Delhi2010 – Track Gold Rush Continues for Aussies

The track cycling gold rush at the Delhi Commonwealth Games continued unabated on day four of competition with WAIS-AIS athletes Cameron Meyer and Michael Freiberg helping Australia to the teams pursuit title.

The Australian team that stands as reigning world champion over the 4km distance, eventually lapped their gold medal rivals New Zealand in securing the Commonwealth title in a time of 3:55.421min.

Michael Freiberg – who competed in qualifying for Australia – made way for triple 2010 world champion and Commonwealth points race gold medal winner Cameron Meyer, who added top end speed and a wealth of experience to a young a talented Australian outfit.

Meyer was joined in the team by South Australians Jack Bobridge and Dale Parker, alongside Queenslander Michael Hepburn.

The early stages of the race saw New Zealand stake a slender advantage, but as the first two kilometers passed, it appeared the Kiwi team had gone out too hard, as the Australian team surged and put a sizeable gap between it and its opponent.

The New Zealand team of Sam Bewley, Marc Gough, Marc Ryan and Jesse Sergent fractured and dropped a rider, essentially handing victory to the Aussie four, who remained tight wheel and reeled in their target on the bell lap.

Scott Sunderland picked up silver to go with the gold he won earlier in the competition (men’s kilo) after taking on Australian teammate Shane Perkins in the final of the men’s sprint.

Sunderland bowed out 2-0 in the best of three ride-off, and couldn’t match the top end speed the more experienced Perkins was able to generate, but a clearly delighted Sunderland will depart Delhi with heavier luggage than he had on arrival, following a gold and silver campaign.