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

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.

As members of the youngest ever international team strutted their stuff on the first night on Friday - with gold medals to Anna Meares, Jobie Dajka and Alexis Rhodes - Australian high performance manager, Mike Flynn, paid tribute to the coach who 20years ago, had turned Australian cycling around.

"No matter what you thought of Charlie Walsh, he did a tremendous job in setting a strong foundation for Australian cycling," he said. "His influence, together with the coaches of today, is what is getting us there now.

"The sport has never looked brighter. It is fully supported now by the Australian Sports Commission and the AIS. They have $4 million investment per year, mostly Federal Government funds, which pays for the structure, the system, the pathway, the coaches, the athletes, the service providers . . . everything that makes it work."

Flynn paid tribute to the young team at these World Cup championships , saying their preparation had been excellent.

"They are a joy to be around. I think this is one of the things that Australia does well.. it's preparation for the UCI and summer calendar. When you consider their average age is 20 and a half . . . except for Sean Eadie (35) and most of them came to the nationals just trying to get a result, then we turn around and tell the gold medal winners to keep training for the World Cup . . . we can't ask anymore of them than to do their best."

Eight Australian riders will return to Australia from Europe to contest the world's in Melbourne, which Flynn says is very positive. "It is very difficult unless you have your best athletes, it is a risk not to have them, because the world's is the qualifier for the Olympics," he said.

"We will be missing Brad McGee, Graeme Brown and Brett Lancaster, but I hope Rochelle Gilmore (who had to miss the World Cup due to illness) will be healthier."

With such talent, he believes Australia will qualify for the Olympics in Melbourne and said the future was looking bright.

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.