2012 World Track Cycling Championships

[Wahooti Fandango]

I am excited. Heading to the first night of racing and tempted to go to a few of the day sessions.

http://www.2012trackworlds.com.au/

Tickets still available.

 

[Wallaby]

I'm also going the first night - booked late, so didn't get great tix.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I got in early, before xmas. Should be good regardless of where you are sitting.

 

[Value Added]

Hope to get to a day session. Very reasonable prices for mine.

 

[Quigley]

Thoughts on the team pursuit last night?

I was disappointed by the result but there seems like there is a lot of improvement in that side despite the good time. O'Shea was very ordinary and Borbidge was not his powerhouse self for some reason. Would the selectors consider dropping O'Shea from the side in favour of one of the older guys or even one of the Meyer boys or Howard maybe? What is Durbridge doing atm? I would have thought Durbridge would be a good addition. I just think they could use some more grunt at that position and O'Shea is the weak link atm and will probably remain so despite him having a bit of upside himself coming back from illness.

Edit: Just reading the cycling news and realised Durbridge was winning his first professional road race in a 6.8km time trial. Get the kid into the team pursuit ffs. He can ride on the track being a member of the previous world champs team.

 

[Quigley]

"If it was 6 or 8 kilometres, I'd be the man but when the first kilo is ridden in 1:02, it's not for me," he said. "After the London world cup, the selectors clarified to me that I was in the team for training but with not much future in the final quartet, so I came back to a road program.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2012/stage-2b-itt/results

That is from Durbridge.

Maybe the first kilo is a problem but we could certainly have used his strength in the last kilo last night.

 

[Dees]

Dale Parker's retirement at the old age of 19 may hurt us. Still plenty of time for improvement till London though. Was a good race.

 

[Wallaby]

It's such an incredibly technical event, and the fact that the riders have to be so exact in their changes, it's fair enough that the selectors have to make the call for the team 6-8 months out. They no doubt have a reserve for injuries/emergencies but you wouldn't really want that job.

One thing I noticed (and again tonight in the women's) is that Australia is choosing noticeably bigger gears than the Brits - the British cadence is significantly faster. I'm not saying one tactic is better (there's only 1/10 of second in it after 4 mins), but it is nteresting that they have obviously chosen to go down different paths.
In the official program, there is an interview between Shane Kelly and Shane Perkins, where Perkins says he is pushing about a 113-inch gear, while Kelly was only pushing 102 about 10 years ago.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Agree that O'Shea may be the weak link. The men's win in the team sprint was just amazing. The roof almost came off Hisense Arena when it happened. The only issue was it was so bloody hot inside!

The funniest thing was when I was waiting outside the arena after it had finished, I saw the Indian team, the three sprinters and the coach, trying to catch a cab. The thing is they had their track bikes with them. Took them about 20mins but they finally got a maxi cab.

 

[tasmanlvr]

I went to have a look today... first time I've experienced something like it.

Absolutely amazing event. And underrated here for sure, which is a shame because it is absolutely world class in every area.

The sprint races are among the best things I've ever seen, hugely exciting and has you on the edge of your seat. For anyone who went, how good was the German and the French bloke (forgot their names) coming to a complete stop as part of their tactics? Funny yet epic.

The finish to the race between Sir Chris Hoy and one of the Kiwi blokes was unbelievable as well, nothing in it.

Certainly would do it again.

 

[Freakie]

Pendleton was damn lucky meares made the tactical error, she was be far the fastest woman on the track

 

[sblack]

Points race is heating up late. Meyer and Gate going on a huge mission to get a lap.

Amazing. They get the lap, and he gets the Rainbow jersey again. Brilliant

 

[Freakie]

That was amazing, the turn he pulled when he caught sight of the peleton was world class and put gates in serious trouble. Was disappointed gates didn't end up on the podium as he deserved it. Kenny was robbed in the sprint as well, going from the start was awesome viewing and I would have loved to see a third heat..,

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Myer's win in the points race was simply unbelievable.

 

[sblack]

That was amazing, the turn he pulled when he caught sight of the peleton was world class and put gates in serious trouble. Was disappointed gates didn't end up on the podium as he deserved it. Kenny was robbed in the sprint as well, going from the start was awesome viewing and I would have loved to see a third heat..,

Yeah, that decision on Kenny was cruel. Some serious balls to try that.