European Track Championships 2006
July 19-23; Athens Olympic Velodrome
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Junior Mens Sprint
Another Gold for Jason Kenny whilst Christian Lyte added a bronze to the Gold he has from these championships.
Jason celebrates a wonderful victory.
Semi Finals
Although the Under 23 riders had their semi final the night before, the Juniors were made to return to the track at 7.30 the next morning to compete in their semi final. As they had the day before, Iain Dyer had his riders around the table to look at video footage from the previous days races to give them a visual idea of how they performed against their rivals who they had comprehensively beaten as well as look at the rivals they hadn't ridden against but would do so for the semi final.
Heat 1
Match A: It was Jason Kenny versus 6th fastest qualifier (10.955) Ghislain Boiron of France in this event, up against the same rider who he had beaten in the second round the day before but had returned to face Jason via the repechage.
Jason drew the outside but didn't waste any time getting past his rival in the back straight and after that it was all Kenny as he took the French rider up and down the track and when Boiron made his move to come past Kenny, the GB rider kept him on his hip all the way to the final corner where Boiron eased to let Kenny take the first match.
Match B: One up, Kenny started the second match from the inside and after the French rider had taken the lead, laid off him watching his every move. As the pace increased, Jason closed in on his rival before jumping around the Frenchman with ease and it was all over as he raced away from Boiron to go through to the final for Gold.
Christian lines up against the Frenchman who pushed the GB rider all the way for the bronze medal.
Heat 2
Match 1: Christian Lyte was up against Spainiard Hodei Mazquiarana who had won his heat in round 2 and qualified 5th fastest in 10.925. Lyte, starting from the outside spent the match following his Spanish rival around the track and when the bell lap came, Lyte came at Mazquiarana but the Spanish rider was equal to the task and the best Lyte could do was get alongside and no further.
In match 2, Lyte this time had the inside but let the Spanish rider take the lead who went for it from the word go. The GB rider though took the lead back on the second lap, jumping over the top of his rival coming out of the home straight. It was then a drag race between the two of them and although the Spanish rider came alongside Christian, the Manchester rider held him off to even up the score in what his coach said was a much better ride from the first year Junior.
Match 3:
In the decider, Christian led the two of them off the line and was able to defend that until it became a drag race down the back straight where the Spanish rider was able to get over Christian and take the lead. He then defended the front position well and although Christian took a run at him in the back straight, he knew coming out of the final bend it was all over. The team did put in a protest due to the video footage showing Mazquiarana out of the sprinters lane but the chief commissaire was having none of it and it was to be the ride off for Bronze for Christain and not the all British final we had been hoping for.
Final for first and second
Gold! That was the colour for Jason Kenny who was outstanding in the final of the Mens Sprint. Last year he didn't win a medal and this year, he already has three from three events and two of those are Gold! This lad has certainly come on this year and there is still one event left tomorrow.
His gold came after two storming runs against his Spanish opponent Hodei Mazquiarana. In the first, the Spanish rider wound it up and at the bell, Jason decided to swing up the track and get some speed to run the rider down. It worked although later Jason admits he probably won't try it again as it really gased him but win the match he did.
Match B was much more decisive as Jason let Hodei Mazquiarana have his lead and then judging his moment perfectly, Jason was off and round him before the Spaniard knew what hit him as the bell started to ring out. With the lead, Jason wound it up and rode away from his rival to an easy victory and his third medal and second Gold. King Kenny had struck again!
Match B and the Gold is Jason's as he races away for the victory.
Bronze Medal Ride Off
In Match A, Christian lined up on the outside and after the Frenchman lead for a bit, Christian dived in front and it then became a drag race to the line with the Frenchman coming over the top of Christian and drawing first blood.
In Match B, Christian had the inside draw and took the front and stayed low, building the pace up whilst keeping an eye on his French rival. Out of the final bend, Ghislain Boiron drew alongside Christian but the GB rider was able to keep in kicking and hold him off to make it one all.
Match C and crucially Christian had the inside start again and in a near repeat of the previous race, Christian did the deed and held off Boiron to clinch the Bronze medal and yet again, put two Brits on the podium. It was a super night of sprinting from these two and a great night for Britain.
Match A and Christian loses to the Frenchman in a final lunge for the line.
Christian fights the Frenchman in Match B and levels it one all.
Afterwards we spoke to Jason Kenny who started by saying "winning this feels as good as the gold I won in the team sprint" and especially good after what happened in the Kilometre. At the end of the day, the sprint is my favourite event, and the one I came to win so obviously I'm over the moon."
Asked if the first heat was as hard as it looked, Jason replied "I don't think it was hard as everyone is making out. He was on the front for a long time and going hard so I knew he wouldn't go all the way without dying a little bit. Looking back it was mistake to use the banking to get up to speed and I learnt from that."
The second heat though, Jason really caught his rival napping and he explained how that came about. "We had looked at him on the video and we noticed he had a rhythm to his 'looking' so coming around the bottom bend, I was watching him and as soon as he looked forward, I gave it everything I had."
Explaining his success he says "I have got a bit stronger and a bit heavier since last year. In January or February, I seem to come out of the base training phase really well and although I had a few dodgy races it seems to have come together recently. "
Match A in the final and Jason wins a long sprint which had him pretty gased after aftwards.
Christian who won the Bronze to make it two GB riders on the podium, says he did it the hard way. "I had to keep my nerve in that one. I have never really raced people like him of the same ability, riders who have the same weaknesses and strengths and I had to find another way round it. Tactically, I don't think I was the best and could probably do with brushing up on them and do better next time. I have learn lot here and there is still stuff to go over."
Jason is strapped in by mechanic Mark Ingham.
EARLY ROUNDS
After not getting back from the hotel until well gone 10 pm the night before, it was an early morning, 6am, for Jason Kenny who was down to ride his third event of the championships so far, the Match Sprint. Also with Jason was Christian Lyte who had a day off on day 2 to rest up for one of his key events.
Arriving at the Track at 7.30 am, the sprinters were quickly up on the rollers for their normal roller warmup routine before a change of gears and on the track for an effort prior to starting there race at 9am. There were a few nerves about from the other riders as one of the French riders was sick all over the safety zone prior to his ride. The Brits though were their usual confident self and both had high hopes of a good time.
Qualifying
Jason Kenny gets help doing up his double toe straps on his way to a win in rounds 1 of the Junior Mens Sprint.
A 1-2 in qualifying in this event was a great result for Great Britain as Jason Kenny and Christian Lyte took the race to the rest with some quick qualifying times. First onto the track was first year Junior Christian who came up with a time of 10.881 - a PB -- and his name remained on top of the leader board until Jason Kenny took to the track.
After a Gold and Silver already, Jason was well up for the qualifying run and everyone was left in no doubt about his speed as he recorded a time 4 tenths faster than Christian to qualify in pole position with a personal best of 10.479.
Jason Kenny on his bike which comes from GB teammate Jason Queally, an all carbon Anchor/Bridgestone.
Christian Lyte on his way to second fastest.
First Round
These, like in the other categories were three up heats and the strategy was simple for both Jason and Christian - get to the front, hold position and win from the front. Both succeeded in this to book their places in the second round with convincing wins.
In Kenny's heat, he was made to work for the victory by an Estonian rider who kept pushing to take the front spot which Kenny wasn't giving up and in the end, The British rider was too good and won easily. In Christian's heat, the GB rider took the front position and quickly opened up a gap on the Polish rider. As they approached the bell lap, the Greek rider came over the Polish rider to try and challenge Christian but the Brit held his position and like Kenny, held on to easily.
Christian Lyte makes light work of his two opponents in round 1 of the sprint.
Jason Kenny cruises in to win his first round match.
Round 2
Christian Lyte wins his second round match easily.
The Junior sprinters had to return to the track in the evening for the second round ride which went as expected for both of them as they dispatched their rivals with ease.
In the first ride, Jason Kenny let his French rival take the lead as he followed a few lengths back. The Frenchman approached the bell lap still leading and winding it up but the final lap was all Kenny's as he slipped past his rival with ease in the back straight and had his coach urging to ease up as he came into the home straight well clear. He had booked his place in the semi finals.
In the next second round ride, Christian Lyte had a local favourite from Greece to contend with and the British rider let the Greek take the lead as he like Kenny, followed at a safe distance. Then on the bell lap after the Greek rider started the sprint, Christian made his move coming out of the bend into the back straight and it didn't take long for his rival to see there was no way he was getting close to Lyte.
Lap to go in Jason Kenny's match and he starts his move where he was streets ahead of his French rival.
RESULTS
FINALS
1. KENNY Jason GBR 11.240
2. MAZQUIARAN URIA Hodei ESP
3. LYTE Christian GBR
4. BOIRON Ghislain FRA 11.244
SEMI FINALS
1. KENNY Jason GBR 11.254 10.896
2. BOIRON Ghislain FRA
1. MAZQUIARAN URIA Hodei ESP 11.230 11.300
2. LYTE Christian GBR 11.236
ROUND 2
1. KENNY Jason GBR 11.158 64.527
2. BOIRON Ghislain FRA
1. LYTE Christian GBR 11.233 64.096
2. REPPAS Vasileios GRE
1. MAZQUIARAN URIA Hodei ESP 11.244 64.034
2. SPICKA Deni
Reps
1. BOIRON Ghislain FRA 11.207 64.245
2. SPICKA Denis CZE
3. REPPAS Vasileios GRE
ROUND 1
1. KENNY Jason GBR 11.692 61.580
2. KHOZOV Vladimir RUS
3. NOVIKOV Daniel EST
1. LYTE Christian GBR 11.363 63.363
2. SARNECKI Pawel POL
3. REPPAS Vasileios GRE
1. SPICKA Denis CZE 11.881 60.600
2. SIXTO GARCIA Angel ESP
3. BOIRON Ghislain FRA REL
1. MAZQUIARAN URIA Hodei ESP 11.299 63.722
2. FLOROS Alexandros-Stavros GRE
3. POLAK Juliusz POL
REPS
1. REPPAS Vasileios GRE 11.681 61.638
2. KHOZOV Vladimir RUS
3. POLAK Juliusz POL
4. SIXTO GARCIA Angel ESP
1. BOIRON Ghislain FRA 11.267 63.903
2. FLOROS Alexandros-Stavros GRE
3. SARNECKI Pawel POL
4. NOVIKOV Daniel EST
QUALIFYING
1. KENNY Jason GBR 10.479 68.708
2. LYTE Christian GBR 10.881 66.170
3. SIXTO GARCIA Angel ESP 10.892 66.103
4. FLOROS Alexandros-Stavros GRE 10.913 65.976
5. MAZQUIARAN URIA Hodei ESP 10.925 65.903
6. BOIRON Ghislain FRA 10.955 65.723
7. REPPAS Vasileios GRE 10.972 65.621
8. KHOZOV Vladimir RUS 10.985 65.543
9. POLAK Juliusz POL 10.990 65.514
10. SPICKA Denis CZE 11.063 65.081
11. SARNECKI Pawel POL 11.115 64.777
12. NOVIKOV Daniel EST 11.117 64.765
13. BOURIN Nicolas FRA 11.123 64.730
14. POST Dick Junior NED 11.187 64.360
15. TIMOKHIN Denis RUS 11.224 64.148
16. KAPR Pavel CZE 11.262 63.931
17. STEGING Jelmer NED 11.686 61.612
18. MINCHEV Miroslav BUL 11.736 61.349
