Freiberg Causes Upset at Perth Grand Prix

WAIS-AIS athlete Michael Freiberg created headlines at last weekend’s Perth International Track Cycling Grand Prix at the Midvale Speeddome by upsetting pre-race favourite and dual points race world champion Cam Meyer for a shock win.

Despite being raced over 20km rather than the world championship distance of 40km, fellow WAIS-AIS athlete Cameron Meyer – who has won all in front of him in 2010 – went into the race as an overwhelming favourite.

Freiberg however, showed his racing wares and fitness had not diminished since making his Commonwealth Games debut in October and produced a tactically astute ride to take line honours ahead of Canadian Zac Bell, with Meyer having to settle for bronze.

Meyer still provided a proud home crowd with plenty of evidence of his calibre, in winning the men’s 10km scratch race title with a powerful burst to the line. Freiberg, enjoying a successful night, crossed the line for third place.

AIS-WAIS sprint cyclist Scott Sunderland – who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Delhi winning two gold medals – produced an impressive ride against a quality field to win gold in the men’s keirin ahead of the German pair of Robert Forstemann and Rene Enders.

In a busy night for the Adelaide based Busselton raised dasher, Sunderland also won medals in the flying 200m sprint (silver) and the men’s sprint (silver), with German star Stefan Nimke claiming titles in both.

Seventeen year old Midland Cycle Club member and WAIS scholarship holder Jessica Allen produced a great display taking ontop riders from Germany and the USA in the Women’s 15km points race, coming away with a highly credible bronze medal.

In the women’s scratch race, Lithuania’s Elke Gebhardt took line honours with the best of the WAIS contingent of Sarah Kent, Josie Tomic and Melissa Hoskins being a sixth place finish to Kent.