Revolution 6

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Three-time world champion Meares, showed she is on in good form, with a series of strong performances.  After missing the recent Australian championships due to fatigue from a heavy training load, Meares used the Revolution 6 event as a prelude to yet another world title tilt.  Meares took out the Degani Revolution sprint, holding off New South Wales Kaarle McCulloch and Queenslander Emily Rosemond in her first hit out of the evening.  

To assist with their preparations Meares, McCulloch and Rosemond, then raced alongside the U19 men. It isn't the first time Meares has raced against the U19 men. At the last Revolution event, Meares sprinted against the U19's. 

Racing against the U19's provides a great variety of speed and tactics, which is comparable to that of the international women that the Australians will face in Europe. Victoria Pendleton the British sprint star, has more opportunity to race at the level required to prepare for major championships than her Australian rivals. 

In the first race, Emily Rosemond was up against Jaron Gardiner. Rosemond tried to attack Gardiner on the back straight but he was too strong.

In the second race, Kaarle McCulloch matched up against Aaron Cooper. Cooper tried to force McCulloch to the boards to intimidate her. Mcculloch reacted and attacked. Cooper was just too fast and held off McCulloch to the line. 

In the final match, Meares was up against the talented Nathan Corrigan-Martella, who won the under-19 team sprint at the Australian championships earlier this month, Meares rode well, but the under-19 rider took the win, retaining his pride and helping Meares’ preparations for Denmark in the process. 

Meares then raced in a mixed keirin, which was won by Aaron Cooper but Meares flashed home to finish second after being blocked for a run for much of the final lap.

There was an international flavour to the event too. Fatehah Mustapa (MAL) and two of the Korean sprinters, Seonha Yu and Suhyeon Kim had the chance to compete.  

In the 2XU women’s keirin final the Melbourne-based Malaysian Fatehah Mustapha held off Victorian Apryl Eppinger.

In the Teschner Future Stars events, Imogen Jelbart won the W17 Double Kilo dash. Jelbart did the same in the , elimination to make it a winning double. Jelbart took out the series and a $5000 Teschner frame.

Meares was so happy with the race against the boys. “That was so good, It was long, it was hard, it was fast and technical and you really had to be on your toes. There was lots of twitching happening, people attacking, people blowing up, it was great,” said Meares.

“After the sprint I thought I would wait as long as possible before attacking. The pace was really high early on and I waited to open up on the back straight and I thought I was going to be third but I got second. We haven’t started our taper yet so I am very happy with where I am right now. This year the events are structured really well with the Time Trial, Sprints then the Keirin so I think that will be good for me,” she added.

"I’m confident, excited and a little nervous”, Meares said thinking ahead to the world titles. “I know the form is going to be good but you just want it to go perfectly. All that hard work – the money’s in the bank and I just hope the bank is open on the right day so I can make a withdrawal.”

Emily Rosemond (SA) is the youngest member of the sprint trio heading to Copenhagen. “It is pretty cool that it is the three of us, “ said Rosemond. “We train together in Adelaide and to qualify with Anna and Kaarle the World Team Sprint Champions is awesome and very special for me. It is my second season on the track so I am pretty happy with how I am progressing,” she added.

Rosemond added, “I am not sure what my confirmed schedule will be at worlds but I am pretty sure it will be the Spint and the keirin, the Keirin being my preferred event. My start has let me know a little this season so I need to work on that but tonight is great for last minute preparation for us. Mixing it up against the junior men is great for us. They are the best level we can come up against out of competition to replicate what we will face in Europe.”

Kaarle McCulloch (SA) has developed into a World Class track sprinter over the last two years and is looking forward to pushing her limits again this year in Copenhagen. “Tonight was really great for stretching the legs and trying some new things. Racing against the boys, really takes us out of our comfort zone, which is what tonight is about for us in the lead into Worlds,” said McCulloch.

McCulloch reflected on the chance to race against Anna Meares and Emily Rosemond and the U19’s in the same competition, “It is really great for us. We can’t replicate this in training so have to use these types of competitions to try out new things and see where we are with our training. Racing against the guys is incredible, they are the best chance we have to race against similar competition we will face, the tope boys here can be compared to Vicky Pendleton and Willy Kanis and a few of the European riders,” added McCulloch.

Imogen Jelbart (CAR) has been racing for years as a junior and at only 15 she is dominating the u17 competition. “I have won all 6 races and I have National coming up in three weeks so very happy with how I am going. When I first rode Nationals I finished 10^th, now I am hoping for the win,” said Jalbert.

Fatehah Mustapa (MAL) was a little disappointed not to have the chance to race against Anna [Meares] or the other Australian riders, being confined to race against the Korean and local riders. “I would have liked to race against the tope Australian riders but racing against the Koreans is ok. I will come up against them at the Asia Games and Championships so it was good to come away with the win, “ said Mustapa.