Meyer Wins Oceania Championship Points Race
WAIS cyclist Cameron Meyer last weekend won the points race at the Oceania Track Cycling Championships in dramatic style after crashing midway through the 120 lap race at Adelaide’s Super-Drome.
“I was going all right in the first half of the race after myself, Sean Finning, James Langedyk and a Kiwi rider (Jason Christie) collected 20 points for lapping the field,” said Meyer. “Then at the 50 lap to go mark I clipped CJ Sutton’s wheel in a sprint and came down.
“I’ve hurt my left shoulder again but it’s not dislocated this time and it should settle in the next few days but I’ve pulled out of today’s team pursuit just to give it some time to recover before next week’s Track World Cup in Melbourne,” said Meyer who dislocated the same shoulder in 2005 and earlier this year dislocated his right shoulder. He is also sporting some burns from sliding at speed on the wooden track surface.
The rules allow riders five laps to rejoin after a mechanical mishap or crash and Meyer was back in the race after five laps but unfortunately a broken pedal forced him into the pits and by the time he rejoined the field he had lost his 20 point lap gain.
“At 35 laps to go I attacked again and was away solo for 20 laps winning two sprints along the way and then eventually (ten laps from the finish) I caught the field and regained the lost 20 points,” said Meyer who finished with 46 points, seven clear of second placed Langedyk on 39 points with Commonwealth Games Champion, Sean Finning, third on 31 points.
“It’s not the nicest feeling (after a crash), the heart rate was going pretty quick but you just have to compose yourself when you get out there,” said Meyer. “After the race I was pretty lightheaded but I’ve been through this a few times now.”
In 2006 Meyer won three gold medals in the space of 24 hours at the Junior Track World Championships beginning with the individual pursuit title. Paired with his younger brother Travis for the Madison both brothers crashed but recovered to win the gold. However after the race Cameron spent the night in a Belgian hospital with concussion before being cleared to ride the team pursuit final the next day for his third gold medal.
The 20 year old rising star, who finished fourth in the points race at the Olympic Games in Beijing and claimed the bronze medal in the U23 time trial at this year’s road cycling World Championships, recently signed a two year contract with the Garmin-Chipotle professional road team.
Meyer wasn’t the only WAIS rider to find form in Adelaide, with Scott Sunderland, Josie Tomic and Sarah Kent also claiming titles.
Sunderland claimed a third place finish in the men’s sprint before backing up for a win in the men’s time trial. Tomic and Kent combined with NSWIS athlete Ashlee Ankudinoff for a first place finish in the women’s team pursuit in a quick time of 3:30.363min.
Tomic also claimed a win in the women’s individual pursuit, whilst Kent finished third. Duane Johansen earned a third place finish in the men’s omnium.
In the Under 19 races, Holly Williams claimed second in the women’s sprint and a third in the time trial. Luke Durbridge finished second in both the individual pursuit and points race, whilst Jon Bathe finished second men’s sprint.