WAIS Cyclists Claim World Cup Gold
WAIS World Champion Cameron Meyer and Team Jayco sprinter Scott Sunderland have given Australia a strong start to the UCI Track World Cup event in Melbourne.
On a night which saw Australia claim three gold medals, it was Meyer that broke through for the first success after securing a typically gutsy win in the men’s points race. Sunderland won gold as part of the men’s team sprint team and Anna Meares again showed her sprint pedigree to win the women’s sprint.
Meyer claimed victory with a haul of 33 points – level with Greek rider Iaannis Tamouridis, but earned the win on count back.
Meyer was forced to steal a lap on the field after finding initial proceedings difficult to deal with, with tactics and Great Britain rider Chris Newton, keeping close attention to the World Champ.
Meyer had to overcome both a quality field and strong home expectations to secure the win, but wearing the rainbow world champion stripes showed he had the form to match the script.
“There was a little bit of expectation on my shoulders but to come away and put in that good performance is something special,” said Meyer.” I’m really happy to come here with the rainbow jersey.”
Great Britain’s World Cup Series leader in the points race, Chris Newton set the early pace, however four riders including Olympic Madison champion Walter Perez of Argentina and WAIS athlete Michael Freiberg lapped the field mid race.
“I was getting a bit worried when they took a lap as I didn’t have that many points and I knew the leaders where on 25 points so I had a lot to do in that final bit of the bike race,” Meyer said. “But I knew I still had a bit of legs in me and I knew I was going to give it a crack.
“I wasn’t going to go home disappointed in front of a home crowd.”
So low on points and down a lap, Meyer along with Tamouridis, attacked with less than 25 laps remaining, holding off the chasing field to gain a lap and a valuable 20 points each.
WAIS youngster Michael Freiberg put in an incredible performance, finishing fourth – showing vast potential for the future in the process.
“I knew Newton was going to tag me a bit but I also saw that he was struggling a bit so I kept chipping away, chipping away with those attacks and finally I broke him and I got away with the Tamouridis and I pulled hard.
“It’s always been my tactic and my belief to lay it all out there and that’s what I did and I am real happy to show that I have some form coming back and it’s a real confidence boost going into next season and World Championships next year where I hope to defend my title.”
In the men’s team sprint competition the Team Jayco line up of Dan Ellis, Shane Perkins and Scott Sunderland went in as the fastest qualifiers in their final against Germany but with only 24 thousandths of a second separating the teams it was going to be a tight battle for the gold medal.
The German lead rider fell after the start forcing both teams to line up again. On the restart Team Jayco trailed by five hundredths of second after the first lap. A blistering second lap by Perkins (13.096) saw the Australian’s take the lead before Sunderland powered home for the win.
“It (the false start) got me more motivated to rip it out at the start again because you just get that extra go at beating the last one,” said Ellis after the false start.
“We still are a young team and the big outlook is London 2012 and we are starting to look really good, so with another three years to go it’s looking promising.”
In the end Team Jayco clocked 44.589sec across the line at the end of three laps with Germany just off the pace in 44.673sec.
WAIS scholarship holder Josie Tomic competed in the bronze medal ride in the women’s individual pursuit but was edged out, settling for fourth.
The Melbourne UCI Track World Cup event runs from November 19-21.