World Track Championships 2008

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Qualifying

Team Pursuit for Women appeared in the World Championships for the first time this year. During the World Cup events a number of countries brought three strong riders together to compete in the event which is seen as a positive move for women’s track cycling. Seven countries made the World Championships and the event, although not generating the same level of excitement that the men’s team pursuit does, saw the crowd warming to the event by the end of qualifying.

First to ride were the British trio of Wendy Houvenaghel, Rebecca Romero and Joanne Rowsell, who at only 19 is one of the new young talent on show at the championships, finished their ride in a new World Best time of 3 minutes 25.725

The Belgium trio of Evelyn Arys, Jessie Daams and Jolien D’Hoore were the youngest team to ride the event. All under 18 they will be a team to watch in the future if they can stay together. They were out of the medals but still delivered a good performance

Belarus looked like they would challenge the British time, but fell 4 seconds short at the finish to be in the ride for Bronze.

The Dutch trio delivered a tactically wrong race. Marlijn Binnendijk did not pull of the front for the first 1000m by which time her team had blown. They were third fastest at 1000m but ended up 6^th.

The German team, were the fastest over the first 1000m but could not hold the pace. They finished 3 seconds off the pace of the British team but managed to do enough to fight for the Bronze medal against the Belarus team.

The Russian team never looked like they would match the speed of the previous teams and finished 5^th.

Ukraine were last to ride as the current World Cup champions. They had posted a world best time during the LA world cup event of  3 minutes 27.438 seconds. They were 4^th fastest at 1000m but managed to pull it back to finish in 3 minutes 26.565 seconds.

Finals

Great Britain’s team of pursuit riders did not disappoint the huge British crowd with a blistering time of 3 minutes 22.415 seconds to set a World Best time on their way to the Gold medal. Houvenaghel led the team out but it really was a shared effort. The Ukraine team started fast but could not maintain their form to the end. They lost formation with 4 laps to go and were almost caught by the British team within the final lap.

Bronze

Germany won the Bronze medal in a convincing ride against the Belarussians. They posted a German record time to win in 3 minutes 26.960 seconds ahead of the Belarus team who rode a respectable 3 minute 29.449 second time. 

Wendy Houvenaghel, Rebecca Romero and Joanne Rowsell (GBR) we’re overjoyed at winning the Gold medal and World Championship jerseys. “We really didn’t know how we were going to go after the qualifying ride, it was really nerve racking being part of a team is so exciting. It was exhilarating out there tonight. To win a Gold medal in front of our hoe crowd is so amazing. It is better than we could have ever imagined. I think it is time for this event to be on the schedule ” said Houvenaghel. “The crowd really helped to get our legs moving, it seemed much easier the second time too. After yesterday, both Rebecca [Romero] and I had a concern that we were going to have to rely on Joanne [Roswell] and she out performed expectations.” Romero added “I think we have done so well given that we had very little time to practice together. Our performance has really put a stamp on the Team Pursuit for women, so that is really good.”  Rowsell is only 19 and has come up through the talent identification programme and is now based in Manchester full time. She overwhelmed with the teams performance, “It hasn’t sunk in yet” said Rowsell.

Yelizaveta Bochkarova, Lesya Kalitovska and Lyubov Shulika (UKR) were very disappointed not to have won Gold but very impressed with how the British team performed. “It was hard for us tonight because we really did not know the form of the British” said Kalitovska. “This is good for Ukraine and for women’s cycling in our country. We have one rider in the Olympics this year and we hope she will do well and more women will start to ride” added Shulika.

Charlotte Becker, Verena Joos and Alexandra Sontheimer (GER) were very happy with their Bronze medal. Becker said “This is amazing for us; it is our first Bronze medal in this competition so we are very happy. This is great for German cycling and even better for Women’s cycling”

Qualifying

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