[buddy]

Well the Australian WC track team has certainly performed well. Their Athens Olympic efforts were very quickly made history by the Great Britain team but that alos looks to be their high point and are now in decline. A track rider may get 4-8 years on the top but the decline soon starts.

At present the aussies are rising, the Brits waning. The results throw out a huge challenge to the Brits to lift their game before the London Olympics. I am not sure they have the time to do anything about it. The aussies have a young team that is now full of experience and hunger highlighted by the magnificent teams pursuit squad.

The Brits may still get Wiggins back but they will still get blown away such is the depth of talent vying for a spot on the aussie team.

The only aspect of the aussie squad that is slightly lacking is the depth of mens sprinter although Shane Perkins did win the kieren event and the womens endurance events. Otherwise things are travelling very well for the aussie hopes in London.

Thanks,

Buddy

[Burkni]

The Brits may have the same concerns when threatening to pull out of next year's worlds in China, claiming it is "too close to the Olympics"

[buddy]

Hmmm.... I was planning on them being in Melbourne Australia. Not sure what I will do that week now !!

And if the Brits don't want to show ... so be it. Nothing like a confidence building world championship jersey to train in prior to the Olympics.

Thanks,

Buddy

[buddy]

Well I have got my tickets to go and watch the world track championships in Melbourne next April. Anyone else going to be there????

I am looking forward to watching the pursuit qualifying. There should be some cracking times posted there. Unfortunately I won't get to see the teams pursuit. Once again the times are going to be pretty hot.

I am not sure if the poms are sending over their number one team or if they are going to be saving themselves for the Olympics. For mine I think they should be doing the worlds as well. Nothing like building momentum and there is plenty of time ro rebuild up to the Olympics.

The young aussies are going to be on fire.

Thanks,

Buddy

[buddy]

Got my tickets and now the accomodation is booked. Can't wait to watch. It is going to be brilliant racing.

Thanks,

Buddy

[buddy]

Heading down to Melbourne on Friday. Looking forward to watching these super riders.

Unfortunately I will miss the teams pursuit. That is going to be sensational. I wonder if a world record is going to be needed to win it. I think it might.

Thanks,

Buddy

[The Rake]

buddy, on 02 April 2012 - 12:51 AM, said:

Heading down to Melbourne on Friday. Looking forward to watching these super riders.

Unfortunately I will miss the teams pursuit. That is going to be sensational. I wonder if a world record is going to be needed to win it. I think it might.

Thanks,

Buddy

Have a great time. I hope Australia get a good second in the medal table

[The Rake]

Great start so far with both Team GB and Australia going sub 3:55 in the Men's Team Pursuit. Hope the British have left something in the tank for the final

[buddy]

well back home again after an easter weekend spent in Melbourne (5 hours away) watching the World Track Championships.

WOW

There was some brilliant racing and some sensational performances. It was huge.

My top moments that I got to see. (sorry wasn't there to see the Brits win the teams pursuit in world record time)

The best event: Cam Meyer winning the pointscore gold.

This was simply the best track race you could hope to see in 50 years of watching track events. Meyer held back from going for too many sprint points and was putting all his eggs into the taking a lap basket. With around 20 to go he was in a break and looking good but Ben Swift saw the danger and got across. Meyer could either keep it going and ride for silver gifting the win to Swift or he could .....

swing up with about 14 to go. Swing up he did. At that moment I thought all hope was gone. The Kiwi attacked almost straight away and now with 12 laps to go Meyer went again. He got away from the grip of the bunch and was quickly upon Aaron Gates (the Kiwi) who proceeded to work with Meyer (to the delight of the aussie crowd). The laps were ticking by. ...... the bunch behind was exploding with Swift leading the chase. The race leading Beligian was caught at the back when the bunch split and he was left to try to close the gap to the Swift bunch.

Meyer and Gates were powering on. 6 laps to go and still 100meters of the back. No way would they have enough laps left to take the lap. They kept flying. 4 to go and still 60-70 metres. 3 to go and Meyer ...I don't know how increased the pace and with the kiwi desperately trying to hold onto his back wheel blasted across the gap to latch onto the bunch with barely two laps to race.

The Swift chase group were now the leaders on the track and Swift got up to take points in the final sprint. Meyer however had won by a solitary point. 33 to 32. The crowd went off. Meyer couldn't believe he had won. The sheer joy etched in his face was pure magic. It was something I do not think I will ever see bettered. The kiwi took 4th but deserved a medal. Maybe a Green Edge contract may be coming his way sometime at the end of the year. Remember the name Aaron Gates. Green Edge bound me think for his help.

Ballsiest ride by a superstar: Sir Chris Hoy.

Although he was well off his best in the sprint he came out in the kieren quite determined. He drew 6th at the start and riding from the back was always going to be hard. However being a "Sir" demanded something special and special he produced.

When the pace went on with two laps out he tried to move up the outside but there were many fast riders in front. Coming into the final 200 metres he was going to have to go the long way around. 100 metres out he went for the suicide move back inside hoping Levy would come up out of the sprint lane. Levy stayed in his lane ...... just ..... Hoy switched to Levey's outside and with 80 metres to the line the gap opened up when the kiwi moved wide off his line. Hoy balsted through with a withering burst of acceleration and threw to the line to take a brilliant win. Keep in mind this all happened in the blink of an eye and at around 70kph. Wow.

I aint gonna lie down: Anna Meares

Hugely disappointing to lose in her sprint semi to Pendleton. She had the speed and choked big time. She didn't back herself and put in the worst throw to the line a top flight sprinter would ever do and she lost when she should have won. However she came out the next night and rode with pure class to take a great win in the kieren. That took some mental toughness. Next night she came out and blew away the world record in the 500 TT. Again the roof of the stadium nearly blew off during that ride. Breathtaking.


There were many other memorable moments as well and I consider myself lucky to have witnessed the worlds best track riders going at it with such ferosity and skill. Pity the olympic track programme is nowhere near as good. Once again the Brits and the Aussies were a class above the other countries on the medal table but there were many fine individual efforts from riders from other countries. The Brits and Aussies just seem to have huge talent across every event. Yes the Aussies did win the medal table too. So that was also good.

Hugely disappointing for an elite cycling nation ........ Italy. They had 6 comeptitors over all the events. They were almost invisible.

If you ever get the chance ... go and watch the track world championships ..... cycling isn't all just about the road. I was also lucky enough to get back to the motel from the track in time to see Tomeke ride away with Paris Roubaix. What a weekend cyclefest.

Thanks,

Buddy

[The Rake]

buddy, on 10 April 2012 - 12:40 AM, said:

The best event: Cam Meyer winning the pointscore gold.

He is a monster in the points race. Great to watch.

buddy, on 10 April 2012 - 12:40 AM, said:

I aint gonna lie down: Anna Meares

Seconded. Another beast. Pendleton was hugely lucky in the sprint, and I think will struggle in London. She doesn't have any hunger any more.

buddy, on 10 April 2012 - 12:40 AM, said:

Hugely disappointing for an elite cycling nation ........ Italy. They had 6 comeptitors over all the events. They were almost invisible.

To be fair, Viviani did fracture his pelvis in the Omnium (and then continue for another race).

What is a shame is that we now have a reduced programme for the Olympics, and only one rider per nation in each event. Hoy or Kenny? Imagine if that had happened in other events: no Coe v Ovett for example. Velodromes aren't cheap to build so they should flood it with events like they do in swimming where there are eight gold medals for every 5m increment in distance (ooh, and then a relay).

Finally, I'd like a special mention for Laura Trott - part of world record breaking team pursuit team, and never out of the first two in each event in the Omnium. And only 19!

This post has been edited by The Rake: 10 April 2012 - 10:03 AM

[Burkni]

Fabulous report there buddy, makes me want to scout for some video clips.

[N.B.O.L.]

Burkni, on 10 April 2012 - 12:35 PM, said:

Fabulous report there buddy, makes me want to scout for some video clips.

Universal Sports has got some coverage coming up.

[buddy]

Not sure how you will go with a clip of the pointscore ..... it may go too long but try as you might to see the keiren final. To see Hoy blast through that gap that didn't deserve to be there was simply unbelievable. I am not sure Hoy could believe it opened up either. But what a win. As an aussie even I am happy to sing Hoy's praises over that win. It was one for the ages.

As for the Italians. No sprinters. Just some endurance rideres (road). Perhaps they pay too much money to Bettini as coach and can't afford a track programme. Unlike say the French and Germans who have a full on track programme. Even Hong Kong, Japan and Korea seemed to be more of a presence than the Italians. The Belgians weren't a whole lot better but they did make up for it by have a hot chic racing in Belgian sky blue in the omnium. Lucky we got to see her quite a bit

Would I go again ..... I went 8 years ago and now this year. I wish we had them every year. The track is simply brilliant to watch.

The things that stick in the mind ...... the power that oozes out of the muscles of the males sprinters and the wind that the males pointscore/scratch or madison bunches generate after they flash passed. I was extremely lucky to be sitting in either the front row or second row back from the fence and the wind generated was amazing ... oh .... and the hot Belgian in her sky blue skinsuit.

Thanks,

Buddy

[The Rake]

buddy, on 11 April 2012 - 01:41 AM, said:

and the hot Belgian in her sky blue skinsuit.

That would be Jolien d'Hoore

http://www.joliendhoore.com/home.htm

[buddy]

Is that surname pronounced: D'Honey

Thanks,

Buddy

[N.B.O.L.]

Universal had a two hour show on today of the Worlds, which was primarily just the Gold Medal round of the events. There is another 2 hours tomorrow, but I don't know if it is additional coverage or a repeat of today's coverage.

Edit to add: It was repeat coverage. Looks like the 2 hours minus commercials is all we get.

I was disappointed, I never saw the hot Belgian in her sky blue skin suit.

This post has been edited by N.B.O.L.: 16 April 2012 - 04:05 PM

[buddy]

And here is D'Hot Jolien

 WTC 2012004.jpg (41.55K)
Number of downloads: 10

And this view was ok too.

 WTC 2012003.jpg (52.54K)
Number of downloads: 11

Thanks,

Buddy

[N.B.O.L.]

buddy, on 16 April 2012 - 06:16 AM, said:

And here is D'Hot Jolien

WTC 2012004.jpg

And this view was ok too.

WTC 2012003.jpg

Thanks,

Buddy

Thanks for the pics. Your idea of "ok too" optimizes understatement.