UCI 2006 World Track Championships
Men's Team Sprint
April 13, 2006; Bordeaux (France)
British Cycling's Larry Hickmott reports
2006 World Track Championships
Above: Jason Queally leads the team during qualifying.
The honours on Day 1 for the Great Britain Team went to the Team Sprint squad who were the Silver medallists behind the record breaking French who went under 44 seconds to beat the Brits.
The qualifying round saw the Brits ride against in the French in the final heat with last years World Championship team on the start line in the normal formation of Jamie Staff, Jason Queally and Chris Hoy. With a number of teams doing 44 second riders prior to them, the pressure as always was on and they responded as like the champions they are by doing a time good enough to get them a ride in the final for the Gold.
They were however beaten by the French in their heat and as soon as the ride was over, the managers, coaches and analysts from the EIS, were enlisted to go over the ride that GB did and look at how we could pull the deficit back on the French. After much discussion, a change was felt necessary and Jason Queally was replaced by Craig MacLean. It did mean however the team were going with a formation they hadn't used before - Jamie Staff at man 1, Craig at man 2 and Chris Hoy at man 3.
Above: The team gather around a video of the qualifying round and look at were improvements can be made in the final.
Having made the decision to alter the team, the riders and coaches then took a look at the video with performance manager Shane Sutton and they came up with the strategy they felt would be needed to beat the French. Come the final, it started well as Jamie Staff surprised everyone including himself with a 17.420 to give GB the lead after lap 1. The French however hit back on lap 2 with a 12.982 to GB's 13.179 and then for the final lap they again edged it with a 13.510 to our 13.595. They were the World Champions in what I understand is a World record.
The stadium as you can imagine erupted as the French crowd to great delight in the victory. After the podium presentation when our riders received their medals, I spoke to them all about the nights racing.
First I spoke to Jason Queally prior to the final after he had been replaced by Craig MacLean for the Gold/Silver medal ride. "It didn't go as well as it could have for me" he explained. "Jamie and Chris did excellent laps and I did an average lap and it was good enough to get us through to the ride off for the Gold medal which is the important thing. The team then decided Craig would take my place in man 2, which I think was the right decision. It's a gamble."
"Coming into it I don't think we would have thought man 2 would have been the weak link but fortunately we have five riders so we can deal these eventualities. Fingers crossed it pays off. Craig is a very quick man and if they can get the transition ride from Jamie, then we're in with a chance. Its going to be a close call!"
"Obviously I'm disappointed but you have to take these things on the chin. It is for the team and we believe as a team that this new formation has the potential to beat the French." Whilst I was talking to Jason, I also asked him about the Kilo which he isn't riding in France. Has he finished with the Kilo I asked? "I have finished yeah. In all honesty looking at what happened with me in man 2, it would have been a tough call anyway. Its no more an Olympic event, and its all about focusing on the Team Sprint and if I can contribute to the success of that then great."
Chris chalks up his hands and handlebars before the final.
Chris Hoy: "We did the best we could and we were beaten by a better team. It's as simple as that and I think we should be pleased with that performance tonight. We can take a lot of positive things out of it because we knew after the first ride we could go quicker but unfortunately for us, they went a little bit quicker again."
Asked now that the French have lowered the bar, can they in GB respond and lower their own times to match that, Chris replied "Yes. It's likely that the old guard, Jamie, Jason, Craig and me are going to focus on the team sprint from now on and then Ross and Matthew are going to have additional events such as Sprint and Keirin and part of the Team Sprint squad too which means we are all going to be fighting for places. And that's only going to be a good thing. There is no room for complacency in the team and no one is assured of a place Beijing so I think we have the makings of a Gold medal team in 2008."
Craig MacLean: "It was surprise to me to be riding man 2 and I think it went okay. Jamie had an unbelievable start (17.420) and I had no idea what I was capable of. It was a bit of risk. It actually felt easier being on second wheel than starting and there's less pressure certainly."
Asked do the riders such as himself feel a bit flat after that Games, he replied "today I felt pretty good. Leading into it, it was like 'not another competition' but once it gets going, you just go out there and do your job".
Jamie Staff: "I was happy with the first ride doing a 17.6 and then to come out and do a 17.4, I was just amazed. I really did grit my teeth and put my back out doing it. I still think a 17.0 is possible so that is my goal. We have a really strong team with a lot of riders to choose from and we're all professionals able to deal with different roles. And its so good to have that."
There doesn't seem to be any dissapointment this time finishing second with lots of smiles on the podium.
RESULTS, Qualifying
1. France 44.194
2. Great Britain 44.407
Chris Hoy, Jason Queally, Jamie Staff
3. Australia 44.591
4. Netherlands 44.747
5. Germany 45.050
6. Poland 45.269
7. Spain 45.692
8. China 45.708
9. Japan 45.773
10. USA 46.146
11. Russia 46.152
12. Canada 46.409
13. Ukraine 46.557
14. Greece 46.742
15. Czech Republic 46.912
For gold and silver
1. France 43.969
Gregory Bauge, Micka¹¨Bourgain, Arnaud Tournant
2 Great Britain 44.194
Chris Hoy, Craig MacLean, Jamie Staff
Bronze
3 Australia 44.600
Ryan Bayley, Shane Kelly, Shane Perkins
4 Netherlands 45.999
Theo Bos, Teun Mulder, Tim Veldt
The qualifying ride, Chris Hoy, Jason Queally and Jamie Staff in the start gate.
The splits are printed out and make for interesting reading in the team pit.
Shane Sutton and guiding hand for the team sprint boys, talks to Craig MacLean about the qualifying ride and what they need in the final.
After sitting out the qualifying ride, Craig gets ready for the final with a series of searing sprints on the rollers.
The French get underway led by Gregory Bauge...
The final for Gold and the GB boys are led by Jamie.
Gregory Bauge finishes his lap and gives the rest encouragment as they head for a World record for a 250 track.
No hiding the joy of the French after winning as Arnaud and Gegory celebrate long and loud!
Germans have new kit -- not even the Germans like it!
The Aussies came a long way and made sure they came away with a medal led off by Shane Perkins with Ryan Bayley laying off him followed by Shane Kelly.
The bikes are prepped in the dungeon at Bordeaux by GB mechanic, Ernie Feargreive.
Shane Sutton explains what he's looking for in the final.
Dissapointing ride for the Dutch with 4th place after going in as one of the favourites.
