Women's Keirin
2008 World Track Championships - Day 5
1st Round
(1st two progress, rest to Repechage)
Heat 1
GB interest was roused immediately as Pendleton took up pole behind the Derny, a position that she was to occupy comfortably for the rest of the race.
Through to next round:
Pendleton (GBR)
Guerra Rodriguez (CUB)
Above: Pendleton cruises the first heat
Heat 2
More GB interest in round 2 with Anna Blyth, who claimed 4th overall last year. In a different tactic to her team-mate, Blyth took up a rearguard position as the five riders settled in. With Kanis as the main rival to watch, Anna might have been well to keep her in her sights. Blyth moved up to 4th with 5 laps to go. Blyth was then forced high by Kanis. Anna tried to come over the top with 2 to go and looked good when the bell sounded. But on the back straight, Anna ran out of gas and succumbed, leaving Gloss and Grankowskaja to go through to the next round.
Through to next round:
Gloss (GER)
Grankowskaja (RUS)
Above: Heat two saw Blyth taken up the track and out of contention by WIlly Kanis - she was to return in the repechage...
Heat 3
Jess Varnish flew the GB flag in the final heat. Varnish sat at the back until three to go when she attacked coming right over the top (pictured below). Grishina crashed heavily on Turn 1 as Varnish was overcome by Reed and Gong, finally coming in back in fourth place.
Through to next round:
Reed (USA)
Gong (CHN)
1st Round Repechage
(first two progress, rest are eliminated)
Heat 1
Varnish was back in action in the four-up Repechage, no doubt desperate to get back into contention. Varnish again took up the rearguard position with Australian McCulloch behind the Derny. At the bell Varnish seemed boxed in and was eventually edged out by Sanchez and Krupeckaite
Through to next round:
Sanchez (FRA)
Krupeckaite (LTU)
Heat 2
Anna Blyth had a final chance to qualify in Heat 2, again facing Kanis. Alessio took pole behind the Derny with Blyth again taking up last place. At three to go Blyth went high and dropped into 1st place with two to go. World cup winner Kanis came over the top and led the race out. However Blyth had the leg speed to hold on and claim second, and with it a place in the final.
Through to final:
Kanis (NED)
Blyth (GBR)
Heat 3
Oskana Grishina following her early crash was keen to qualify. Garcia Orrego took the lead behind the Derny. Just before the bell Sandie Clair went over the top and set the heat on fire, which was eventually taken by German Muche and Colombian Garcia Orrego.
Through to final:
Muche (GER)
Garcia Orrego (COL)
Round 2
First three qualify to final 1-6, remainder to final 7-12
Heat 1
Vicki Pendleton was up once more with her team mate Blyth in the same heat. Pendleton took up third place, Anna fifth behind the Derny. Blyth came around to the front and took up pole as the Derny swung off and controlled the front, allowing Pendleton to come over the top and open up a two bike length lead. Blyth hung on a closed the gap and from then on it was a GB express train all the way to the line.
Through to 1-6 final
Pendleton V (GBR)
Blyth A (GBR)
Sanchez C (FRA)
Heat 2
World Cup winner Kanis was amongst some fearsome opposition in Heat 2. Muche took up pole position behind the Derny. The Lithuanian rider took the front and strung things out. There was a shoulder tussle involving Kanis, resulting in the Dutch rider bowing out and watching Muche take the win.
Through to 1-6 final
Muche (GER)
Reed (USA)
Krupeckaite (LTU)
Finals
Above: Reed takes the win from Pendleton and Muche
Above: An elated Jenny Read atop the podium
Final 7-12
China's Gong took up pole position with Kanis stalking at the rear. Gong kept her head, kept the pace high and didn't let anyone come over the top and take the victory from her.
1 Gong (CHN)
2 Grankowskaja (RUS)
3 Garcia (COL)
Final 1-6
The last event and the one that everyone was waiting for. With Anna and Vicki both in the final six, it was a superb result even before the race got underway. Sanchez of France led out behind the Derny with Pendleton nestled in the middle of the pack. As the Derny peeled off, Blyth and Pendleton started their moves, with Pendleton coming over the top and hitting the front. However the long lead out took its toll and she was eventually overcome by USA's Jenny Reed and Germany's Christin Muche. However Vicky battled back to take 2nd in a photo finish from the German.
1 Reed J (USA)
2. Pendleton V (GBR)
3. Muche C (Ger)
More pics
Start of Victoria Pendleton's heat.
Win for Jennie Reed of the USA in round 1
Results
Round 1
Heat 1
1 PENDLETON Victoria GBR
2 GUERRA RODRIGUEZ Lisandra CUB
3 SANCHEZ Clara FRA
4 MUCHE Christin GER
5 KRUPECKAITE Simona LTU
6 TSUKUDA Sakie JPN
Heat 2
1 GLÖSS Dana GER
2 GRANKOWSKAJA Swetlana RUS
3 KANIS Willy NED
4 MCCULLOCH Kaarle AUS
5 BLYTH Anna GBR
6 FRISONI Elisa ITA
Heat 3
1 REED Jennie USA
2 GONG Jinjie CHN
3 CLAIR Sandie FRA
4 ALESSIO Valentina ITA
5 GARCIA ORREGO Diana Maria COL
6 VARNISH Jess GBR
Round 1 Repechage
Heat 1
1 SANCHEZ Clara FRA
2 KRUPECKAITE Simona LTU
3 VARNISH Jess GBR
4 MCCULLOCH Kaarle AUS
Heat 2
1 KANIS Willy NED
2 BLYTH Anna GBR
3 ALESSIO Valentina ITA
4 FRISONI Elisa ITA
Heat 3
1 MUCHE Christin GER
2 GARCIA ORREGO Diana Maria COL
3 GRISHINA Oksana RUS
4 CLAIR Sandie FRA
5 TSUKUDA Sakie JPN
