Cycling News Roundup - 28 March 2008
Team News - Classics Squads,  Poland - National Team Selection for Tour, Track Worlds day 1 & 2 Cyclones, High Road and USA comments, USA BMX Nationals, Scott Sunderland on Preparing for Spring Classics,

Tinkoff Credit Systems Selected for Classics
“The Tinkoff Credit Systems team is a young and ambitious squad well positioned to exhibit its talent in international events, has been granted the opportunity to participate in cycling’s most prestigious spring classics, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallone, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The invitation is evidence that the race organizers are confident in our ability to aggressively animate and pursue a final victory in these events” stated General Manager Stefano Feltrin at the recent announcement by the ASO inviting the team of Russian Entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov to three of cycling’s monument events.

 “We had hoped of racing at least one of the major Classics races this season, and the fact that we have been invited to three events is tremendous. For our team, it is without a shadow of doubt an important benchmark in reference to our position in the sport, and a motivational factor for us to perform to the utmost of our ability in order to confirm the confidence the ASO has extended to us."

Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Fields Strong Lineup for San Dimas
Team Warms up for Redlands Classic to Support 07 Champion Bajadali
Minneapolis, Min., March 28, 2008 – The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team break camp in San Bernardino, California today to take on the three-day San Dimas, California stage race. The strong lineup features many of the squad’s fastest athletes and will serve as a test and warm up ahead of the Redlands Classic where they’ll support teammate Andrew Bajadali in his defense of his 2007 champion title.

“We’re geared up and looking forward to San Dimas,” says Jonas Carney, performance director. “It’s a perfect combination of hill work, road race endurance and some fast technical corners in the downtown stage three criterium that should help our guys get their game in place for Redlands next week.”

The San Dimas roster includes Alex Candelario, new to the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team in 2008 and winner of Stage 4 of Redlands in 2007, Keven Lacombe back in the saddle after a collision with a team car during the Tour of California plus all rounders Jonny Sundt, Mark Hinnen, Justin Spinelli and Nick Waite. Ben King, Junior TT and Road Race Champion in 2007 and David Veilleux, Canadian U23 2007 Road Race Champion completes the eight-man roster.
“It’s a strong lineup,” adds Carney. “We’re not just warming up for Redlands – we’re here to race and win too.”

San Dimas Official Team Roster:
Alex Candelario (USA)
Keven Lacombe (CAN)
Justin Spinelli (USA)
Jonny Sundt (USA)
Nick Waite (USA)
Mark Hinnen (CAN)
David Veilleux (CAN)
Ben King (USA)

The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team is managed out of Minneapolis by Circuit Global Sport Management.

Lampre - Criterium International
After participation in Paris-Nice, Damiano Cunego will come back on French streets, for the two days race in which he will take part with team mates Matteo Bono, Roberto Longo, Mirco Lorenzetto, Mauro Santambrogio and Paolo Tiralongo.

The team will be directed by Piovani, supported by doctor Beltemacchim mechanics Bozzolo, Cambiè and Pengo and masseurs Corna, Inselvini and Rubino.

Damiano Cunego is solving some health problems that has been giving him troubles from Volta Valenciana, as doctor Guardascione explained: "Damiano is completing an antibiotic therapy for healing a cyst-urethra infection that has been disturbing him for 20 days and that influenced him during Paris-Nice. The course is under control and the problem is going to be solved: Damiano can go on with his training for the Ardenne Classics".

Lampre in Belgium
Today Lampre's cyclists that will take part in Gp Harelbeke (on Saturday) and in Fleche Brabanconne (on Sunday) have reached Belgium.The squad is: 

Baldato, Ballan, Bandiera, Fornaciari, Mori, Murro and Spilak. The team will be directed by Fabrizio Bontempi, with the support of doctor Guardascione, masseurs Borgognoni, Della Torre and Napolitano and mechanics Biron and Tosello.

"Ballan will be the eagerly awaited rider - Fabrizio Bontempi commented - These races will be important for him in order to check his fitness, in view of the important appointments of the next weeks. The squad is competitive, a mix of experienced athletes and youngsters with great qualities".

Saunier Duval/Scott - Red Birds Report
Alberto Contador has taken his second overall win in the Vuelta a Castilla y León, whose 23rd edition came to a close today with a 158-kilometre stage from Guardo to Riaño. Euskaltel-Euskadi´s Koldo Fernández gave his team a stage win from a bunch sprint on an exciting final day. Unfortunately, Saunier Duval/Scott  are leaving Castile empty-handed despite our riders´ ceaseless aggressiveness, which showed even today in neo-pro Héctor González´s breakaway in the third climb and the powerful teamwork that enabled the "red birds" to grab control of the peloton in the final stretch.

 David de la Fuente climbs with Alberto Contador
Photo c. Saunier Duval/Scott

The best man of those coached by "Matxin" and Angoitia was David de la Fuente, who finished 7th in today's race and landed spot 13 in the final GC.

Saunier Duval/Scott Squad for Llodio
The next challenge for the yellow squad will be the 59th edition of the Gran Premio de Llodio (UCI 1.1), to take place this Sunday. De la Fuente will try to win this year as resoundingly as he did in 2007. The Cantabrian rider will take part in this race along with Iker Camaño, David Cañada, Arkaitz Durán, Rubén Lobato, Héctor González, Javier Megías, Beñat Intxausti and Alberto Fernández de la Puebla.

In Coppi e Bartali, 4th stage ended with a massive sprint: in Finale Emilia, Danilo Napolitano didn't find the necessary speed compete with Chicchi, who won the stage. Napolitano obtained the 4th position.
Evans is still the leader of the overall standing, Szmyd (best Lampre's cyclist) is 9th.

Bad Day for Team CSC in Spain
McCartney, Haedo and Cuesta Abandon
 After Karsten Kroon's victory yesterday Team CSC had to say goodbye to three riders after the 160-kilometer third stage of Vuelta a Castilla y Leon from Valladolid to Villa Del Libro De Urueñam.

”First we had to say goodbye to Haedo, who still had quite bad pains in his wrist after crashing during training on Friday. There are no broken bones, but he's lost a lot of skin and the pain was too much and it didn't make sense for him to keep going.

Jason McCartney abandoned with stomach problems and Inigo Cuesta crashed and also had to abandon halfway through the stage. Definitely not the best follow-up on yesterday's victory, but that's the way it goes sometimes and luckily we still have a great victory to look back on,” said Dan Frost after the stage.

Poland National Team
Nominees for Tour de Pologne
Polish national trainer - Piotr Wadecki, has put 22 names in nomination for the Tour de Pologne 2008, where Polish Nation Team will start.
The nominated riders are:

Sylwester Szmyd (Lampre) will probably ride Vuelta a Espana, Michał Gołaś, Tomasz Marczyński, Hubert Kryś and Maciej Bodnar will likely start in their teams.
Cyryl Szweda

LINE UP TEAM CAISSE D’EPARGNE
G.P. LLODIO (30/03)
Riders: Vicente García Acosta, Iván Gutiérrez, Joan Horrach, Pablo Lastras, David López, Luis Pasamontes, Marlón Pérez, Oscar Pereiro, José Joaquín Rojas and Rigoberto Uran.
Director: Neil Stephens

Team Type 1 Unveils Lineup For San Dimas
San Dimas, Calif. – Team Type 1 will field a much different lineup for its third stage race of the season – and its first in the United States – when it takes the start line Friday at the San Dimas Stage Race.

On Team Type 1’s roster for the three-day, three-stage race are Americans Chris Jones, Ian MacGregor, Shawn Milne and Phil Southerland, Australian Ben Brooks, Mexican Moises Aldape and Emile Abraham of Trinidad and Tobago.

Southerland is one of four riders with Type 1 diabetes on Team Type 1’s professional roster. Earlier this month, he competed in the Tour de Taiwan with Abraham, Jones and Milne – who finished second overall. Aldape, Brooks and MacGregor raced for Team Type 1 in its first action of the season, the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia.

Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said he is anxious to see the chemistry that develops among the seven who will race in San Dimas. “This will be the first test for the new TT1 squad against the American teams, so we are excited to see how we stack up,” Beamon said.

Brooks and Jones raced at San Dimas last year, with Brooks finishing fifth overall and Jones placing 12th. “I am hoping Chris Jones will have a good ride on the hilly time trial, and we expect to take an aggressive approach to the road and criterium,” Beamon said.

Racing begins with Friday’s Glendora Chevrolet Mountain Time Trial, a twisting climb that gains 1,375 feet in elevation over the 3.8-mile (6.1 km) distance. Saturday’s Stage 2 is the 84-mile (135 km) San Dimas Hospital Road Race that comprises 12 laps of a seven-mile loop on rolling terrain. The final stage Sunday is the Cannondale Incycle Old Town Classic, a six-corner, 90-minute criterium in the San Dimas city center.

Team Type 1 will be without the services of Matt Wilson and Dan Holt, both of whom are out with broken wrists. Wilson broke his wrist in a training accident last week while Holt crashed Saturday midway through the Webster-Roubaix Road Race in Webster, Fla. Despite his injury, Holt still managed to finish third.

“It is a big disappointment losing Dan,” Beamon said. “His injury is a little more serious than Matt’s and he will most likely lose a bit more time. We were really counting on Dan in the early season criteriums, so this is another unfortunate setback.”

For the second straight year, the San Dimas Stage Race is assured of crowning a new champion. Last year’s winner, Scott Moninger (BMC Pro Cycling Team) has retired. The 2006 champion, Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United Pro Cycling), did not compete last year but is schedule to compete this year.

Weather forecasts for San Dimas call for nearly ideal conditions, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. This race is the final tune-up before the National Race Calendar schedule for men begins at the Redlands Classic, April 3-6.

Scott Sunderland of CSC on Classics Preparation
This coming weekend the classics specialists will be doing some of the final important preparation races ahead of one of the Spring's major classics, Ronde Van Vlaanderen, which takes place on Sunday April 6. This Saturday is the semi-classic E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and on Sunday is Brabantse Pijl.

Quick Step's Tom Boonen has won E3 Prijs Vlaanderen for the last four years running, while Oscar Freire (Rabobank) has won Brabantse Pijl three years in a row.

Last year Fabian Cancellara took a second place in E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, while Allan Johansen followed closely in fifth place and Stuart O'Grady in ninth place. In Brabantse Pijl Karsten Kroon took a fifth place last year and a second place the year before.

It is definitely two very important races for the team but sports director Scott Sunderland admits that the most important is the preparation ahead of next week's Ronde van Vlaanderen.

"A lot of our guys and also riders from the other teams have Ronde van Vlaanderen as one of their major goals for the season, but of course we'll try for the best possible results this weekend also," says Sunderland.

The team has been training on the Ronde van Vlaanderen route this Thursday. "We did the final 100 kilometers of the route to prepare ourselves properly. It was about five or six degrees with both wind and rain so I guess we're prepared for the worst now. It went really well and the riders know what to expect next Sunday," concluded the Australian sports director.
 

Track Worlds Report USA, Australia "Cyclones" Team High Road
Live online:  www.WCSN.com
USA Cycling Worlds Day 1
Phinney Beats Personal Best in Pursuit
Manchester, Great Britain (March 26, 2008)-Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo.) continued his quest for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team on Wednesday, lowering his personal best time in the men's individual pursuit by more than two seconds and recording a new world-record time for a junior.

His mark of 4 minutes, 22.358 seconds placed him eighth in his first-ever UCI Track World Championships while his time of 3:17.523 at the 3-kilometer mark - the distance juniors typically race - surpassed the previous world record of 3:17.775 set by Michael Ford (AUS) in 2004. Phinney's previous personal best over four kilometers was 4:24.364.

According to unofficial calculations, Phinney should retain his top-three overall international ranking in the UCI's men's individual pursuit standings. Only a top-five ranking is needed for the United States to secure a start position in Beijing. Phinney's mark of 4:25.684 at the third round of the UCI Track World Cup in Los Angeles two months ago surpassed the automatic time standard set by USA Cycling to earn an automatic nomination to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team pending confirmation of an American start position by the UCI.

"When I came here I was wanting and expecting to ride under 4:20," said Phinney after his qualifying round. "But I'm happy with the time I rode and it should secure a spot for the Olympics."

On a fast, newly resurfaced track inside the Manchester Velodrome, second-seeded Bradley Wiggins (GBR) claimed the world title with a time of 4:18.519 in the final. After earning the top seed in the afternoon's qualifying session, Jenning Huizenga (NED) took home the silver medal in 4:23.474. In the consolation round, Alexei Markov (RUS) defeated Hayden Roulston (NZL) for the final spot on the podium.

"I rode the first lap a little too slow," said Phinney of his 16-lap effort. "I just couldn't quite get on top of the gear. Then I didn't want to go too fast and take everything out of me trying to make up for it. I usually finish fast, so I think if I could have gotten on top of the gear a little sooner I would have been a little faster. At this stage, every pursuit is a learning experience for me. I just have to get everything dialed in for the Olympics."

With the 2007-08 international track cycling season for Phinney now complete, the 17-year-old Boulder High School student will now set his sights on the upcoming road season. This spring he'll travel to Europe to compete in major junior-level international races before defending his world title in the time trial at the UCI Junior Road and Track World Championships in South Africa this July.

"I'm definitely looking forward to competing in some longer races," explained Phinney comparing the last five months of training for and racing in his newfound 4-kilometer specialty to the road racing circuit.

Also on Wednesday, the trio of Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.), Adam Duvendeck (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Giddeon Massie (Zionhill, Pa.) placed tenth in the team sprint with a mark of 45.128 seconds. France took the world title in 43.271 while Great Britain claimed the silver medal with a time of 43.777 and the Netherlands clocked a 43.178 to win the bronze medal.

In the men's 15-kilometer scratch race, Michael Friedman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) placed 18th as Aliaksandr Lisouski (BLR) placed first, Wim Stroetinga was second and Roger Kluge (GER) finished third.

The 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships continue on Thursday as Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.) hopes to win her third consecutive world title in the women's individual pursuit. Americans also scheduled to compete on Thursday include Blatchford, Duvendeck and Massie in the individual sprint event.
Cycling fans can watch the action live online at www.WCSN.com or www.Cycling.tv
Andy Lee - www.usacycling.org

'Cyclones' Australian Team
McGee closing in on Beijing berth
Olympic and World Champion, Brad McGee, moved a step closer to his goal of a fourth Olympic Games berth with a solid performance in the individual pursuit on day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester. McGee was the fifth fastest in qualifying, missing a chance to ride off for a medal, but posting his fastest time since 2004 when he claimed silver in the event at the Athens Olympic Games along with gold in the teams pursuit.

He completed the four kilometre distance in a time of 4min20.430sec more than ten seconds faster than the time he rode at January's Los Angeles World Cup and Cycling Australia Head Track Coach, Martin Barras, predicts he will continue to improve.

"It would have been nice to get a second round in for him tonight but he's made substantial progress and looks to have put his health problems behind him," said Barras. "With a bit more racing on the road and track preparation we're extremely confident he'll be right. "You don't have that sort of pedigree and let it slip out of your hands."

For his part, McGee had also hoped for a second ride but accepts he has a way to go to challenge for a medal. Olympic Champion, Bradley Wiggins, won the gold medal to give Britain a welcome victory in front of a home crowd.

"I rode to the level I am at now and you can't ask for more than that," said McGee who will line up tomorrow with Graeme Brown, Mark Jamieson and senior team debutant Jack Bobridge for the qualifying round of the team pursuit.

Luke Roberts (4min21.891sec) and Phil Thuaux (4min26.425sec) also contested the pursuit for Australia finishing seventh and seventeenth respectively.

In the men's team sprint Australia also finished fifth and out of the medals after a qualifying time of 44.614sec from the trio of Daniel Ellis, Mark French and Ben Kersten. "It was a little disappointing as we were hoping to get a second ride," said Barras. "Not necessarily to medal but what we want to do at World Championships in an Olympic year is have a chance to assess ... and clarify... who's going to get the gig."

The French were the dominant team of the competition clocking 43.271sec to defeat Great Britain by half a second in the gold medal final.

"They have just rewritten the book entirely and in realistic terms they've put it beyond anybody's grasp," said Barras after witnessing two stunning performances by the French. "There are very few words for that - it was extraordinary." But Barras isn't conceding defeat in Beijing.

"You can't concede gold - they have to go and earn it on the track but the work to be done by ourselves and the Brits (Great Britain) is substantial."

Two riders with their eyes on the 2012 Olympic Games made their World Championship debut tonight. Sydney's Kaarle McCulloch, who claimed the 500m time trial and sprint titles at the Australian Championships last month, finished 12th in a time of 35.026sec in the 500m time trial final and admits the experience was a little daunting.

"It showed in my time as I didn't go as fast as I wanted to," said McCulloch. "I wanted to do a PB which meant a time faster than 34.8 but I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now and I can't wait to do the sprint and keirin."

"Kaarle was a little overwhelmed but that's why we bring these 'kids' to Worlds," said Barras. "It's one thing to do it in comfort at home and another to do it under the big lights. "It's the same with Leigh Howard (who finished last in the Scratch Race), it's a first experience and they are both great talents with an eye to 2012 and we believe firmly in them."

Day two begins with the teams pursuit qualifying before Ryan Bayley, Daniel Ellis, Mark French and Shane Perkins contest the men's sprint qualifying. Victorian Katie Mactier will race in the women's individual pursuit.
Geenie Sheer

Team High Road
Wiggins Rises Above Pressure for Individual Pursuit Title
Briton Bradley Wiggins rose above the pressure to take the individual pursuit title at the World Championships in Manchester.

His past record of one Olympic and two World titles in the individual pursuit - including last year at Mallorca - combined with riding on home soil meant Wiggins was very much under the spotlight at Manchester on Wednesday night.

But the High Road professional had no problems with the pressure-cooker atmosphere. The 27-year-old deliberately held back in the qualifying leg to finish second to Jenning Huizenga of Holland - but then outgunned the Dutchman by nearly five seconds in the final. Russian Alexei Markov took bronze.

“I formed a schedule in my mind of what I would need to ride to beat him and stuck to it.” Wiggins said afterwards. “Keeping to that was enough for it all to work out.” “This is one of my most satisfying world titles, winning here in Manchester. This velodrome always gets great crowds, whether it’s a World Championships or a World Cup or any other event, and it’s fantastic to win here in front of them.”

“In the qualifying rounds I eased back slightly so I wouldn’t go in too deep before the final. Sticking to a schedule that I knew would work out was the best strategy.” “It’s a massive relief to have done this, and really satisfying too.”

“ But this is about three events [individual pursuit, team pursuit on Thursday and Madison on Saturday with Mark Cavendish] and we’re favourites in the team pursuit as well.”

“The good news is all the guys in the team pursuit are going really well. Thursday is going to be another exciting day.”

Australia collects two medals but surrender World Record to Great Britain
Australia has collected two bronze medals, ensured the maximum number of places for the men's sprint events in Beijing and seen their teams pursuit world record fall to the crack British quartet on an eventful day two of the 2008 UCi Track Cycling World Championships.

Reigning Olympic Champions Brad McGee, Graeme Brown and Luke Roberts reunited and, with 2006 World Champion Mark Jamieson making up the four, rode a time of 4min00.089sec to defeat New Zealand in a trans-Tasman ride off for the bronze medal in the 4km teams pursuit.

The Australians were more than a second ahead of their rivals after the first kilometre and steadily increased their lead throughout which proved crucial when with two laps to go the well drilled precision of the Australians fell apart.

Brown's concentration was so intense that he didn't realise Roberts had pulled out after doing his job leaving his three team mates to finish it off and mistimed his final changeover where the rider on the front swings up the banking of the track before swinging back down to rejoin on the back wheel of the last rider.

"I went up for the normal swing you do when there are four guys and I just saw out oft he corner of my eye there were only two," said an embarrassed Brown. "I cursed to myself a little bit and swung down as fast as I could (clipping a foam track marker and dropping off McGee's wheel) but luckily Brad (McGee) thought to sit up a little bit and helped me to get to the finish."

With the winning time taken on the front wheel of the third rider of the team to cross the line McGee realised there was a problem and reacted quickly. "It's not often you finish the last couple of laps of a pursuit riding around like postmen but you do what you have to do to make sure we got the medal," laughed McGee who sat upright to slow himself down in a bid to suck Brown into his slipstream. " Before that little incident it was a really good ride."

"In the end it was close but it's good that we can make mistakes like that now and still ride four minutes," said Brown. "For us the main objective is August .... we came here as stepping stone for August so we're looking forward to a great ride in Beijing."

The bar has been set even higher for the Australians at the Olympic Games after Great Britain's Edward Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Paul Manning and Bradley Wiggins combined to break the world record set by Australia (McGee, Roberts, Brown and Brett Lancster) to win gold in Athens in 2004. The Brits, coached by expatriate Australian Shane Sutton, ignited the Manchester crowd with a blistering 3min56.322sec to clip almost three tenths of a second off the previous record of 3min56.610sec and defeat Denmark for the gold medal.

In a show of sportsmanship the Australians immediately headed to the edge of the track to line up and personally congratulate their traditional rivals on their achievement. "I said to Luke (Roberts) that's what records are for (to be broken) and I really enjoy the fact (we've got) a real fight (at the Olympics)," said McGee. "They were always going to break it here, they've been on target and that's stimulating (home crowd) and we know how that feels.

"But come Beijing we're on an even playing field," said McGee before responding with an emphatic yes to the question of whether Australia will claim the record back.

Jamieson welcomed the chance to be starting rider leading out three Olympic Champions.

"I'm really happy and we're looking at (Australia) at the Olympics going stronger and faster," said Jamieson. "It's good to have these 'old' blokes back in along with some young blood in Jack (Bobridge) and it's been a good result."

Bobridge, a member of the Australian team that won the 2007 Junior World Championship, stepped into his first senior team to ride in the qualifying round here in Manchester.

"It felt really good (but) pretty nerve wracking at first," said Bobridge who made way for Roberts in the bronze medal ride. "I stepped up and rode four minutes (which is) a PB (personal best) for me and unfortunately I didn't get to ride the final but they rode really well and deserved to be there."

"He's the fastest 18 year old in the world," added Brown joining his team mates to praise the efforts of the South Australian teenager.

In the women's 3km individual pursuit battle for bronze, 2004 Olympic silver medallist, Katie Mactier, also led from the front and held her form to deny Wendy Houvenaghel of Great Britain a place on the podium. Mactier clocked 3min32.347sec, almost two seconds faster than Houvenaghel, but was disappointed to not have made the ride off for gold.

"That's the point, that's where we want to be," said the 2005 World Champion who has finished third for the past three years. "Third isn't good enough but I rode a fast time in the bronze ride that would have given me a silver so, while it's disappointing to get the bronze, we know what we need to do for the Olympics.

"We didn't do a really big block of track work before this week because we'll do that heading into Beijing," she added. "There was nothing wrong with how I felt but at the Olympics there are three rounds and from past experience my second ride is always better than by first one and I'll have that second chance."

At World Championships the fastest two qualifiers ride off for gold and silver while the next two fastest contest the race for bronze. At the Olympic Games the top eight qualifiers qualify for a second round of head to head competition from which the fastest two winners vie for gold and the slowest two winners contest the bronze medal race.

The gold medal went to Great Britain's Rebecca Romero in a time of 3min30.501sec with a massive winning margin of almost seven seconds over American Sarah Hammer (3min37.006sec) who claimed the silver medal.

In the men's sprint competition three of Australia's four entrants qualified for the first round of 24 with Ryan Bayley topping the Australian list as the ninth seed with a personal best time of 10.126sec for the flying 200m. Shane Perkins qualified tenth fastest in 10.150sec while Mark French was 19th fastest in 10.296sec. Daniel Ellis missed the cut clocking 10.377sec to finish 26th.

In the first round both Bayley and Perkins won through but French cam unstuck in his sudden death ride off against sixth seed Francois Pervis of France.

World Champion Theo Bos proved too strong for Bayley in the second round and Frenchman Mickael Bourgain knocked Perkins out in their heat. Both Australians then headed to the last chance repechage in a bid to rejoin the event but neither succeeded.

However despite no Australians making the quarter finals Bayley's performance was good enough to keep him ranked in the top five in the world which secures for Australia the maximum number of starters in both the sprint and keirin in Beijing. Australia had already qualified for the teams sprint event.

Day three will see Kaarle McCulloch line up in the women's sprint and 2007 bronze medallist, Cameron Meyer, will contest the men's points race.

The 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships are being staged in Manchester, England from 26 to 30 March.

USA Day 2
Hammer Performance Marks Third Consecutive World Championship Medal
The United States Cycling Team claimed its first medal of the 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships on Thursday as Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.) finished second in the women's individual pursuit. Her silver-medal performance marked her third consecutive visit to the podium at the world championships after winning back-to-back world titles in 2006 and '07. As a medalist at this year's world championships, Hammer will earn an automatic nomination to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.

After earning the second seed with a mark of 3:31.041 in her qualifying round against Rebecca Romero (GBR), the pair later met again in the gold-medal final for the second straight year. In the final, Hammer recorded a 3:37.006 while Romero clocked a track record 3:30.501 to earn the world title.

"The biggest thing for me was making the Olympic Team," commented Hammer of her medal-winning performance. "That is a big honor in itself."

After winning three consecutive bronze medals on the UCI Track World Cup circuit this season, Hammer's silver medal at the world championships illustrates her recovery from a lingering back injury that has hampered her training and racing over the last eight months.

"It's easy to get caught up in winning the final ride," Hammer continued, "but more importantly I feel like myself again. Now it's just a matter of getting it dialed in before August. I dreamt of just being in the top four today, so it's great motivation for me right now to win the silver."

With the Olympic Games less than five months away, a handful of athletes have emerged as medal contenders in the pursuit. In addition to Hammer and Romero, Thursday's bronze medalist Katie Mactier (AUS) and fourth-place finisher Wendy Hovenhagel (GBR) also stand a likely chance to compete for medals in Beijing.

Also on Thursday, three Americans competed in the men's sprint - Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.), Adam Duvendeck (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Giddeon Massie (Colorado Springs, Colo.). With a top-24 finish needed in the 200-meter qualifying round to advance to the first round, only Blatchford made the cut. His mark - a personal best of 10.313 - earned him an opening round head-to-head match against Mickael Bourgain (FRA). In the single-elimination contest, the third-seeded Bourgain took the win to eliminate Blatchford.

Nursing a back injury, Duvendeck clocked a 10.419 to place 30th in the qualifying round and did not advance. Massie recorded a 10.475 to place 34th. Although no U.S. competitors remain, the men's sprint competition will continue Friday.

Friday's competition will feature a pair of Americans with medal potential as Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.) will compete in the women's sprint and Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo.) will line up for the men's points race.

USACycling BMX Nationals Begin March 29th in Texas
Olympic Hopefuls Among Hundreds on Hand to Compete For a National Championship and Trip to WorldsT

he second annual USA Cycling BMX National Championships are slated for Saturday, March 29 in Desoto, Texas. Several top hopefuls in the newest Olympic sport will compete for a national title and for points to qualify for the BMX squad that will be headed to Beijing in August. Along with the elite level stars, BMX athletes from age five and up will battle for the stars-and-stripes jersey in both the challenge and cruiser classes as well as the chance to qualify for the team that will represent the United States at the BMX World Challenge in Taiyuan, China in late May.

Several of the world's top BMX athletes are scheduled to compete, including the number-two ranked rider in the world and current USA Cycling BMX Rankings points leader, Kyle Bennett who hails from nearby Conroe, Texas. Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.), the number-four ranked rider in the international standings, will be back to defend his 2007 national title while U.S. Olympic training center resident Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif.) will try to move up from his current third-place position in the USA Cycling BMX Rankings. The 2005 UCI world champion, Bubba Harris (Goodyear, Ariz.), will also be on hand as he continues his comeback, adding depth to a strong elite men's field.

On the women's side, the current USA Cycling BMX Rankings points leader, former ABA BMX World Champion and multiple-time UCI 4-cross Mountain Bike World Champion Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash.) will be looking to continue her quest for Olympic gold, along with Pleasant Grove, Utah's Arielle Martin. Martin, the silver medalist at the 2006 UCI BMX World Championships, is in a very close second in the points chase and is ranked eighth in the world. Currently the top American woman in the 2008 UCI BMX Rankings, 18 year-old Amanda Geving (Largo, Fla.) will compete for the coveted stars-and-stripes jersey along with fellow Olympic Training Center resident and long-time BMX champion Kim Hayashi (Chandler, Ariz.).

The USA Cycling BMX National Championships is 14th of 17 women's races, and the 16th of 19 races on the men's side that factor into the 2008 USA Cycling BMX Rankings-the primary factor which determines the Olympic Long Team for the 2008 Games in Beijing.

The USA Cycling BMX National Championships also provide an opportunity for "Challenge Class" amateurs of all ages to qualify for the team that will represent the United States at the BMX World Challenge in Taiyuan, China in late May.

For more information on the USA Cycling BMX National Championships, click here  To view the current USA Cycling BMX rankings, click here