Sprint Qualifying and Rounds

Sprint 

Qualifying and first round 1/8 Finals  

Shuang Guo (CHN) qualified fastest in the morning session on the Melbourne track to make her way through to the semi-finals. Despite temperatures over 30 degrees outside, the track was considerably cooler inside. It took some time before the air-conditioning was turned down. Willy Kanis (NED) posted the fastest time, before Guo hit the boards, while Olympic silver medallist Anna Meares finished third fastest.  Kaarle McCulloch (AUS/JAYCO) and Jinjie Gong (CHN) rounded out the top five. 

In the quarterfinals Guo (CHN) was the first to ride against Clara Sanchez (FRA). Guo was too strong for Sanchez winning both match ups. 

It was an all Dutch affair in the second of the quarterfinals, Kanis against Yvonne Hijgenaar. Kanis was too strong for her team mate, winning both easily. 

Christin Muche (GER) did not have the pace to keep up with Anna Meares. Meares won in two straight races. 

In the last quarterfinal Kaarle McCulloch (AUS/Jayco) secured her place in the semi-finals with a strong performance against Jinjie Gong (CHN). McCulloch, pushed Gong up the boards on the first lap and took the front to the line to win. 

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Post Race Comments

Anna Meares (AUS) was happy to have secured her place into the next rounds, albeit a little disappointed that she had to ride off against her team make Emily Rosemond to get there. "I was pleased with my qualifying time, it was only 2/100th off my best time this season. In the fist of the finals, it was not pleasant coming up against your team mate in a World Cup and especially, your home one. It kind of feels like national competition again. I had a bit more urgency to get through the rankings and I tried to conserve as much energy as possible. Emily [Rosemond] pushed it hard on the back straight on the front, she constantly wound the speed up. Once I hit the front, I was able to control that a bit."  

The competitors have had a tough transition from Manchester to Melbourne, Meares added Perth into the mix, "It was really tough. We flew straight to Perth and raced. It was harder than just the trip ton Manchester. We are more use to the tip than the internationals are, they hate to travel, so not having to travel too far is great. It is good to have a home event."

Meares, unlike some of the British riders who will not compete now until the World championships, Meares, will compete in 3 of the 4 World Cup events, "I love to race, I have already qualified, but it is about getting tactics right, especially in the Sprint. I would hate to have one race then a six month break before the World Championships," added Meares.    

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Results  

5-8 Place

Final B

Sprint-semi B

Sprint Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals B

1/8 Finals

Qualifying

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Photos   Click on any image to enlarge >>

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