leading the Australian rider all over the track in attempt to get and edge. In the end, it was just delaying the inevitable. As soon as Meares opened up, it was all over. Match two and it seemed unlikely that Guo would force a third match. However, Guo took the match by a slim margin and set up the decider. The final match came and it was clear that Meares wasn't going to mess around, opening up a gap early on in the contest, which Guo was unable to close. Victoria Pendleton took the win in the bronze final beating her adversary Olga Panarina 2 - 0.

Earlier in the semi finals, Australia's Anna Meares continued her superlative form beating Victoria Pendleton 2 - 0. In match one Pendleton came over the top at the bell but Meares held her line and kept ahead. Match two and Meares ducked inside Pendleton and stole a march on the Olympic champion. Pendleton came back strong in the latter stages, but Meares held on and made it 2 - 0.

The second semi final saw China's Shuang Guo take match one in untroubled style. Panarina resorted to guerrilla tactics in the second match, intruding on Guo's line and gifting a place in the final to the Chinese powerhouse.

MORNING/AFTERNOON SESSION

Women's Sprint: In the Quarter finals, Jess Varnish went out in straight heats to Anna Meares, who was just that bit too quick and street-wise for her younger opponent. Likewise Shuang Guo and Olga Panarina had too much last lap zip for Kaarle McCulloch and Clara Sanchez respectively. Victoria Pendleton also used her speed to keep Becky James at arm's length on her way through.

There were no real surprises in the 1/8 finals of the Women's Sprint, with Mears, Guo, Panarina and Pendleton all going through. Becky James hung doggedly on to beat Junhong of China, whilst Jess varnish got a huge cheer for pipping Sandi Clair of France on the line!

Australia's Anna Meares was the form rider in the qualification time trial of the Women's Sprint competition, almost breaking the 10 second barrier, with a time of 11.001s, just a shade quicker than Shuang Guo of China and Olga Panarina. The three British riders all qualified for the last 16, with Victoria Pendleton the best in 4th place with 11.143, Jees Varnish ninth with 11.319 and Becky James twelfth in 11.444.

Men's Keirin: In the first round, favourites Chris Hoy and Gregory Bauge booked places in the second round with convincing wins. They were joined by Awang of Malaysia, Dawkins of New Zealand, Kuczynski of Poland and Enders of Germany.

Women's Omnium: Sarah Hammer underlined her favourite status in the Women's Omnium with victory in the opening race, the flying lap. Lizzie Armitstead was only half a second slower than Hammer, but that put her down in twelfth.

Earlier, it was an early start for Lizzie Armitstead and the rest of the competitors. Lizzie made light work of qualifying, scoring enough points early in her heat to be able to conserve energy in the later stages. With two long days of competition ahead, energy conservation is a smart move!

Men's Omnium: New Zealand's Shane Archbold consolidated his Omnium lead, winning event six, the Individual Pursuit, with a time of 4:23.074. Frieburg of Australia was best of the rest with a time of 4:23.998. GB interest was with Ben Swift, who produced a 4:29.432.

Full Day 2 Results