Three out of Three for Crampton in Euro Buildup

 

13th of June, Vienna (Austria)

Matthew Crampton Wins Three Sprint Events in Austria

 

Day 2

Second day of competition in the Track Challenge in Austria and Great Britain's Matt Crampton was again on fire, winning his third gold of the Euro Challenge in the Keirin event. After setting out his stall the day before by winning both his events (Sprint & Kilometre), his European rivals knew what he was capable of, and of all the races, the Keirin was perhaps their best chance to get one over him. Not a chance though as Matt was unbeaten in both races today.

The event began with three qualifying heats where the top two riders would go through to the final. In his heat, it was vintage Matthew Crampton, as he attacked the race with a lap to go, leading at the bell and finding no-one seriously challenging him for the win in the heat, recording 10.831 for the final 200 metres. Konstantinos Pentarakis of Greece was second and also booked his place in the final.

The final, on paper, looked a tricky affair because as well as the Greek rider Pentarakis, Matt was also going to be facing two Germans and two Russians and there was always the chance of some team work going on. So before the race, Matt and National Sprint coach Iain Dyer sat down and came up with a strategy. If one rider attacked, Matt was to give him some room to lead the race but hold back the rest until the time to make his move came in the final lap or so.

In the draw for position, Matt drew 1 and led the race until the Russian Pavel Noskov attacked and just as he was instructed, Matt gave him five or six metres whilst keeping the others at bay until there was a lap and a half to go when he turned the gas on. Matt quickly caught the Russian as he started the sprint and at the bell, led the field round the shortest route around the track and found yet again, no-one had the speed or power to get over him. It was victory number three!

Matt's trip to Austria achieved many things in an important warm-up before the European championships in five weeks. Not only did it force Matt to come out of the comfort zone training at home and face many of the riders he'll meet in Athens during July, the performances -- a personal best and three victories on the back of some foundation work -- has also done wonders for Matt's confidence and will for sure give him a solid base to work off in the coming weeks.

Our congratulations to Matt as he continues to make big steps in progressing to being one of the World's leading sprinters.

 

1. Matt Crampton, Gbr

2. Vasev, Russia

3. Michael Seidenbecher (Ger)

4. Sebastian Dohrer (Ger)

5. Konstantinos Pentarakis (Gre)

6. Pavel Noskov (Rus)
 

Day 1

In only his second tournament since the World Track Championships in April, Matthew Crampton has a 100 per cent record so far after day 1 of the Under 23 Euro Track Challenge in Vienna (Austria). On the track where the Great Britain juniors did so well last year at the Junior World Championships, Matthew has won the Kilometre with an effort that saw him take a couple of seconds off his personal best and then in the Sprint, he went through the competition unbeaten.

With Matthew in Vienna is National Sprint coach, Iain Dyer who explained how Matthew started last man in the Kilometre competition and finished well clear of his nearest challenger, from Germany E Spieff with 1.04.282 and Sebastian Dohrer also of Germany with 1.04.728.

In the Sprint competition, Matthew started by being the fastest (10.430) in qualifying where eight riders went through to the quarter finals. There, Matthew met Czech rider Adam Ptacnik (CZE) who he finished one place ahead of at last year's Europeans. Having been much faster in the 200m time trial, not only did Matthew have the horse power to make sure the Czech rider didn't go any further in the competition, he also had the tactical experience to go with it and it was the semi final for the Great Britain rider.

In the Semi's, 20 year old Matthew was up against Rafal Poper of Poland who is a first year senior and again, Matthew made no mistake, showing how he hasn't lost any of the gains he made during the winter despite a break after the Worlds. Only one more round, the final to go and there he came up against the German Michael Seidenbecher who had qualified 3rd fastest with 10.731. Again, Matthew was dominant in the winner take all single ride final and the Gold was his as he relegated the German to the silver medal position. Bronze went to another first year senior Pavel Noskov of Russia who beat Rafal Poper of Poland.

Two events and two golds is a pretty sound way to start a tournament and Matthew has the chance to make it three in the Kierin event on Wednesday.

The Euro Track Challenge sees a field of 70 riders from countries such as Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria and Slovakia competing in all manner of track events from sprint to endurance.