Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Olympic Track Day 3: Fourth gold in the Velodrome for GB as women's team pursuit squad smash world record again

Five events raced in the Velodrome... and Great Britain's cyclists have taken gold in four of them...

Great Britain have won their fourth track cycling gold medal of London 2012 in the women's team pursuit, the trio of Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell setting yet another world's best time as they crushed the United States in the final.

The British women led from start to finish and as they headed into the home straight to set a time of 3 minutes 14.051 seconds, the Americans were in their sights, having just crossed the line with half a lap to go. If there was one certain gold for Great Britain on the track at these Olympics, it was in this event, one in which King, Trott and Rowsell are streets ahead of the opposition at the moment. Canada took bronze.

With two events raced in the men's omnium, another first-time Olympic event, Great Britain's Ed Clancy lies fifth. Winner of team pursuit gold yesterday to add to the one he won in Beijing, Clancy, omnium world champion in 2010, posted the fastest time in the opening event, the 250m flying lap ahead of Shane Archbold of New Zealand and reigning world champion Glenn O'Shea of Australia. Danish rider Lasse Hansen went fourth quickest, and that plus second place in the points race was enough to give him the lead after two disciplines. Clancy came 11th in the points race and dropped to 5th overall with four events left. The final event this evening was the elimination race, and resulted in another change at the top of the standings, with winner Bryan Cocquard of France and second placed Elia Viviani of Italy now occupying those places overall. Clancy was fifth in the elimination race and moves up one place to fourth overall, with O'Shea third.

Meanwhile, Jason Kenny breezed through to Monday's quarter final of the men's individual sprint, the event in which the double team pursuit gold medallist is seeking to succeed Sir Chris Hoy as Olympic champion. Kenny was given a bye after qualifying fastest in the flying lap, setting a new Olympic record of 9.713 seconds. Also through on a bye is Grégory Baugé, who Kenny replaced as 2011 world champion after the Frenchman was stripped of his title for whereabouts infringements. He beat Kenny to get that world title back in April in Melbourne and posted the second fastest time today. Robert Forstemann of Germany had to qualify for the quarter finals via the repechage after he was surprisingly beaten by Nijsane Nicholas Phillip of Trinidad and Tobago.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
Alan Tullett | 11 years ago
0 likes

Great ride  41  41

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

6 races, 6 records. I think I might be in love!

Avatar
Gkam84 | 11 years ago
0 likes

The elimination race was the usual shambles. At least two riders, Hong Kong and USA got eliminated twice. They really need to sort it out, put an ear piece in ear ride and deafen them with sound, that would work better than a little red flashing light that some people have set on their bike that they can't see it properly  14

Avatar
davkt | 11 years ago
0 likes

How do they do it? 6 world records in a row in their last 6 races, way to go ladies!  41  41  41  41  41

Avatar
cavasta | 11 years ago
0 likes

Utterly phenomenal. Well done girls.

Latest Comments