2007 European Track Championships

 

July 11-15, 2007; Cottbus, Germany

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Junior Men's Points Race

 

Heats

There were two 48 lap heats for this competition with GB’s Adam Blythe in the first one and Andrew Fenn in the second. In heat 1, Adam started slowly waiting for the second sprint to start opening up his lungs and in that sprint, was 2^nd to his French rival. He then got in a few breaks but nothing stuck and when a lone Spanish rider got away for sprint 6, Adam was content to win the sprint for 2^nd place.

 

He then got away in a break of three and that was caught by a chase group of three and then another three and whilst that was happening, he jumped away with two others to gain some more points. That was as far as he got as a fall three laps from the end saw his race ended but he had enough points to make the final and was left to go back to the hotel and see to his wounds.

 

In heat 2, Andrew Fenn rode well, showing from time to time, his power and speed. After winning a bunch sprint behind two breakways, he then got in a chase group of three including the World Champion. It took a while to take the lap, but after 13 minutes of effort, the chase group caught the bunch to take a lap. More riders though clipped off the front and in all, 12 riders took laps but the points Andy had amassed (three plus 20 for the lap) helped him to 9^th place and he too was in the final.

 

Above: Adam Blythe battling for points in a sprint and then on the floor after a touch of wheels.

 

Above: Andy Fenn showed good speed in the sprints and also read the race well to make a break that took a lap.

 

Final
There was disappointment for the GB riders in this hard fought final when despite two sprint wins and getting themselves in several breaks, the race didn’t go their way and they finished out of the medals. Adam Blythe was 5th on 10 points (two sprint wins) whilst Andrew Fenn was 11th.

Three laps from the end, Andy Fenn got on the front and stretched the field to breaking point but on the final lap, both him and Adam Blythe were swamped in the sprint for the final points.

 

Adam Blythe won two sprints but was unable to get enough points on the board to finish in the medals.

 

 

RESULTS

Final
1. Elia Viviani /ITA) 27 P.
2. Ralf Matzka (GER) 18 P.
3. Remi Badoc (FRA) 16 P.
4. Piotr Kasperkiewicz (POL) 12 P.
5. Adam Blythe (GBR) 10 P.
6. Nikita Novikov (RUS) 8 P.

11. Andy Fenn, GB