Sydney Track World Cup - CDM

Sydney, Australia, May 14 - 16, 2004

Event program and results

Tales from the track

News and gossip from Day 1 of the 2004 Sydney Track World Cup

By Karen Forman in Sydney

Women carry the hopes of Italy, says coach

The women's rather than the men's team would carry the hopes of Italy at the upcoming world track championships in Melbourne according to men's coach Marco Maccario.

Speaking on the first day of the UCI Track World Cup in Sydney, Maccario said the men's team was a very young - albeit very hard working - team with no major riders.

"All the men are young, we have no big names," he said. "We are hoping to qualify in the teams pursuit and the madison. We need three or four, but it is very difficult.

"We have Angelo Ciccone, who was second at the world championships in the teams pursuit and the European Championships, but the other men are national champions, but not higher than that."

Alessandro Mazzolani did his country proud when qualified in the individual pursuit during the first sesson on Friday..

Maccario said the women had a bigger chance at the medals.

"Antonella Bellutti is two times Olympic winner and Vera Carrara is world points race champion a few years ago. Eleonora Soldo is the European champion. It is a good team."

The Italians brought a team of 16 to Australia for the World Cup, two coaches (women's coach is Dino Salvoldi), a mechanic and an interpreter. Riders who qualify for the world's will go to Melbourne. Others will return to Italy.

More Day 1 News from the Sydney Track World Cup

By Karen Forman in Sydney

• Concussed and sore after keirin crash, brave Ford is determined to sprint Barbados rider Barry Ford has one chance and one chance only to gain qualification for the world track championships in Melbourne in a fortnight - tomorrow morning's sprint at the UCI World Track Cup in Sydney.
• Danes honor royal wedding with a midnight holiday They may have been on the other side of the world with other things (like winning races) on their mind, but still the Danish cyclists contesting the UCI Track World Cup in Sydney tonight didn't escape their dose of Royal wedding fever.
• Women carry the hopes of Italy, says coach The women's rather than the men's team would carry the hopes of Italy at the upcoming world track championships in Melbourne according to men's coach Marco Maccario.
• Sidelined Brown concentrates on healing Knocked out of his goal event for the year - the Giro d'Italia - with an Achilles tendon injury, Australian Panaria rider Graeme Brown was making the best of his unexpected return to Australia for treatment by supporting his countrymen at the UCI Track World Cup in his home town of Sydney on Friday night.
• Aussie results a credit to Walsh's base The top results being racked up by Australian cyclists at events like the UCI Track World Cup fixture currently underway in Sydney, had a lot to do with not only current coaching and a $4 million annual government investment, but also with the firm base established by former head coach Charlie Walsh.