Melbourne (Australia) Commonwealth Games
March 19, 2006 | British Cycling's Larry Hickmott reports
Men's Team Sprint
This was the event that the teams of England and Scotland had been preparing themselves for over the last three months and the end result was Gold for Scotland with a sensational time of 44.282 to England's 44.309. The competition began with England riding first in the competition and despite Matthew Crampton being 'gapped' at the start, the trio went on to record a fast time of 44.564 which was eventually fast enough for second place in qualifying.
Above: The Aussies came and did not conquer the Brits and had to be content with Bronze.
Scotland came and went recording the fastest time which was not unexpected although the time of the Aussies who have been so fast in the sprint events all week, was slower than both Scotland and England and the best they got for that was a ride off for bronze. The failure of the Aussies to topple the excellent times of the home nations meant it was an all GB final which shows the strength in depth the team has for the Team Sprint.
In the final, the opening lap battle was won by Craig MacLean, just, recording a time of 17.672 to Jamie Staff's 17.708. Lap two went to Ross Edgar who edged out Jason Queally 12.946 to 13.017 and then finally, the biggest sensation surprise of the night, Matthew Crampton came back at the Scots with a 13.584 to Chris Hoy's 13.664 and on the line the Gold went to Scotland despite England's great ride.
Suddenly, the place was full of Scottish flags appearing from the stands and being draped over the winning riders and across the fence around the track. The atmosphere was just sensational as it should be for such a fantastic final where the teams were so close, a draw would have been fairer!
GB Performance manager, Shane Sutton tries his hand at taking some photographs as I was penned in the 'cattle cage' away from the podium. Pictured are his riders dominating the top of the table in the Team Sprint.
Post Race Reactions:
Above: Craig Maclean gives it everything to record the fastest opening lap.
Scotland
Craig MacLean: "To come out in a major championship has done my confidence no end of good. I was starting to doubt myself a little bit after the Kilo performance when things didn't quite go my way." Speaking about Ross Edgar who was on the back wheel of Craig when he opened up the throttle to do a 17.6 opening lap, Craig says "He's amazing. I have always known he is capable of it and it was just a question of applying himself. He's worked really hard in the training camp and looked after himself and it shows the difference that it can make."
Chris Hoy: "I'm over the moon. Both Craig and I were really down after the kilo and the form that Ross has had has given us a boost. We knew tonight would be close and that we'd be there or there abouts but I don't think the English or the Scottish knew we'd go as fast as we did. I'd say those two times would be the best in the world. I can't think of a team that would touch them, and other than Athens, that is the quickest we've ever gone so we have a lot to take away from this."
On being part of a Gold winning team again as he was in Manchester when he won Gold in the Kilo, he says "The first time was such a shock and the beginning of my career. This now, when you have had a big disappointment which I'm not going to pretend it wasn't because I was really down about that, and to come back 48 hours later and hold our heads up high and hit it hard, and get everything out on the track, makes it a special night. It's one I'll remember for a long time to come."
"We all train together, all good friends, and obviously it was shame someone had to lose".
Ross Edgar: "I'm real happy with that" he said about now having a full set of medals, three in all (one of each colour). "I wasn't too sure how I'd go today because of the sprint round yesterday. I was a bit tired in the legs this morning but real happy with that fast time, and my own lap of 12.9." Asked to sum it up, Ross replied "Amazing!"
Ross Edgar on his way to helping Scotland to a Gold medal.
Team England
Above: Jason leads Matthew in the final.
Jason Queally "It's disappointing. If you had said to me, you'll do 44.309 for the final, I'd have taken it because that was a winning time. I knew that 44.5 in the qualifying wasn't good enough and we managed to scrape through and then we had a more composed ride in the final and hence we were quicker. Overall, Chris, Craig and Ross pulled something out of the bag and it was a fantastic final."
Jamie Staff : "I'm happy with that. Obviously I would have loved the Gold and I knew it was going to be extremely close. Matt did great, being able to hang on to me and Jason. It was the first team sprint together and Matt coped with it pretty good and performed great in the second round."
"At the end of the day, I went out there and did my best and did a really good time so I'm happy with that. It's fantastic we have that much depth in the team right now. Six riders, we could have two teams and it would be cool in the future if we could have an A and B team!"
"Its good to get something out of the weekend after being disappointed with my Keirin. I'd like to have done the sprint as well but the management wanted me to save my legs".
Jamie leads the England team to a Silver medal.
Matthew Crampton: "I didn't hit it the first time and I luckily did enough on the last lap to get in. It was good to get one back on the Aussies!" Talking about the final ride, he said "I've really stepped a gear and feel I have proven myself."
Matthew is gapped in the first round but still does enough to be beat the time of the Aussies.
RESULTS
FINALS
GOLD/SILVER
1. Scotland 44.282 (60.973km/h)
Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy, Craig Maclean
2. England 44.309 (60.936km/h)
Matthew Crampton, Jason Queally, Jamie Staff
BRONZE
1. Australia 44.719 (60.377km/h)
Ryan Bayley, Shane Kelly, Shane Perkins
2. New Zealand 46.366 (58.232km/h)
Justin Grace, Nathan Seddon, Adam Stewart
Qualifying
1. Scotland 44.265 (60.996km/h)
Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy, Craig Maclean
2. England 44.564 (60.587km/h)
Matthew Crampton, Jason Queally, Jamie Staff
3. Australia 44.597 (60.542km/h)
Ryan Bayley, Shane Kelly, Shane Perkins
4. New Zealand 46.200 (58.442km/h)
Justin Grace, Nathan Seddon, Adam Stewart
5. Canada 46.246 (58.383km/h)
Cameron Mackinnon, Yannik Morin, Travis Smith
6. Malaysia 46.578 (57.967km/h)
Junaidi Mohamad Nasir, Mohd Rizal Tisin, Josiah Ng
7. Barbados 53.059 (50.887km/h)
John Cumberbatch, Jason Forde, Jason Perryman
