Sydney World Cup Track

(World Cup Classics 2007 - 2008)

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The women’s team pursuit is a brand new addition to the World Championships programme and Sydney is the first time this event has been run. The Drapac Porsche team had the pleasure of setting the first ever World Record in the event during their ride. The record did not last long however as the second team to rider were the New Zealanders and they immediately took 5 seconds off the record. Third to ride were the Ukrainians and again a new record was set, another 3 seconds off the record. It wasn’t until the Russian team including the former World Champion Olga Slyusareva posted the fastest time and created a new World Record time of 3 minutes 33.868 seconds.  

The final team to ride, the Australians who were a mix of the young and old included Katie Mactier a silver medallist in the Olympics in 2006 and 2005 World Champion in the Pursuit, Josephine Tomic the 2007 junior pursuit World Champion and Belinda Goss. They could not match the time of the Russians but did secure a place in gold medal ride with a time of 3 minutes 34.052 seconds

Ian McKenzie (Australian endurance coach) was pleased with his team’s performance and reflected on how much preparation they had had for the event. “I think this is good for women’s track cycling, it will give us a great opportunity to bring some more women through to international level.  We only had a week together with all three riders so not much time with the individuals preparations. They ran through the positioning three times only, so they did really well to qualify for a gold ride.”

Josephine Tomic (AUS) is still only 18 and riding in her first senior level competition. “It hurt a bit. It is exciting to be out there with Katie [Mactier] I have always looked up to her and now I am on the same team so it is very exciting.”

Most of the top seeds managed to find their way through to the semi-finals with the remaining riders fighting for places in repecharge rounds. Notable names forced to ride again were Willy Kanis (NED), Anna Blyth (GBR), Elisa Frisoni (ITA), Yvonne Hijgenaar (NED), Lisandra Rodriguez-Guerra (CUB) and Kerrie Meares (AUS).

In the first of the repechage rounds Kanis made sure she was going through to the semi-finals powering from the back to win and take the only place to go through.

In the second repechage Elisa Frisoni (ITA) led from the front and made sure no one was going to get round her.

Round three provided a tough race for Anna Blyth (GBR) and Valentina Alessio (ITA). Blyth won after a strong attack on the last bend.

In the final round both Australians were forced to go head to head against Lisandra Rodriguez-Guerra (CUB) and Yvonne Hijgenaar (NED). McCulloch looked like she was badly places as the Derny pulled away but somehow managed to find a gap and powered round on the final bend to secure her place in the next final.

Kaarle McCulloch (AUS) showed real talent in her young legs to get a chance to ride in the semi-finals. She was all smiles as she warmed down and chatted to WCN. “I am very happy with that ride, that is what I was supposed to do in the first ride but could not quite do it. To come back and do it in the repecharge is good so it has given me confidence for tonight. I just need to make sure I make the moves rather than waiting for them to happen.”

Anna Blyth (GBR) was very happy to get through to the semi-finals. “I am happy to make it through, I did a bit much too early in the first race but made sure I had done enough in the second. I am though now so that’s good.”