Welsford and Meyer Complete Track Worlds Campaign
Multiple track world champions Sam Welsford and Cameron Meyer have completed their campaigns at the UCI World Titles in Poland.
Welsford’s charge for a third individual rainbow jersey of the 2019 championships hit a figurative and literal speed bump in the Omnium, with the Team Pursuit and Scratch Race gold medallist brought down during a crash in the tempo race of the four-event Omnium.
Meyer fought hard and rode a typically impressive effort in the Madison where he was paired with Leigh Howard. Despite their best efforts, they fell narrowly short of the podium in fourth place.
Omnium
Chasing a third rainbow jersey of the week following his sensational victories in the team pursuit and scratch races on Thursday, Perth’s Sam Welsford’s shot at triple glory in Poland came unstuck at the hands – and feet – of a fallen opponent.
Opening his account with a second place in the scratch race, Welsford’s campaign came undone when he crashed into a falling Dutch rider midway through the second event, the tempo race.
The tough as nails Welsford rejoined the race, sporting scrapes, bruises and a ripped skinsuit and would eventually finish a gallant 11th which moved him to fifth overall.
Feeling the effects of the crash, Welsford took an earlier than expected exit from the elimination race, with a 15th place result dropping him to ninth overall and 30 points from the lead heading into the final event, the points race.
Despite his best efforts, Welsford was unable to move up the rankings in a punishing 120-lap race that was won by New Zealand’s Ethan Hayter.
Madison
There was a feeling of back to the future for Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard in the men’s Madison race. The pair hold a long and successful record together in the event, having won four medals, including world title honour at the World Championships in Denmark (2010) and the Netherlands (2011).
Meyer was also returning to the same city and venue in Poland (Pruszkow) that saw him compete in his first track titles – where he claimed a first career rainbow jersey in the team pursuit.
On his return 10 years later, there would be no dream repeat, but it certainly wasn’t without a fight.
Meyer and Howard picked up the second most sprint points across the 200 lap, 50km race but found themselves out-foxed as Germany, Denmark and Belgium all took crucial extra points from an additional lap of the field.
The 20 points available for stealing a lap gained Denmark and Belgium a podium spot ahead of Australia, whilst Germany proved too good for the field, winning comfortably by 21 points over second place.
Gold – Germany: Total Points – 105 (Lap Points 60 | Sprint Points 45)
Silver – Denmark: Total Points – 84 (Lap Points 60 | Sprint Points 24)
Bronze – Belgium: Total Points – 82 (Lap Points 60 | Sprint points 22)
Fourth – Australia: Total Points – 71 (Lap Points 40 | Sprint Points 31)