First Edition Cycling News, Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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Date published:

February 7, 05:00

• Baugé set to appeal to CAS

  

  Article published:

  January 10, 10:29

  By:

  Cycling News

  Lawyer's decries UCI's "unilateral" decision

  Grégory Baugé’s lawyer has written to the UCI to appeal for the return of his client’s 2011 world titles, which were stripped from him on Friday due to anti-doping violations. According to Jim Michel-Gabriel, the UCI should have brought the matter before the Court of Arbitration for Sport rather than “unilaterally” divesting him of his rainbow jerseys.

  In November, Baugé was handed a one-year suspension by the French Cycling Federation (FFC), backdated to December 23, 2010, for one missed doping control and two violations “regarding rider availability.”

  On Friday, the UCI announced that in light of the FFC suspension, all results obtained by Baugé in that period would be declared null and void. Baugé has been stripped of the individual sprint world title he won in Apeldoorn last March, while he and French teammates have also lost their team sprint title.

  “My client cannot accept the unilateral amendment of the results of events,” Michel-Gabriel wrote in a letter to the UCI, according to AFP.

  Michel-Gabriel contends that the UCI should have sought arbitration from CAS on the matter rather than moving to nullify Baugé’s results. According to Michel-Gabriel, Baugé titles “should not be taken from him by way of a registered letter.”

  Baugé is set to appeal the matter to CAS. The Frenchman, whose suspension expired on December 22, and he is currently training at the INSEP track on the outskirts of Paris.

   

   

  
   

• Meares confident ahead of World Championship tilt

  

  Article published:

  January 30, 00:14

  By:

  Cycling News

  Next stop, London World Cup

  Anna Meares claimed her 23rd Australian senior track title in Adelaide overnight, with victory in the women's keirin final overcoming a late lunge from her World Championship-winning partner in the team sprint, Kaarle McCulloch.

  The performance netted Meares her third gold medal of the Australian Track Championship, having earlier claimed victory in the sprint and team sprint. It brings Meares' career tally of Australian track titles to a phenomenal 29.

  Meares and the rest of the Australian team now shift their focus to the fourth round of the UCI Track World Cup in London at the Olympic Velodrome held from February 17 and then a home UCI Track World Championships in the first week of April in the run in to the London Olympic Games.

  "I'm actually really excited, I feel like I've taken a great deal of confidence from these championships," Meares told reporters.

  "The plan that Gary [coach Gary West] has for me is working and that goes a long way when you're out there on your own – sometimes that trust or backing is all you have.

  "I will be leaning on that for sure."

  Meares was placed first rider behind the derny from the gun, taking the advantage to gain a considerable margin on her opponents once it left the track. McCulloch powered home leaving Meares with only centimetres to spare on the finish line.

  "When I saw I'd drawn one and Kaarle had drawn six, I thought that was a good opportunity to put some distance between us and make her work really hard as well," Meares explained.

  "I realised the gap was significant, but not enough to withstand a good run from Kaarle, so I had to really commit otherwise I was going to find myself in the position where I was going to be run down," she said. "This is the most level event for the two of us to come head-to-head, you saw that, I won it by half a tyre. [But] I'd rather almost lose than almost win."

  It was McCulloch's third silver medal of the Championship, having also placed behind Meares in the sprint and team sprint. The 24-year-old won her third-straight 500m time trial crown on the opening night of the event.

  "I wasn't quite expecting the gap to open up that quickly, but I bided my time and I went as hard as I could, but I guess I just needed five more metres of track," said McCulloch. "But I am happy with how I rode today as I think it was probably one of the first keirin championships where I had a little bit of patience.

  "Plus, I was a good deal off her at the 200m mark and I almost got her, so I have to be pretty happy with the speed in my legs right now," she said.

  
   

  Tags:

  Olympic games

  World championships

• Olympic dry run for Australian squads at London World Cup

  

  Article published:

  January 31, 05:34

  By:

  Cycling News

  World champion pursuit team re-unites

  The Australian world champion team pursuit squad of Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn, Luke Durbridge, and Jack Bobridge will re-unite for an Olympic dress rehearsal at the upcoming Track World Cup in the Olympic velodrome in London.

  The team has not ridden together since Apeldoorn last year when they rode a 3:57.832 to beat Russia in the World Championships gold medal race. Importantly it will be an opportunity to test whether newly crowned omnium national champion Glenn O'Shea can fit into the team, with the naturalised South Australian vying for the fifth endurance Olympic spot against encumbent world champion Michael Freiberg.

  "This will be our only opportunity to race on the Olympic velodrome and familiarise both athletes and staff with the environment ahead of the Games. The World Cup will help sharpen our team focus, knowing that there is just over 180 days to go before first event of the Olympic track program," said Cycling Australia's National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta.

  "It will also give us an idea of where the rest of the world is in terms of preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Melbourne in April."

  Tabotta says tough decisions have had to be made by selectors and communicated to the athletes who have not been selected for the London world cup round.

  "We are on target to qualify the maximum track places for the Games so the focus now it to ensure we are in the best possible position to win medals in London. That means setting targets for teams and individuals and making sure they know what is expected of them as we come close to nominating teams for the worlds and the Olympic Games."

  Conspicuous in their absence are Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard who are both riding the Berlin six day. Meyer is a strong contender for a team pursuit position, but will have to unseat one of the current world championship team members.

  The sprint ranks area also bulging with talent with an impressive line up of world champions including sprint and keirin champion Anna Meares along with her team sprint world champion partner Kaarle McCulloch. In the men's sprint events Shane Perkins sports the rainbow stripes of keirin world champion and be joined by Matthew Glaetzer and Scott Sunderland for a run at the team sprint.

  The team for the London UCI World Cup
  
  Women's team

  Amy Cure
  Annette Edmondson
  Melissa Hoskins
  Kaarle McCulloch
  Anna Meares
  Josephine Tomic

  Men's team

  Alex Bird
  Jack Bobridge
  Rohan Dennis
  Luke Durbridge
  Alexander Edmondson
  Matthew Glaetzer
  Michael Hepburn
  Glenn O'Shea
  Shane Perkins
  Scott Sunderland
   

• Kenny and German sprint team to receive World track gold medals

  

  Article published:

  January 31, 09:18

  By:

  Cycling News

  Following Baugé's suspension, sprint champions will be honoured

  British track sprinter Jason Kenny and the German team sprint trio of René Enders, Maximilian Levy and Stefan Nimke will officially be crowned 2011 World champions in London on February 16, the German cycling federation has announced. Following the suspension of French rider Grégory Baugé, who infringed the sport's whereabouts rules, the 26-year-old and the French track sprint team have lost their titles taken in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, last year.

  The UCI will hold an official ceremony on the first day of the Track Cycling World Cup in London, which takes place from 16-19 February 2012 at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park. Kenny and the German sprint team will be awarded their rainbow jerseys and gold medals, which they will have to defend again in April at the 2012 track Worlds held in Melbourne, Australia.

  On November 8, 2011, Baugé was given a backdated suspension of one year, from December 23, 2010, to December 22, 2011, for violating the "whereabouts" requirements. There were two violations "regarding rider availability" and one missed test, all within 18 months. The UCI nullified Baugé's results during that period, but Baugé is set to appeal the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

  "The news came as quite a surprise and whilst it's an honour to get my first senior world championship title, I would have preferred to have achieved it under different circumstances," Kenny said in a statement.
   

• British Cycling announce London track World Cup team

  

  Article published:

  January 31, 13:18

  By:

  British Cycling

  Hoy, Pendleton and Thomas all included for February track highlight

  British Cycling has today announced the team of 16 riders who will compete in the final round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, taking place on 17 - 19 February 2012 at the velodrome in the Olympic Park, London.

  A strong British team, including Olympic Gold medallists Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Jason Kenny, Ed Clancy and Geraint Thomas, will compete at the Track Cycling World Cup which also doubles as the Olympic Test Event.

  Speaking of the team selection, Performance Director Dave Brailsford said: "The World Cup in London has added significance given that it's the first major event to be held at the Olympic venue. We are using the Test Event as a learning opportunity for our Olympic preparations and have selected a full-strength squad accordingly. The riders and staff are looking forward to gaining race experience at the London Velodrome and it's always fantastic for us to have the support of a sell-out home crowd."

  Riders:

  Sprint
  Matt Crampton (representing Sky Track Cycling)
  Ross Edgar
  Sir Chris Hoy
  Jason Kenny
  Victoria Pendleton
  Jess Varnish

  Men's Endurance
  Steven Burke
  Ed Clancy
  Pete Kennaugh
  Ben Swift
  Andy Tennant
  Geraint Thomas

  Women's Endurance
  Wendy Houvenaghel
  Dani King
  Joanna Rowsell
  Laura Trott

• Howard and Meyer enter the history books with Berlin 6 win

  

  Article published:

  February 1, 04:12

  By:

  Jane Aubrey

  Australians claim maiden six-day victory with final sprint surge

  Reigning world madison champions Leigh Howard and Cameron Meyer (Axel Lange) have claimed their first six-day event, storming home on the final evening of the 101st edition of the Berlin 6. It was only their second attempt at the historic event and join only a handful of Australians to have won in Berlin.

  In front of a 12000-strong crowd, the Australian pairing went into the final night in fifth place, down a lap, 22 points from leaders Belgians Iljo Keisse and Kenny De Ketele (Techem) on 213. Germans Leif Lampater and Roger Kluge (Schultheiss) were next best on 204, followed by compatriots Robert Bengsch and Marcel Kalz (LCW) back one point and a lap. Swiss pairing Franco Marvulli and Silvan Dillier (Wolfram) were fourth.

  The Australians had so far ridden in stark contrast to their previous appearance in 2011, taking a defensive approach in the previous five days before launching an all-out assault for victory.

  Howard was bullish heading into the final night of competition, saying on his twitter feed that it was "Time to pounce!" Meantime, Keisse had suggested that the Australians had been "bluffing".

  In the opening rounds of the night, Howard and Meyer along with Marvulli and Dillier gained a lap and so with the finals approaching four pairs were on zero laps with Bengsch and Kalz the only members of the top five to be a lap down.
  
  With an hour and the final sprints left to race, the Australians drove the pace for a good 25 laps before claiming a 20 point bonus in the first two sprints. Howard and Meyer then took honours in the final sprint to cement their historic win with a 40-point total gain.

  "It's the best six-day race in the world with the most electric backdrop," said Howard. "We wanted this victory and it should be a good omen for a third World Championship victory in a row at home in Melbourne. If we succeed, we want to show off the rainbow jersey at the next Six Days in Berlin again."

  Marvulli and Dillier netted 28 points with Lampater and Kluge, along with Keisse and De Ketele nabbing 18. The Swiss pair finished on the same points (254) overall as the Belgian pair, Keisse and De Ketele with the Australians nine points ahead in the final standings.

  Howard and Meyer are the first Australians in over two decades to win in Berlin with the last being Danny Clark in 1988 who added to his victories in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Other previous winners include Alfred Strom and Reginal Arnold (1950), Reggie McNamara (1926) and Jack Clark (1910, 1913).

   

• Kluge looking for Omnium Gold at London Olympics

  

  Article published:

  February 3, 18:22

  By:

  Cycling News

  Germans release names of first qualified riders

  The German track team will be going for five medals at the London Olympics this summer. Roger Kluge will lead things with the chase for gold in the Omnium, and the team sprint world champion trio of Stefan Enders, Maximilian Levy and Stefan Ninke will also look to stand atop the podium. The Bund Deutsche Radfahrer presented its first list of track riders and mountain bikers for the Summer Olympic games.

  Kluge, 25, finished second in the points race in Beijing, and is optimistic of his chances of winning the Olympic premiere of the Omnium, having won that event the World Cup in Astana and in the European Championships.

  In addition to the three riders on the sprint team Robert Förstemann and Stefan Bötticher will look for places in the sprint. The women will be represented by sprinters Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel.

  Manuel Fumic and Moritz Milatz will again represent Germany in the mountainbike race.

  Further riders for all disciplines will be announced later in the year.

• New Zealand track stars ready for Olympic warm-up

  

  Article published:

  February 7, 04:36

  By:

  Cycling News

  Sergent subbed out for road duties

  New Zealand will be hoping that their record breaking sprint team can carry on their form from the recent national championships in Invercargill, and put the All-Blacks in contention for medals at the upcoming Track World Cup in London.

  With three national records and four titles between then, Southland's Natasha Hansen and Dunedin's Katie Schofield were among the most impressive in Invercargill, and have put themselves right in the picture for World Championship qualification - a vital part of their bids for Olympic berths.

  They will be joined by the successful young men's quartet of Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Simon van Velthooven.

  "The women's sprint pair has continued to do everything we have asked of them," said BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott. "They have demanded selection on form and they are on track if they continue to improve to qualify for the world championships. They have earned that chance.

  "The bigger picture of the Olympics is a bit further down the road. We are treating the qualification process one step at a time and not getting too far ahead of ourselves."

  "We are definitely keying on the world championships at this stage. We obviously want to ride well in London but the whole focus is using this World Cup as a key preparation towards the world championships."

  The endurance team has been reshuffled with Jesse Sergent sitting out the event, with commitments on the road. Westley Gough has won the race to capture his spot, with National Individual Pursuit champion Peter Latham a difficult omission for the selection team.

  Gough will join the Oceania-winning trio of Sam Bewley, Marc Ryan and Aaron Gate, while the women's trio remains unchanged from the Cali World Cup-winning combination of Alison Shanks, Jaime Nielsen and Lauren Ellis.

  The squad go into camp at Invercargill from today before travelling to London at the weekend.

  The BikeNZ team for the London World Cup on 16-19 February:

  Endurance, men: Marc Ryan, Sam Bewley, Aaron Gate, Westley Gough, Shane Archbold. Coach: Tim Carswell.

  Women: Alison Shanks, Jaime Nielsen, Lauren Ellis, Joanne Kiesanowski. Coach: Dayle Cheatley.

  Sprint, men: Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster, Simon van Velthooven. Coach: Justin Grace.

  Women: Natasha Hansen, Katie Schofield, Coach Stu MacDonald.

  Tags:

  Olympic games

  World championships