Track Cycling News & Racing Round-up, Friday, March 19, 2010

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Date published:

March 19, 2010, 18:00

• Rasmussen and Mørkøv will defend Madison title

  

  Article published:

  March 15, 2010, 20:37

  By:

  Jean-François Quénet

  Despite road racing obligations, duo confident for track Worlds in native Denmark

  Danish track cycling stars Alex Rasmussen and Michael Mørkøv will not snub the upcoming UCI track world championships in their country's Ballerup Super Arena, March 24 - 28, despite having switched their focus to road racing with Saxo Bank. They are currently training in southern France as part of their preparation for the Flemish classics and the Giro d'Italia respectively. The duo will take part in Cholet-Pays de Loire on Sunday and then head home to Denmark to defend their title in the Madison event, but not in the team pursuit.

  "We changed our focus to road racing after the Beijing Olympics (where they earned the silver medal for Denmark in the team pursuit) but with the world championship being in Denmark it's also important for our team Saxo Bank," Rasmussen said.

  "We both grew up as track riders, so our hearts remain on the track forever," Mørkøv said. "We have competed together at World Cup and world championship events since 2004."

  Rasmussen and Mørkøv, 25 and 24 respectively, will compete in the Madison, but not the team pursuit, since the Madison doesn't require more than a couple of days to make a transition from road racing back to track competition. "We've done so many Six-Days together," Mørkøv said. "We have the technique, the speed and the knowledge and we won't lose it in two months."

  "For the Madison, you really need to be strong and you get that on the road," said Rasmussen, who will also start the scratch race in Copenhagen on Saturday, March 27, while the Madison will be on Thursday, March 25. "We presume our main adversaries will be Peter Schep/Danny Stam from Holland, Robert Bartko/Roger Kluge from Germany and Iljo Keisse/Kenny De Ketele from Belgium. These are the guys we know from the Six-Days but Spain, Argentina and Russia always come to the Worlds with good teams as well. It's never easy to win a world championship."

  The Tour of Flanders, the Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix will be on Rasmussen's agenda after the track Worlds. "I've always dreamt about riding Paris-Roubaix," he said. "I don't know what to expect but I believe we have three guys at Saxo Bank who can win it: Stuart O'Grady and Fabian Cancellara, who have won it before, but also Matti Breschel who is going very well this year. I'm not thinking about the Tour de France, maybe later if I develop and get skinnier, but for now I focus on the short stage races and Paris-Roubaix."

  Rasmussen and Mørkøv will go separate ways as the latter is scheduled to start his first Grand Tour with the Giro d'Italia. "My goal is to come through the three weeks. I'm average in most of the disciplines of cycling, I think I could climb as well," he said.

  Both Danish cyclists are coached by Bradley McGee who was another track champion turned into a road rider. "I'm happy I got connected with such a good guy," Mørkøv said of McGee while Rasmussen stated, "He's good with us because he's so young. I find it hard to have a coach who hasn't raced for 30 years."

  "We could feel from the start that Bradley believes in out talent," Mørkøv said.

• New Zealand ready for track worlds

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2010, 08:16

  By:

  Cycling News

  Commonwealth Games still the focus for Shanks and co.

  Reigning women's individual pursuit world Alison Shanks will lead a strong New Zealand squad at the UCI Track World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the focus on honing the side for the Commonwealth Games in India later this year.

  The New Zealanders have performed well at World Cup level and head coach Tim Carswell said he hopes the team can build upon that momentum. “This is a strong squad and our focus has been to get them in the best possible form at this stage. I would like to think we can make gains as we work towards the Commonwealth Games later in the year and on to the 2012 London Olympics,” Carswell said.

  “We are expecting more strength across the board at this year’s world championships with Commonwealth countries building for New Delhi and other key nations establishing their programmes towards London.”

  In addition to Shanks, who will ride both individual and team pursuits, the squad boasts talented youngsters Jesse Sergent and Sam Bewley, plus Wes Gough, Peter Latham and Marc Ryan.

  After rising to prominence when he won the scratch race and Madison at last November's UCI Track World Cup round in Melbourne, Tom Scully will also compete in Denmark where he'll be aiming to further enhance his reputation as a tearaway 20-year-old with plenty of potential.

  While the focus appears to be on the endurance side, Carswell said that the team's sprint stocks also have something to offer. He'll be taking five riders - Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell, Eddie Dawkins, Adam Stewart and Simon Van Velthooven - to compete against the might of the British, French and Australian squads.

  "We decided that the sprint programme has improved to a stage where we wanted to ensure we have covered all eventualities in Copenhagen, and hence we are taking the fifth rider," he explained.

  "There were some unlucky riders which is an indication of the depth we are developing across the board in the programme which is exciting."

  New Zealand team for UCI Track World Championships:

  Men: Sam Bewley, Eddie Dawkins, Wes Gough, Peter Latham, Ethan Mitchell, Marc Ryan, Tom Scully, Jesse Sergent, Myron Simpson, Adam Stewart, Simon Van Velthooven, Sam Webster

  Women: Rushlee Buchanan, Gemma Dudley, Lauren Ellis, Jaime Neilsen, Alison Shanks

• Australia picks final Track Worlds team

  

  Article published:

  March 16, 2010, 21:07

  By:

  Cycling News

  Durbridge misses out in tough selection

  Cycling Australia announced its team for the UCI Track World Championships this week, naming an 18-rider team for the event which begins in Copenhagen, Denmark next week.

  The final selection came down to a trial between the riders vying for the men's endurance group, with two-time Junior World Champion Luke Durbridge as the unlucky one to miss out.

  "It was certainly one of the toughest decisions I've had to make," said men's endurance coach Ian McKenzie. "As I told the riders last night it's been the hardest team to pick since 2004 because of the depth of talent in the group."

  "It's a great position for a coach to be in but it's always tough that someone has to miss out and this time it was Luke," said McKenzie.

  Jack Bobridge, who set one of the fastest individual pursuit times in history at his national championships last fall, will head the team along with Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn, defending Omnium World Champion Leigh Howard, Points Race World Champion Cameron Meyer and brother Travis Meyer..

  "There are some very positive signs from training and we have high expectations as to how we'll perform in Denmark," said Brosnan. "Of course it all depends on how everyone else performs but the team environment, attitude and preparation have all been really positive."

  In the men's sprint group are Jason Niblett, Shane Perkins, Dan Ellis and Scott Sunderland.

  The women's team will include Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch who will defend their team sprint title, while defending Omnium World Champion Josephine Tomic will look to repeat.

  Ashlee Ankudinoff, Megan Dunn, Belinda Goss, Sarah Kent and former short track speed skater Emily Rosemond also earned places on the World Championships team.

  'Cyclones' Australian Team for the 2010 UCI Track World Championships

  Jack Bobridge (Evaston Park SA, 13.07.1989) (Track Endurance)
  Rohan Dennis (Vale Park SA, 28.05.1990) (Track Endurance)
  Dan Ellils (Ngunnawal, ACT 07.10.1988) (Sprint Group)
  Michael Hepburn (Brookfield, QLD 17.09.1991) (Track Endurance)
  Leigh Howard (Waurn Ponds VIC, 18.10.1989) (Track Endurance) 2009 omnium World Champion
  Cameron Meyer (Helena Valley, WA 11.01.1988) (Track Endurance) 2009 points race World Champion
  Travis Meyer (Helena Valley WA, 08.06.1989) (Track Endurance)
  Jason Niblett (Horsham, VIC 18.02.1983)(Sprint Group)
  Shane Perkins (Hughesdale, VIC 31.12.1986) (Sprint Group)
  Scott Sunderland (Hillarys, WA 16.03.1988) (Sprint Group)
  Ashlee Ankudinoff (Menai NSW, 20.08.1990)(Track Endurance)
  Megan Dunn (Dubbo NSW, 27.08.1991) (Track Endurance)
  Belinda Goss (Nook, TAS, 06.01.1984) (Track Endurance)
  Sarah Kent (Duncraig WA, 10.02.1990) (Track Endurance)
  Kaarle McCulloch (Gymea Bay, NSW 20.01.1988) (Sprint Group) 2009 team sprint World Champion
  Anna Meares (Gracemere, QLD 21.09.1983) (Sprint Group) 2009 team sprint World Champion
  Emily Rosemond (Thorneside, QLD 11.03.1986) (Sprint Group)
  Josephine Tomic (Perth WA, 09.06.1989) (Track Endurance) 2009 omnium World Champion

• Cornu out of Track World Championships

  

  Article published:

  March 17, 2010, 16:30

  By:

  Richard Tyler

  Flu spoils Cornu's hope of Worlds success, Keisse to headline Belgian squad

  Dominique Cornu has withdrawn from next week's International Cycling Union (UCI) Track World Championships after illness interrupted his bid for what he had hoped would be success in the men's 4000 metre individual pursuit.

  Cornu, who was the only Belgian medallist at last year's World Championships, had been his country's top hope for a medal at the 2010 event, to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 24-28. Cornu told Het Niewsblad that a bout of flu which has kept him out of competition since the middle of February has now put paid to his plans for the track championships.

  "Just before the Ruta del Sol I became ill and I had flu," Cornu said. "I have had problems with it for two weeks. It meant I missed Paris-Nice and my condition is far from optimal."

  Despite the illness forcing his withdrawal from the Track World Championships, Cornu will return to competition with his professional team Skil-Shimano. He will race at Critérium International on March 27-28; the same weekend as the Track Worlds.

  Cornu's withdrawal means Belgium's eyes will turn to his fellow road convert, Iljo Keisse, as the nation's best hope of a medal. The Quick Step rider will take on a heavy schedule that will include the scratch and point races, as well as the Madison with Ingmar De Poortere.

  De Poortere will also line-up for the individual pursuit, with Cornu's absence opening the door for Jonathan Dufrasne to slot into Belgium's second pre-qualified pursuit spot. Tim Mertens will race the Omnium.

  While the men will not field a team pursuit squad, Jessie Daams, Jolien D’Hoore and Kelly Druyts will line up in the women's 3000 metre team pursuit. D'Hoore will also tackle the points race, while Kelly Druyts will compete in the scratch race.

  Belgium's last Track World Championship gold medal came in 1998, when Etienne De Wilde and Matthew Gilmore claimed the Madison in Bordeaux, France.

  Belgian team for the 2010 International Cycling Union (UCI) Track World Championships:

  Men

  Ingmar De Poortere (individual pursuit, Madison)
  Jonathan Dufrasne (individual pursuit)
  Iljo Keisse (points race, scratch race, Madison)
  Tim Mertens (Omnium)

  Women

  Jolien D’Hoore (team pursuit, points race)
  Kelly Druyts (team pursuit, scratch race)
  Jessie Daams (team pursuit)

• Hoy to face his Copenhagen demons

  

  Article published:

  March 18, 2010, 14:45

  By:

  Richard Moore

  13 months after season-ending crash, Hoy returns to Ballerup Arena

  Sir Chris Hoy will return to the scene of his career-threatening crash next weekend, when the world track cycling championships are staged in Copenhagen. It was there, 13 months ago, that Hoy was brought down in the final of the keirin, when a collision with France's Kevin Sireau saw him hit the track at high speed and suffer a hip injury that put him out of the world championships.

  Now fully recovered and back in the kind of form that carried him to three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Hoy admitted yesterday he is likely to have "flashbacks" on the Copenhagen track, though he added that this is not uncommon.

  "I suppose I won't know until I get there," said Hoy, "but you always get flashbacks when you compete on tracks you've raced on before, for good and bad reasons. As well as remembering the crash I'm sure I'll also remember winning my first ever world title in Copenhagen [in 2002, when he won the kilometre and team sprint].

  "Copenhagen is also where I beat [Mickael] Bourgain in an individual sprint, a result that I feel was the springboard to my sprinting career," continued Hoy. "And it's where, by winning the keirin at the World Cup [in 2008], I qualified for the Beijing Olympics. So there are far more positive memories for me in Copenhagen than negative ones."

  Hoy, who will turn 34 next week, said that he experienced a similar mixture of emotions as he returned to keirin racing, which he did at a low key event in the south of France last August. "I was curious before my first keirin after the crash, wondering how I'd feel. But as soon as the gun goes and the race starts it's the last thing you're thinking about. You're just so focused on the race."

  Hoy's hip injury meant that this time last year he was in the midst of a ten-week period of complete rest. He ventured out on his road bike while last year's world championships were on, but didn't return to full training until the summer. He has barely raced since, competing in France, at the Manchester World Cup in October, the national championships and, last month, a Revolution meeting.

  It is part of a strategy, he says, designed to ensure that he is in top form at the London Olympics in 2012, where he intends to defend all three sprint titles. "You see riders really dominating their events in the period between Olympics," explained Hoy, "but you don't want to do too much in this period. I don't want to burn myself out in these interim years. I'm trying to hold something back, because what really matters is in two years' time.

  "The world championships are important," he continued, "but London is more important. If you think back to the Bordeaux world championships [in 2006, at the equivalent stage of the Olympic ‘cycle'], a lot changed between then and Beijing. I'm very conscious of the fact that these world championships, though they're important in their own right, will be long forgotten by the time London comes around."

• Tamayo brings form and confidence to US pursuit team

  

  Article published:

  March 18, 2010, 19:18

  By:

  Scott Patton

  Team aims for a medal in Copenhagen

  Lauren Tamayo (Peanut Butter & Co/TWENTY12) will be racing on the USA's team pursuit squad at the UCI Track World Championships next week. As she prepares to leave for Copenhagen, her training and racing has given her the form she needs to earn some early season results. These results have helped to build the confidence she will need to compete against the best in the world.

  Tamayo explained, "Our goal is a medal in the team pursuit. It would be very disappointing to not make it to the medal rounds after all of this work. That being said, I think that the top five to six teams will be within a few tenths of a second. It is going to be a very tough event. I believe we are ready."

  Tamayo grew up on the track, racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Pennsylvania. After moving to North Carolina, track took a back seat to her road career. That all changed in the spring of 2009. "My coach Jim Miller and I decided I should focus on the track. For the past year and a half, I've been training primarily for the track."

  As with most endurance track racers, Tamayo has spent a good deal of time racing on the road. In her first road event of the 2010 season, the Ladies Tour of Qatar, Tamayo earned two top five finishes and came in sixth overall. This effort helped to build both fitness and confidence.

  "We looked at the Ladies Tour a good opportunity to get to work on leg speed and get in some intensity. I couldn't have been happier with my results. I've never considered myself a sprinter, but I was doing well against racers like Giorgia Bornzini and Rochelle Gilmore (Lotto). It really gave me a good boost of confidence."

  Immediately following her trip to Qatar, Tamayo spent ten days at the UCI World Cycling Center in Aigle, Switzerland. This trip was specifically designed to work with Sarah Hammer and Dotsie Bausch (Empower Coaching) on the technical aspects of team pursuit.

  "Going into the World Cup in Cali, we had only raced together two times. We worked hard on technique; timing, exchanges and getting used to racing together. So much of the team pursuit is all about technique. The trip was a huge step in the right direction."

  Currently, Tamayo is racing well. At the Tour of Murrieta (March 12-14), she won the first stage and the overall omnium. "I'm going into worlds with a lot of confidence in my form. The results on the road and time working with Sarah and Dotsie have really all come together at the right time."

  Following the world championships, Tamayo will rejoin the US National Road squad and compete in the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio World Cup, the Tour of Flanders and the Unive Ronde van Drenthe World Cup.

• Australia prepares for Copenhagen worlds battle

  

  Article published:

  March 19, 2010, 08:46

  By:

  Cycling News

  Can last year's star performers do it again in 2010?

  Australia resumed training in the Ballerup Super Arena yesterday after arriving in Copenhagen ahead of next week's UCI Track World Championships, looking to repeat its feats of the 2009 world titles in Warsaw, Poland.

  The team was the standout performer at last season's titles and goes into this year's worlds boasting a squad with an average age of 21. Omnium world champions Leigh Howard and Josephine Tomic return to defend their titles, while defending women's team sprint world champions Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch will also be riding in Copenhagen.

  The anticipated showdown in the men's team pursuit should also involve the Australians, with Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn, Cameron Meyer and Travis Meyer handed the task of taking down the British team. All five performed well at last month's Australian track national titles and should go into worlds with good form.

  Meanwhile, the men's sprint group has its work cut out against the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and the gun British squad, the esteemed Scot recently saying that although these world titles are important, the London Olympics in two years' time are more so; a good time, perhaps, for the Australians to remind him of how tough worlds can be.

  Shane Perkins, Dan Ellis, Jason Niblett and Scott Sunderland have been handed the task of delivering gold for the Australians, with Perkins coming off an injury that put him out of the national titles, while Ellis, Sunderland and Niblett should be in good form after an intensive preparation block.

  Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for more track world championships news and views from Copenhagen

• Armitstead seeks gold at track worlds

  

  Article published:

  March 19, 2010, 16:55

  By:

  Daniel Benson

  Briton balancing road and track with Cervélo TestTeam

  Lizzie Armitstead is hoping to get her season back on track at next week's World Track Championships, in Copenhagen. The 21-year-old Cervélo TestTeam rider crashed heavily in her road debut for the Dutch team during the Tour of Qatar, but with her first major goal just days away and her body fully recovered, she is aiming to strike gold in the pursuit, omnium and points race.

  "I think I'm going well," she told Cyclingnews. "It's hard to tell without racing. I feel stronger after training with the girls on the team and training on the road so we'll see how the track goes."

  Armitstead, a member of Great Britain's world champion team pursuit squad last year, signed for Cervélo after riding for Lotto in 2009 and despite joining a team packed with superstars, the young Brit doesn't appear to be phased by riding for the world's number one ranked team. This year, though, she'll be balancing her track aspirations with road goals based in her native UK.

  "I've centred things around the nationals and the second half of the season around the Worlds and Commonwealth Games, on the road. So I'm hoping for some good domestic results too," Armitstead said.

  Cervélo first noticed Armitstead's talent in August last year at the Giro Donne, where she finished 15th overall. The Italian stage race won't be on her schedule this time around, however.

  "I've decided not to do the Giro this year. I felt like I've been there and I've seen what it's about it. It falls in the wrong place, and I need an easy month in July to peak later. I'd like to do it but I have to think logically about the season."

  After the Worlds in Copenhagen, Armitstead will move to Belgium, where she'll base herself for the remainder of the season in a bid to learn more about the European race scene. "I've got racing pretty much every weekend. It's about getting as much experience as I can and finding out what kind of rider I'm going to develop into. At the moment I'm doing everything and just seeing what happens, so I want to get more direction."

  That room to grow and develop at her own pace was clearly something that swayed her decision in joining Cervélo - there were offers from other teams.

  "Obviously, for me I had to find a team that was willing to help me carry on with my track programme and Cervélo was willing to do that. Cervélo was the team that gave me the most freedom. It's bit early in my career to forget about the track."