CYCLING – TRACK: Australia’s trio of Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart and Patrick Constable came heartbreakingly close to grabbing Australia’s first cycling medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as they finished fourth in the team sprint.
Australia looked poised for victory when they lead France heading into the third and final lap, only to be overhauled inside the final push to the line - the fourth consecutive Olympic Games Australia has finished one step off the team sprint podium since winning bronze in Sydney in 2000.
“That’s sport. We have been on the winning side of that scenario before,” said a philosophical Glaezter after the race.
"We were definitely aiming for medals - it's always disappointing not to get on the podium, but I'm really proud of the boys.
“We have a really young team and we gave it everything we had and that's all we can do - it wasn't quite good enough. I know that the other boys rode their heart out, and that is all you can do.
“I mean, yes it's disappointing seeing we came fourth on the scoreboard but we are at the Olympics and we rode our hearts out for our country and we can’t do much more than that.”
The first of 10 track cycling medals to be decided in Rio, the muscle men of track cycling ignited the Rio Olympic Velodrome with the action-packed three-round event.
In the qualifying round, Australia bolted from the gates thanks to a personal best opening lap by Nathan Hart with the third fastest time (43.158) of the nine teams to take to the track. Great Britain - with a new Olympic record (42.562) - and New Zealand (42.673) were the only teams to better Australia’s time.
Australia then edged out seventh-fastest the Netherlands in their first round clash, and with the fourth fastest time (43.166) of the four first-round heats, they moved into the for bronze final against France.
Once again Hart bolted from the gates to give Australia a narrow three-hundredths of a second lead, which was extended to one-tenth heading into the final lap. However, the experience of the dual Olympic silver medallists France (Gregory Bauge, François Pervis and Michael D’Almeida) was too much as they edged the Australians into fourth.
Great Britain took gold in another Olympic Record time (42.440) over New Zealand.
For specialist first-wheel rider Hart, his debut Olympic campaign has come to an end after three blistering 250m efforts, which included a personal best time in the qualifying round.
“Look, I am pretty wrecked actually,” said the Canberran trackside.
“But that is a good thing. I left it all out on the track for the team today but unfortunately we didn’t quite get on the podium.”
“But we can be proud of fourth, this is only the second time this team has ridden together, first time was at the World Championships this year. We improved on those times, so there are positives there.
“All the staff and support team at Cycling Australia and the Australian Olympic Team have done a great job in getting us here.
“I am so proud to wear the Aussie skinsuit at an Olympic Games. The result - I was hoping for better, but I think we went out there and did ourselves proud and the country proud in executing the race we could.
“Looking forward to watching all the Aussies race, definitely be cheering pretty hard from the stands for the rest of the week.”
Debutant Constable was understandably disappointed, but proud of his first hit out in Olympic competition.
“Yes, there is disappointment, but there is also pride in the way we rode,” said Constable, 21.
“Three very hard rounds, but I think we put it together well.”
Glaetzer and rookie Constable will be back on track for Australia in the men’s sprint qualifying at 4pm Friday August 12 (5am Saturday August 13 AEST).
Amy McCann
olympics.com.au
