Across the first three days of competition, Australia's track cyclists have claimed one gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the fourth round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand.
Australia’s world champion men’s and women’s pursuit teams secured the silver medals on a scintillating first day of competition.
Women's Team Pursuit
The women were edged by New Zealand in one of the fastest female team pursuits in history, while the men were stunned by Switzerland.
Georgia Baker, Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff and Alexandra Manly produced the second-best time in qualifying, clocking 4mins 16.098secs, just over one and a half seconds behind the Kiwis.
Maeve Plouffe replaced Baker in their first-round ride against Canada, which they won (4:14.295) to secure a place in the gold medal ride.
With Baker returning to the quartet in place of Manly for the final, the quartet soared to an Australian record time of 4mins 12.460secs, which eclipsed the 2015 mark (4:13.683) set by Ankudinoff, Edmondson, Melissa Hoskins and Amy Cure, a world record which also secured them the World title.
However, the scorching time was not enough to claim gold, with New Zealand recording an astounding time (4:10.705) which was only half a second outside the world record.
“We executed our race plan to a tee so we can’t really be too disappointed,” Ashlee Ankudinoff said. “At the end of the day, we were just beaten by a better team and New Zealand did a very quick time.”
The women's team unveiled a new strategy which involves the front riders making their turn in the straight, rather than the traditional bend change. Ankudinoff believes their new strategy is proving effective.
“So far so good. We’ll continue to do that. We’re still quite a way out from the Olympics so we’ll keep doing it and hopefully, we’ll improve.”
Men's Team Pursuit
Reigning world champions and record holders Sam Welsford, Leigh Howard, Kelland O’Brien and Alexander Porter were fastest in men’s team pursuit qualifying in a time of 3mins 50.903secs.
Cameron Scott replaced Howard in their first-round heat, with the team producing a slightly improved time (3:50.273).
Switzerland showed their mettle by clocking the only sub 3:50 time of the day and then hung tough to stop the clock in the final at 3mins 50.359secs. Porter was the third Australian to cross the line (3:52.412) to secure the silver.
“We had a quick chat and we’ve got to hold our heads up high,” Leigh Howard said. “This is all a dress rehearsal for us for the Olympics and we’re trying out new things, things we haven’t really tried before.
“When you try new things it’s obviously risky… and unfortunately, it didn’t pay off for us today.
Team Sprint
Reigning world Stephanie Morton teamed with Podium Potential Academy rider Caitlin Ward to narrowly missed out on a medal in the women’s team sprint. The pair lost to Russian trade team Gazprom-Rusvelo in the bronze medal ride after earlier setting the third-fastest time in qualifying.
Nathan Hart, and Podium Potential Academy duo Thomas Cornish and Matthew Richardson fell short of the men’s team sprint medal races after recording the seventh-best qualifying time.
It was one gold, one silver and two bronze medals for Australia on the second night of competition, with Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly getting off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion.
Matthew Glaetzer then claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s keirin, little over a month after having surgery to remove a thyroid cancer.
Stephanie Morton secured Australia’s second bronze of the night in the women’s sprint, while Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer snatched silver in the men’s omnium.
Madison
Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly got Australia’s night off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion.
They sealed victory by winning the double points final sprint, after building an early lead by winning four of the first six.
“It was a pretty tough madison actually. Not too many teams out there, but it was definitely a tough mado for Alex and I,” Baker said.
“We were just focusing on trying to get a consistent ride. Trying to get our changes and our timing right, trying to break the Madison down and just get all the basic things right and hope to come out with a result.
“That just goes to show all of our hard work in Adelaide paid off here.”
Baker, who claimed silver in the madison at the world championships earlier this year, and Manly finished 10 points clear of Poland, with the Subway New Zealand trade team a further 13 points back in third.
Cam Meyer and Kelland O'Brien also teamed up to claim Madison silver.
Keirin
Matthew Glaetzer claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s keirin, little over a month after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and having surgery to remove the growth.
The 2018 sprint world champion won his first and second round heats in commanding fashion, but had to settle for third in the final behind Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia and Guzprom-Rusvelo rider Shane Perkins.
“It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. It’s the best third place I’ve got in my career,” Glaetzer said.
“I exceeded my expectations by about three positions with this third place and very special in the considerations of what I’ve been through and it’s a credit to my team around me, just taking it one day at a time and not letting something get in your way.”
Glaetzer will ride in the Brisbane World Cup next week before preparing for his first round of radiotherapy treatment.
“That will give me a good picture as to what exactly we’re dealing with and from there assessing how many treatments I’ll need.”
Steph Morton also claimed bronze, taking out the keirin.
Women’s Sprint
Morton then secured her second bronze in the women’s sprint.
The team sprint world champion clocked the fastest ever time in New Zealand (10.537secs) and was untroubled in her second round and quarter-final heats.
But Morton was beaten by Russia’s Anastasiia Voinova in the semi-finals, setting up a bronze medal ride-off against another Russian, Daria Shmeleva riding for Gazprom-Rusvelo.
She emerged with the bronze after two tight-fought heats.
“I’m really happy. I exceeded my expectations,” Morton said.
“You know I’m eight months post knee op so I kind of wasn’t sure what to expect.
“So to be able to come into this race not fully my best and to be able to get a good 200 time and then get on the podium I’m so happy.”
Team-mate Caitlin Ward lost in the second round after qualifying 14th, with Voinova pipping world record holder Kelsey Mitchell for gold.
Men’s Omnium
Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer snatched silver in the men’s omnium, after a great battle with hometown favourite Campbell Stewart.
Meyer held a slender lead over the reigning world omnium champion after the 10km scratch and tempo races, before falling two points behind Stewart when the Kiwi won the elimination race.
They then duelled throughout the points race but Meyer ultimately had to settle for second, nine points behind Stewart, with Kazakhstan’s Artyom Zakharov third, a further four points back.
“It was a bit of a one-on-one battle there with Campbell, but he’s super strong,” Meyer said.
“He’s proved that with a world championship win and the win in Hong Kong last week at the World Cup.
“I’m really happy. I haven’t done too much track of late and it’s been a while since I’ve done an omnium.
“I’m happy to get on the board and on the podium behind Campbell, nothing wrong with a silver medal.”
Women’s Scratch
Amy Cure finished 11th in the women’s scratch race after four riders gained a lap on the field and contested the medals.
