Cycling Track World Championships Review
WAIS cyclists have missed out on medals but continued to step up their preparations for the 2008 Beijing Games after competing at the World Track Championships in Manchester, England.
Cameron Meyer, Scott Sunderland and AIS/WAIS cyclist Ryan Bayley all competed at the International event that showed cased the best track sprint and endurance riders in the world.
For 20 year-old Meyer, it was a second appearance at the World Championships and he gave a strong display in the men’s 40km (160 laps) race, finishing fourth. Meyer earned 18 points with the Gold medal going to Belarusian Vasili Kiryienka, the silver to Frenchman Christophe Riblon and the bronze to Dutchman Peter Schep.
Meyer had mixed feelings about his performance.
“I wanted to do a bit better tonight because I finished fourth last year and did well through the World Cups and wanted a bit better result tonight,” said the 20 year old who is only in his second year of senior competition. “But I have to look at it – fourth in a World Titles – I have to be somewhat happy.
“I raced the first half really well and put myself on the top in the first two (sprints) with my points and I hadn’t really done much,” explained Meyer. “I started to suffer mid race and sat too far back and had to keep chasing a few gaps which took its toll because when I made the right move at the end of the bike race I just didn’t have the legs.”
Meyer, a three time Junior World Champion in 2006, stamped his claim on the points race event when he won gold at the 2007 Los Angeles World Cup, his first in the senior ranks.
“I’ve still got a lot to learn and each year I’m picking more up so I’m confident that one year I can pull it off and become a very good points racer,” said Meyer who is also hoping he has done enough to win selection for Beijing. “I put my hand up and have done everything I could – I won a medal at every World Cup I contested and (have been) fourth at two Worlds so now it’s up to selectors but I’m confident I’ll get the spot and I look forward to having a real go in Beijing.”
Scott Sunderland competed in the men’s kilometre time trial, finishing eighth. 20 year-old Sunderland completed the trial in a time of 1:02.51m behind gold medallist Teun Mulder for Holland, who won in a time of 1:01.33m.
Athens Gold medallist Ryan Bayley had a difficult Championship, failing to win a medal. Bayley couldn’t get past the quarter final of the men’s sprint and also suffered disappointment in the Men’s keirin finishing sixth.
National Performance Director Shayne Bannan believes the talent is there for a strong performance in Beijing.
“We’re not far out of the medals but we do realise and understand that we have a fair amount of work to do, a fair amount of commitment to take place to achieve medal status,” said Bannan. “I believe we do have enough time, the talent is there, they’ve really worked hard up until this point.
“(It’s in) a few tactical areas and some riders are a little bit down on where they should be but the training that they’ve shown leading up to this has been world class so that tends to indicate that the possibility of them picking up is realistic,” said Bannan.