Melbourne (Australia) Commonwealth Games

 

March 19, 2006 | British Cycling's Larry Hickmott reports
>Commonwealth Games (Day 4)

 

 

Men's Scratch Race

 

 

What a performance from young Mark Cavendish in this final event of the track racing. The World Madison champion got himself in a break with Scotland's James McCallum and three other riders and the break very quickly lapped the field. With most of the main countries represented in the break, there was little resistance to them lapping the field and they were soon on the back of the main field and a lap up.

 

From then on, the race was enlivened by the odd break here and there. Then, towards the end the Aussies and Kiwis were lining up their teams to give their rider a lead out for the final sprint for the medals. What they didn't count on though was the acceleration by Rob Hayles who took off and seeing his GB teammate go, Mark Cavendish was quick to react and on Hayle's wheel like a shot.

The two of them proceeded to race away and except for a late challenge by the Aussie Ashley Hutchinson, Cavendish found himself well clear of the rest and a super victory not just for him, but for the Isle of Man and also one in the memory of James Berry. A special mention to James McCallum too who with the help of Evan Oliphant, was sharp enough in the sprint to out pace his rivals for a medal and it was a memorable moment to see the rider who holds down a full time job as a nurse, on the podium with a bronze medal.

 

 

Reactions:
James McCullam, bronze medal winner: "We took a lap in the first 20 laps - it was unbelievable. I was so lucky Evan was there as well as he did a lot of work for me. He followed all the moves, got in the line in front of me and carried me around."

Mark Cavendish, Gold: "With Ben (Kersten) riding, if it came down to a sprint, it was going to be tough for me, because I'm fast for an endurance rider but not compared to a sprinter. I knew it had to be a lap take and I knew I was going to be in that break no matter what. I think I did about two and half laps on the front just to get the break away."

On Rob Hayles "I knew Rob was going to go for a result, and if I'm on his wheel, then so be it. It was like a Keirin at the end with the Kiwis lining three up." Asked did he see the Aussie coming, Cav says "I was cruising at the end."

Comparing the Worlds to the Commonwealth's win, he says "The Worlds was quite unexpected but this I have been expecting for almost a year now. I'm seen as one of the best scratch race riders in the World and in the Commonwealths when you don't have the European riders here, I was always going to be in with a chance."

On seeing the Isle of Man flag being raised as he stood on the top step of the podium, he says, "it was brilliant. They have all been behind me, everyone on the Island, and I'm glad to repay that faith in me".

Finally, I asked if he wanted to dedicate that win to anyone, and he replied "there is a young lad who I rode that for. I was with him in the new year, James Berry. I said to his father, I'll do this for him because it was such a tragic loss. I am sure he would have been here in four years time so it was for James. It was an emotional moment."

 

 

The final word was with another Isle of Man rider, Jonny Bellis who finished first of the bunch, and he's only 17! What with Mark Kelly's fourth in the Points race, its fantastic that such a small Island can produce so many good riders and they have another in Peter Kennaugh back home in England.  Jonny said of his race, "its been a fantastic experience. I felt really strong and I recovered from the Points race really quickly which means the form is good. I went into the Scratch race pretty confident and Cav got the gold in the end while I got a little result for myself so I'm very pleased."

 

 

Above: The field is strung out by Geraint Thomas who won a Bronze in the Points race.

 

RESULTS

Qualifying Heat 1
1. Greg Henderson (New Zealand)
2. Zack Bell (Canada)
3. Ashley Hutchinson (Australia)
4. Ross Sander (Wales)
5. Rob Hayles (England)
6. Sean Finning (Australia)
7. Jonathan Matthew Bellis (Isle of Man)
8. Mark Richard Kelly (Isle of Man)
9. James McCallum (Scotland)
10. Garth Conrad Thomas (South Africa)
11. Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Malaysia)
12. Weng Kim Thum (Malaysia)

13. Durwan Benjamin (South Africa)
14. Jason Perryman (Barbados)
15. Warren Christopher McKay (British Guyana)
16. Stephen Gallagher (Northern Ireland)

Qualifying heat 2
1. Timothy Gudsell (New Zealand)
2. Hayden Godfrey (New Zealand)
3. Martin Gilbert (Canada)
4. Mohd Zahit. Mohd Sayuti (Malaysia)
5. Edward Clancy (England)
6. Geraint Thomas (Wales)
7. Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man)
8. Ben Kersten (Australia)
9. Rupert Rheeder (South Africa)
10. Matthew Brammeier (Wales)
11. Horace McFarlane (Jamaica)
12. Evan Oliphant (Scotland)

13. Ian Stannard (England)
14. Thomas Evans (Northern Ireland)
15. Emile Abraham (Trinidad)

Final
1. Mark Cavendish (Isle Of Man) 23.05.540 (51.965km/h)
2. Ashley Hutchinson (Australia)
3. James McCallum (Scotland)
4. Timothy Gudsell (New Zealand)
5. Zack Bell (Canada)
6. Jonathan Matthew Bellis (Isle Of Man)
7. Evan Oliphant (Scotland)
8. Mark Richard Kelly (Isle Of Man)
9. Martin Gilbert (Canada)
10. Greg Henderson (New Zealand)
11. Garth Conrad Thomas (Republic of South Africa)
12. Mohd Zahit. Mohd Sayuti (Malaysia)
13. Ben Kersten (Australia)
14. Weng Kim Thum (Malaysia)
15. Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Malaysia)
DQ Rob Hayles (England)