European Track Championships 2006

July 19-23; Athens Olympic Velodrome

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The four finalists get the medals and jersey. L-R, Jonny Bellis, Steven Burke, Adam Blyth and Peter Kennaugh.

Junior Men Team Pursuit 

Having blitzed the opposition in qualifying, GB found the final was not as straightforward as expected when Steven Burke punctured at the halfway point after his second turn. Luckily, he didn't crash and the other three managed to regain their composure and carried on to beat the French convincingly.

Rider/Staff Reactions:

Steven Burke: "The rear tub just exploded as I came down the home straight. It was just a shock and my first thought was to get out of the line and went up the track and then did my best not to crash as it was sliding all over the place. I thought I was going to deck it to be honest. It was great to win though and I just wish I had been able to contribute more to it but these things happen".

Coach, Darren Tudor: That was a bit of an adventure wasn't it! What I saw of it and I haven't seen a lot, but they seemed to ride better than they did this morning which was disappointing and in the final they went quicker. The strategy was that Burkey would do laps and Adam's third turn was to give it 100 per cent and get out. With Burkey puncturing he obviously couldn't do that and in the end, it worked out okay."

Jonny Bellis: "Everything was spot on until the puncture. We were bang on schedule and everyone was feeling good and then I hear his tyre go. I was third man, and heard Burkey go three, three so I shouted as loud as possible so the other lads knew and basically then tried to keep it together. We could tell Adam was struggling a bit and could hear him when we lit it up, so were concentrated on making sure we looked after him and got him to the finish. If that meant us being on the front for longer, then so be it. It worked out in the end! Pete and me were doing laps, lap and a halfs and Adam was doing laps and half laps."

On winning at his first major international track meet, Jonny said "fantastic. It shows that all the hard work has paid off, the time on the track and team pursuit drills. Having been together so long, I think that has made us strong as a team and we know how each other operates now and get the best out of each other."

Peter Kennaugh: "That was eventful! It is hard to explain but I felt really strong at the start and I was sure we would do a '13' or even a '12' depending on how the other lads went. Then when I heard Steven's tyre go, and heard three, I just panicked. But we stuck to the schedule and started to think positive again as I could see the French and the last few laps it was just a case of getting to the finish in one piece. Asked what was the hardest bit about it, Pete replied "Getting back in the line after you have changed, especially in the last few laps. As it gets to the end and its getting a bit ragged, you start to feel your legs a bit. Coming down and getting back in the line, you have dig deep some times. In the line, you can relax and focus and stay positive."  Pete then said the main people he wanted to thank back home in Douglas (the Isle of Man) were his mum and dad. "They paid for me to go away to Britain to race and supported since I started racing. They have always stuck by me."

Adam Blythe: "I can't remember racing anything harder than that. It is a different kind of pain in Team Pursuiting and that was unbelievably hard. My plan was to give it 100 per cent on my third turn and then get out and I heard Burkey puncture and almost started crying knowing I still had 12 laps to do! It worked out okay though with a bit of shouting and coordination between us. It's amazing to win the gold and the best result so far and hopefully I'll get more."

QUALIFYING

The final event of what was a long morning for the competing countries, was the Junior Team Pursuit and as defending champions, the Brits were up last. This meant a long wait, made a little longer as track repairs had to be made after the Polish riders fell after their heat just before the British were about to start. On the line for GB were Jonny Bellis (man 1 in the gate), Peter Kennaugh, Steven Burke and Alex Dowsett.

Prior to the start, as the riders went through their normal routine of a 20 minute progressive warm-up, the team watched the other countries front up to do their best. None of the times were near those from the World Championships last year in Austria but the prior to the British starting after the French had done an '18', there was confidence we could match or better that time.

The riders certainly delivered a time to do that, riding confidently and getting it all out after finishing with three riders for a time of 4.15 which was slower than what the coach had expected but this was put down to a lack of familiarity with the track. It certainly wasn't a problem with the team 3 seconds clear of the other riders and ended the morning session of day 1 with everyone on a high after some top performances from the riders with more to expected.

Results

Finals
1. GREAT BRITAIN 4:15.619 56.333
Note: Adam Blythe came in for Alex Dowsett, Burke punctured at 2,000m

2. FRANCE 4:17.202 55.987
3. RUSSIA 4:21.075 55.156
4. UKRAINE DNF (puncture)

Qualifying
1. GREAT BRITAIN, 4:15.397
BELLIS Jonathan, BLYTHE Adam, BURKE Steven, KENNAUGH Peter

2. FRANCE, 4:18.449
3. UKRAINE, 4:20.380
4. RUSSIA, 4:21.509
5. POLAND, 4:22.604
6. NETHERLANDS, 4:22.985
7. LITHUANIA, 4:23.143
8. SPAIN, 4:23.755

PHOTOS

The five riders who regained the title the British won last year, Jonny Bellis, Steven Burke, Adam Blythe, Peter Kennaugh and Alex Dowsett.

Team Pursuits in warmup formation, getting ready to defend the title the British won last year with the fastest time by three seconds.

The Junior Team Pursuit team are on Pinarello bikes.

Great Britain Olympic Development endurance coach gives the boys a final briefing as they wait to go to the start for their qualifying ride.

The secret handshake prior to qualifying ...

The Great Britain team leave the start on the way to the fastest time.

Peter Kennaugh leads the team around for another lap during the 4k effort.

Jonny Bellis leads Steven Burke.

Down to three in qualifying and Jonny Bellis gives it full gas to make up time on the challengers.

Adam Blythe leads the team in the final.

Steven Burke has punctured and Peter Kennaugh hasn't seen Adam Blythe adrift at the back.

Steven Burke, holds the bike up after flatting (rear wheel)  at 60k an hour.

Adam Blythe out for the count after the hardest race of his life... and the best result!