UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

  ~~  Update from the Track  ~~

A fantastic atmosphere in the National Velodrome in Paris, the French crowd are supportive of every rider, respect every national anthem and erupt in to a frenzy every time a French rider takes to the track. They are challenging the British crowd for the best atmosphere, I think we still have it though. On the track the French team are looking good in the Sprint events – Three out of three so far.

Day 3

Purvis takes his second title in the Kilo TT, (video to follow shortly).

Jess Varnish was 6th in the Qualifies for the Women’s Sprint, easily dispatching her competition in the first round, only to face Anna Mears in the second round. But Jess has shown her stature in the event by comfortably dispatching Mears on the outside of the final corner to win by 3/4 of a bike length.

The last 8 brought another Aussie in Stephanie Morton, The first heat was tight, a tires width requiring a photo finish. Jess lost 2-0 but has proved she has the capability to go all the way, she is still improving and will surely feature in the top 8 at every major event from now on.

John Dibben made a good start to the Omnium finishing second in the Scratch Race. In the London World Cup he suffered a mechanical which robbed him of a chance at a top 3 … so fingers crossed for tomorrow

Day 2

The Women’s Team Pursuit World Record goes to Australia, who beat GB in the Final – The first team to do so in a major final since 2010. Jason Kenny was knocked out in the early rounds of the Keirin, which was won by Francois Purvis in a masterfully control race from 2 laps out.

The Men’s Team Pursuit title goes to New Zealand who beat GB in the final, GB rode a controlled race but faded in the last 3 laps to a strong and well pace New Zealand Team.

Day 1

A disappointing day for Team GB, The Men’s Team Sprint Broke apart and finished 8th and the Women’s Team Pursuit were beaten for the first time in 4 years. V-Sprint’s Jess Varnish had a slow opening half lap but recovered to post a respectable 19.0 for the opening lap of the women’s Team Sprint, an event where expectations were low and the team bond and find the right combination of ‘Man 1’ and ‘Man 2’

France won the Men’s Team Sprint after a clear changeover infringement led to disqualification of the New Zealand Team. In the Women’s Team Sprint the Chinese broke the World Record and were clear ahead of all the competition.