Thursday May 27
Session 2 

Qualifying
10:00 - 11:55

Keirin

Individual pursuit

There were 2 Keirin heats this morning, with the first 2 in each assured of progressing. Repechages will be held for other finals places. 

The first heat was taken comfortably by China's Guo Shuang, to be joined by Italian Elisa Frisoni.

The second heat was a show of strength / speed by USA's Jennie Reed, who beat Clara Sanchez from France. Both progress to the finals.

Pursuit - Qualifying

World Record - 3:30:604 - Sarah Ulmer (NZ)

Ride of the day will go to Sarah Ulmer (NZ). In the final ride of the morning's session, she blasted her way around the 250m track to qualify in the 3km pursuit with a ride which could not be argued with - a new World Record - first of this track meeting. 

Whilst other riders were riding to schedules and had taken a gamble on what the fastest 8 qualifying time might be, Ulmer made even her opponent's ride look ordinary. She was in the final heat of the day  against last year's World Champion, Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel. Although van Moorsel posted a time of 3:39.345, good enough for 5th qualifier, Ulmer's time was so much better - 3:30.604.  Ulmer has taken the record away from van Moorsel, who set the mark in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics. The previous record was 3:30.816 and whilst scheduled rides perhaps hide the true speed some of the other riders come into this competition with, a World Record qualifying time certainly sends out a powerful message to the rest of the field!

Other notable contenders were Australia's Kate Mactier and Kate Bates, both of whom qualified easily. Indeed, in coming 3rd fastest, Mactier caught Juliette Vandekerckhove (FRA) with about 4.5laps to go. Passing her on the back straight, she continued to a time of 3:34.145. 

Bates powered to a time of 3:37:360 and, at the time, her ride made Marion Clignet (FRA) look pedestrian with her time of 3:43.809 (11th fastest). 

Olga Slyusaeva (RUS) was second fastest qualifier 3:33.929 and compatriot Elena Tchlykh was 4th. 

Karin Thurig (SUI) and Emma Davies (GBR)  were the other qualifiers for the quarter-finals and finals on Friday.

The qualifiers are :

Thursday May 27
Session 3 

Finals
19:15 - 21:35

Keirin Repechage

Keirin Final (7-12)

Keirin Final

Back to top

Keirin Repechages

Heat 1 of the repechages was taken by Susan Panzer (GER), followed by Oxana Grishna (RUS).  Panza goes through to the finals

Heat 2 was won by Lithuanian Simona Krupeckaite. Runner-up was Katrin Meinke. 

Keirin Final - places 7-12

This final was as closely contested as the race for the gold medal. The speed kept increasing throughout the race, with Rosealee Hubbard (Aus) making the early pace. She was chased hard by the 2 Russians. German winner, Katrin Meinke made her way to the front with 1 lap to go and sprinted from the front as the group approached the line. Second was Oxana Grishina (RUS). 

Keirin Final 

From the moment the Derny left the track, the race was on. Eventual victor, Frenchwoman Clara Sanchez kept out of trouble and in the front couple of wheels all the way. Elisa Frisoni, who took the silver medal, didn't so much follow in the line, but sat on the outside shoulder of Susan Panzer. These three kept their order until 1 lap to go, when Jennie Reed moved up on the bend before the bell-finish-line. As the group approached the line, there was a clear winner - Clara Sanchez - who had time for a long victory salute. It lasted from 10m away from 'out'.

Speaking of her victory, Sanchez was "very happy to get the title of World Champion for the Keirin". She pointed out, however, that this did not give her an automatic place in Athens. That, she hinted, would come from the sprint competition on Friday. 

It was a happy return to Melbourne for Elise Frissone. Last time she was here was the Junior Worlds a couple of years ago, where she took away three gold medals. She "didn't even expect to get into the final".