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European Track Championships 2006
July 19 (Day 1); Athens Olympic Velodrome
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Day one at Athen's Olympic Velodrome saw mixed fortunes for the GB Team. Two Gold medals in the Junior Team Sprint and Team Pursuit were major highlights and nobody should underestimate how great these victories were as the other countries competing were every bit as well equipped as GB, but lacked that special something that the GB Team bring to major events.
Gold! Jason Kenny, David Daniell and Christian Lyte proudly show off their Team Sprint Gold medals
On the other side of the coin, there was utter despair when Junior world chapion Andy Tennant pulled back over 2 seconds on his rival in the Under 23 Pursuit, but still failed to beat him by just seven thousandths. In any other competition like the Worlds, he would have been in the final for a medal but not with the way the Europeans work!
The five riders who helped Great Britain successfully defend their Team Pursuit title, Jonny Bellis, Steven Burke, Adam Blythe, Peter Kennagh and Alex Dowsett. It was a sensational final where halfway through, Steven Burke punctured and the other three kept their heads and still managed to beat the French. What a race!
There were other events though when the Team just had to be philosophical. For example, in the Men's Under 23 Kilometre Time Trial, Matt Crampton did a sensational ride, knocking off 7/10ths off is PB, set only a month ago, yet he was still only 5th. Equally, Anna Blyth, a Silver medallist last year at the Junior Track Worlds, put in a lovely ride to win the first heat of her sprint semi but then couldn't quite do the same in the next two rides to miss out on a ride off for gold and silver. She still has a chance in the ride off for Bronze though.
GB Team Performance Director Dave Brailsford's reacted to the gold medals: "There is strong belief that winning is a habit and so to come here on the first night and win two golds is a fantastic feeling. But this isn't just about winning as this championship also gives us a chance of looking at the learning side, giving our riders the chance to come here and learn and move forward: a stepping stone if you like for the Juniors for the Junior Worlds and for the Under 23's it is a major goal."
"At events like this, the riders are learning to race professionally and gain experience they can use in their future careers. We are very happy with how its going forward and not just for the riders but the staff too. We have never been as professional as a staffing team at these sort of events as we are now and the results are there."
"From my point of view, I'm obviously happy with the results but very happy to see how the new coaches are developing and the professionalism of our staffing goes right through all our programmes, from the Podium to the Talent Team. This extends right through to our sport scientists, performance analysts, and to the carers and mechanics who are doing a brilliant job. We brought Helen Mortimer here to manage her first track event and she too is doing a brilliant job. I'm trying to stand back and let Helen manage things and she is doing a tremendous job."
"So its great to see the riders developing and performing but also the staff and this brings great morale and every team needs great morale."
Morning session
The day began with the Great Britain team fastest qualifiers in the Junior Team Sprint and Junior Team Pursuit as well as Andy Tennant 2nd fastest in the Individual Under 23 Pursuit in his first year as a senior. Anna Blyth also shined, qualifying 4th in the Womens sprint and making her way through the first round. Following are links to reports for the days events (currently being updated)...
Links to Reports:
Junior
Women's Sprint >>>>
Men's Team Sprint >>>>
Men's Team Pursuit >>>>>
Under 23
Individual Pursuit >>>>
Men's Kilo >>>>
