World Track Championships 2007

Palma, Majorca, Spain

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WCN quicklink >>  Day 1 - Team Sprint Qualifying     Team Sprint Final    Qualifying Photos    Finals Photos

                              Day 2 - Sprint Qualifying        Pursuit qualifying and final     Photos

                              Day 3 -  500m TT     Scratch Race   Sprint Final     Photos

                              Day 4 -  Points Race    Keirin Finals     Photos

Day 3

Scratch Race

Race Writeup

Cuba's Yumari Gonzalez launched a last-lap break to storm to victory in the race. Gonzalez raced away from the rest of the field on the back straight of the final lap to take the title ahead of holder Maria Luisa Calle of Colombia. American Rebecca Quinn crossed the line in third place but was relegated to last for cutting into the sprinter's lane. The bronze was therefore awarded to Dutch rider Adrie Visser.

Right from the start Iona Wynter (Jamaica) attacked and managed to get 50m on the bunch before Gonzalez brought her back. Russian Olga Slyusareva was also on had to chase back. She was actually one of the main riders to control the race. Sitting at the front for most of the race, she closed down attacks from Pascale Schnider (SUI) and Madeleine Sandig (Germany). With 25 laps to go Wynter tried to get away again, this time it was the young British rider who closed the break down. The bunch rolled round for a further 10 laps before Cheatley (New Zealand) attacked. She managed to gain a 10m gap on the bunch. Wynter jumped across with Lada Kozlikova (CZE).

This time it was Adrie Visser (NED) that brought them back.

With 10 laps to go, Maria Luisa Calle Williams (Columbia) tried to attack but she was marked by Leire Olberria Dorronsoro (Spain). The pair managed to get a 20m gap on the bunch led by Rebecca Quinn (USA).

The bunch was tight and a crash was avoided as a result of superb handling by Goss (AUS) who wobbled after she was cut up by another rider. Slyusareva brought the break back again. With 2 to go Calle Williams moved to the front but at the bell she could not hold onto the lead as Gonzalez attacked on the back straight. At line, Gonzalez was clear of the bunch that battled to the line.

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Post Race Comments

Yumari Gonzalez (Cuba) was pleased with her win, "The plan was to do everything possible to win a medal and thanks to God it turned out well," Gonzalez said. "I felt good and strong all the way through, it was a very strong field and the idea was to break clear so I didn't get involved in a mass sprint for the line. It's great to win a first World Championship medal."

Maria Luisa Calle Williams (Columbia) worked hard all race and deserved a medal. She was disappointed not to repeat her win from 2006 but recognized the fact that she was being watched. “It was very hard today, it was very fast and there were many attacks. I tried hard to go but could not do it. I think I was being watched after I attacked last year. I am very happy with a medal. “

Andrie Visser (Netherlands) chatted to WCN after being awarded the bronze ahead of Quinn. “I knew that my legs were good this week. The world championship jersey is hard to win, I hoped that I would do well and I am happy with a bronze.”

Rebecca Quinn (USA) should have been celebrating a third consecutive day of medals for the resurgent U.S. track team. However, it turned into bitter disappointment when Quinn was relegated in the women's 10km scratch race after sprinting to third. Quinn made a spectacular finishing surge to squeeze between two riders coming out of turn four to earn what most observers thought was a well-deserved bronze medal. Moments after celebrating with her coaches, however, a UCI official whispered to USA Cycling's athletic director Pat McDonough the bad news. By the time, McDonough had a chance to review the race video, Dutch rider Adrie Visser was already standing on the podium with a bronze medal around her neck.

"It's the medal that got away," said Quinn. "I don't agree with the judges' decision. There was some contact, but the rider I clipped was out of contention for a medal. She was being passed by three riders vying for the third spot, I just happened to be the closest to her. I've been relegated before, but not in a race this big," she said. "It's kind of disappointing when it's such a controversial call."

Quinn and other U.S. team officials thought she bumped a Czech rider, who they insist was being passed by several riders and out of contention for a medal. The results sheet, however, reveals that Lada Kozlikova was fifth and later nudged to fourth. There might have been some confusion among the team over which rider Quinn made contact with.  "They said it was a lane violation," McDonough said. "It was a judgment call. There was some contact. The problem I have with the call was the girl who she bumped was not going to win a medal."  

What was agreed among the American contingent was the contact was minimal and that Quinn should have been allowed to keep her medal. "She deserves that bronze medal," said U.S. endurance coach Colby Pearce, who added the scratch race is typically a close-contact finish. "That's what this race is all about. Maybe it's that Becky's bike handling skills are too good versus the others." Quinn came into the scratch race brimming with confidence. Twice fourth, in world championship competition, the 35-year-old Trexlertown product said she was inspired by the medal-winning performances this week by Brad Huff and Sarah Hammer.

Catherine Cheatley (New Zealand) tried hard to stir things up in the scratch race and ended up further back at the finish than she had hoped. “I tried to stir things up; it was really negative out there today. I knew that if it came down to a sprint I would not win so I tried to get away but it didn’t work. The race was really tight today, and I think we were lucky that there were no crashes. It is testament to the handling skills of the women; everyone was riding so deep which made it hard.” Cheatley will ride the point’s race in an attempt to medal at these championships.

Belinda Goss (Australia), was riding her first senior scratch race at a world championships. Despite riding well she finished in 12^th place, she chatted after the race, “I got myself into trouble in the last few laps with bad positioning. This is my first world championships so I can put that down to experience. I would have hoped for a better position but I am happy.” Goss heads back to Australia before heading out to the US to road race.

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Results  

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Photos - click here

 

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