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UCI Track Cycling World Cup - Beijing

Day 3 Report: Saturday, 23rd of March | |

Women's Keirin

The final day of competition in Beijing saw Great Britain’s Becky James on the podium with a Bronze medal in the Keirin. Her journey through to the final started with a fourth place in the first round which meant the former double World Junior champion had to get back into the race for medals via the repechages which she did by winning her heat.

That result saw Becky progress to the second round where she was third which meant she’d get a shot at the medals in the final for places 1- 6 in the competition. And a medal it was when she was third to former World Keirin champion Clara Sanchez of France.

Afterwards, speaking to British Cycling, Becky was chuffed with the result, especially as the Sprint the day before had not gone to plan, as she explained. “Qualifying wasn't too bad. I would like to have gone a bit faster but did the best I could do. Then, I just completely messed up that first ride against the Aussie Emily Rosemond. I was gutted with that result as I wasn't able to get into the top eight then. I rode the rest of my rides really well and finished 9th."

On day 3, the Commonwealth Games Silver medallist had a chance to hit back in the Keirin. Talking about the first round, Becky said "I made the mistake of going from the front as I thought it was going to be easier because it is so hard to get round a rider on that track. Also, once you have been leading out for so long keeping the pace high, it is so hard to get back on it and I just didn't have the legs to go any faster in the sprint for the line."

Becky was fourth which meant she was going to have to come back through the reps. “I was gutted about that ride" she explained. However, Becky won her repechage heat and asked if she felt a lot of pressure in a race where only the winner goes through, Becky replied "I didn't feel any pressure because I just wanted to do my best and make up for my mistakes. In both my first rides, in the Sprint and Keirin, I just seemed to mess up in both and it feels like I just need a race to help me get into it. I know I’m going to have to improve that area of my racing. I went into the rep with a plan in my head of what I wanted to do and that is what I did.”

Her victory in the reps saw her racing in the second round : “I just wanted to do enough to get through and it was a really strong heat. I didn't really put myself out there as I knew I could get through with a third."

With the job done of making the crucial medal final, Becky wanted that medal but her coach, Jan van Eijden, was more interested in seeing Becky commit to whatever the plan was for the race. “He said to me, whatever the outcome, I just want to see you commit and that is what I did when I went with two (laps) to go. I was stuck on the hip of Willy Kanis and I was thinking this could be a disaster and I could be stuck here the whole time."

"I managed though to get over her with one and half to go and managed to hold the front until a quarter of a lap to go when Sanchez and Shulika got over me. I was so chuffed though when I crossed the line in third especially when I looked at how they had both got on in the sprint on day 2.  I'm so so pleased!"

Becky’s medal was the team’s third: the men's Team Pursuit quartet won a Bronze on day 1 and Sam Harrison won the Gold on day 2 in the omnium. Becky said the atmosphere in the young team has been great. “Seeing the Endurance lads go out and do so well on the first day, we all wanted to go out and win some medals. There has been a really great atmosphere in the team here and we've all put ourselves out there.” 

Beijing was Becky's second World Cup with her first being the last one at Manchester and she says she is really looking forward to the final World Cup in Manchester. "There is nothing like the Manchester World Cup where there is such a great atmosphere with all the crowd.”

With the Manchester World Cup only three weeks away, there is no rest for Becky. She explained that after the trip home, she’s back in the gym on Tuesday and then on the track that same week to continue her preparations for Manchester.

1 Clara Sanchez, France
2  Lyubov Shulika, Ukraine
3 Becky James, Great Britain
4 Willy Kanis Holland

Men’s Sprint

Great Britain’s Peter Mitchell rode superbly to finish the Men’s Sprint competition in fourth place. The Academy sprinter and former World Junior champion, qualified way down in 14th place but he showed his tactical ability for the match sprint by beating Australian Scott Sunderland in the 1/8th finals. Sunderland had qualified in third, just over a tenth of a second faster.

Mitchell continued to impress by getting through the quarter finals as well beating Japanese rider Kitatsuru two rides to nil. In the semi finals however, Germany’s Doehrer stopped Mitchell’s in his tracks and the Brit had to face home rider, Zhang of China for the Bronze medal. Mitchell started well, winning the first ride but Zhang came back in the second ride to level it one all before winning the decider as well and denying the young British a medal.

Mitchell’s teammate Becky James was impressed: “He did really well and I know after doing the Revolution last week, he was really happy to qualify. He was absolutely awesome and I think he's chuffed with his rides because this has been such a step up."

1 Kévin Sireau, France
2 Sebastian Doehrer Germany
3 Miao Zhang China
4 Peter Mitchell Great Britain

Other Events

Great Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead finished the Women’s Omnium in 5th place. Lying in fourth place over night after three events, the World Championship Silver medallist in this event (2010) was unable to improve her overall position after 6th in the Pursuit, 9th in the Scratch and then 12th in the final event, the 500 metre Time Trial.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s first year Academy rider, Philip Hindes rode the Kilometre where France’s Francois Pervis rode an astonishing 1.01.197 to win that by the proverbial mile with GB’s Hindes in 22nd place with a 1.05. Welsh rider Jon Mould rode another non-Olympic event, the Points race where he was 11th.

| Full Results |