WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Day 1 - evening session. Scratch, sprint and pursuit finals

The field of 24 riders did not have any opportunity to take this race easy. Right from the gun, Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) attacked and forced the bunch to chase hard. As soon as she was caught team mate Catherine Cheatley attacked. Satomi Wadami (JPN) who performed well in the heats went with her with Louise Moriarty (IRL). The dutch rider Marlijn Binnendijk pulled herself and another 7 riders into a front group. By 30 to go however the bunch were all together/ It was not long however before Kiesanowski attacked again but the bunch responded quickly to close the gap.

The definitive attack came at 17 to go when Mexican Belem Guerrero Mendez attacked and gained half a lap on the bunch. She held the lead until 9 to go when the Cuban teamwork of the current World Champion Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso and Yoanka Gonzalez Perez came into play. Gonzalez Perez chased the Mexican down bringing the bunch together for a sprint. Australian Belinda Goss tried to go early but could not hold enough speed to the line and finished 5^th.

The World Champion showed her class picking her way through the bunch to secure the win. Annalisa Cucinotta (ITA) finished second in a close race ahead of the Russian Anastasiay Chulkova.

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Pursuit Final

The pursuit turned out to be an interesting final 4 with an unknown rider, Vilija Sereikaite (SAF) in gold medal final against Katie Mactier (AUS). Mactier went out slower than usual but maintained a great pace to win. The bronze medal ride of Karin Thürig (SUI) and Wendy Houvenaghel (SIS) was close right through to the final 1000m. Thürig rode consistently and her early season form secured her the win.

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Sprint Finals

Sprint Final

The race for Gold, Silver and Bronze did not disappoint the crowds. Willy Kanis (NED) and Anne Meares (TOS) fought for Gold/Silver and NatalliaTsylinskaya (BLR) and Shuang Guo (CHN) for Bronze. After the first race Kanis was one up but in the second race Meares caught Kanis napping and jumped just before one lap to go. In the final race the pace was steadier until 300m to go when Kanis dropped to the sprinters line and Meares could not quite catch her. Kanis secured the Gold this time.

In the Bronze medal ride NatalliaTsylinskaya (BLR) was clearly much stronger on the night taking both heats to secure the medal.

Sprint Semi-Final

Heat 1 was a tough competition between Willy Kanis (NED) and Shuang Guo (CHN) Guo won the first race and Kanis just secured the second. In the final race Kanis went from the front to win through to race for Gold.

Heat 2 lived up to expectations and got the crowd excited as Anna Meares (TOS) raced off against former World Champion NatalliaTsylinskaya (BLR). Meares won the first race but could not hold her speed on the back straight in the second to allow Tsylinskaya to come round. In the final race

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Comments

Scratch Final Comments

Yoanka Gonzalez Perez (CUB) current Wolrd Champion had the benefit of a great teammate in the scratch final and Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso certainly helped her achieve the gold medal. “It was a team effort the medal if for everyone and my country” said Gonzalez Perez.

Annalisa Cucinotta (ITA) was very happy with her silver medal. She was asked if she thought it was possible and she said very confidently “Yes, I am only focused on the Scratch so this was good.”

Anastasiay Chulkova (RUS) managed to sneak through on the line to get the bronze medal and was very happy. “This is a good result for me, I am very happy” she said.

Pursuit Final Comments

Katie Mactier (AUS) was very relaxed after securing a ride for Gold “I am happy, it’s all about getting things on track for this year” said Mactier. Discussing the size of the women’s field at the event Mactier added, “It’s great for cycling and healthy in respect of cycling and seeing so many trade teams coming through has to be good for the sport, 8 races for women is unheard of so that has to be good for the future of our sport.” After winning the Gold medal Mactier was positive about the future “I am delighted with the result, it was interesting to see our splits in qualifying were so close and I had never come up against her before [Vilija Sereikaite (SAF)] so it was always going to be an interesting final. We had a game plan going in and I followed it to a ‘T”. My target was to race from the get go, my injury [after a crash earlier in the week] forced me to start slower which surprised a few people. I could not get on top of the gear quite as fast so was able to come home a little faster.”

Vilija Sereikaite (SAF) was very happy with her silver medal “I have been riding both the road and the track over the last two years and this is a great win for me” said Sereikaite.

Karin Thürig (SUI) likes spending time is Australia having ridden the track here many times and with trained with her road pro team on training camps in Melbourne. Her Bronze medal was a pleasing result “I am very happy, it was very close, but it is a great start to the season. I am just like everyone else it’s about Beijing qualification so the higher you finish in the World Cups the better chance you have of going so this result is good”

Wendy Houvenaghel (SIS) is only in her second full season of pursuit racing Houvenaghel reflected on her 4^th place in the final. “I still have a lot of work to do but this year is about qualification for the Olympics and a 4^th place is where I expected to be at this stage of the season.”

Sprint Finals Comments

Willy Kanis (NED) was very happy with her Gold medal “I am very happy, my best has been 4^th place so when I had the winning qualification time I though it was possible to win. Anna [Meares] made it had for me I had to take the front position and my coach was saying “Go, Go, Go,” so I did”

Anne Meares (TOS) secured a silver medal but had been hoping for a gold “I came here to win and get as many points as possible but I am happy with my performance. I got really close to Willy [Kanis] so I am really happy with where I am at the moment.”

NatalliaTsylinskaya (BLR) was happy with her medal and was focused on the sprint for qualification the Olympics. “It wasn’t the best time but I won” said Tsylinskaya. “I am riding the Keirin too but that is fun”.

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