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Games of the 30th Olympiad, London 2012 

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Track Day 6 - Meares sprint GOLD, Trott, Omnium GOLD

London 2012, Velodrome

Race Writeup

Sprint - Meares Gold

Anna Meares (AUS) finally secured the Olympic Sprint Gold medal against her biggest rival on her home turf. Vicki Pendleton (GBR) was beaten to in two straight races. The star of British women's sprinting for the last 10 years bowed out of cycling with one final medal. In the battle for Bronze, China's Shuang Guo, who had the expectations of her nation, beat Kristina Vogel (GER) in two straight to win Bronze.

The home crowd, were a wall of noise as Pendleton and Meares 

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Results  

Final

Semi-Finals

Omnium - Trott GOLD, Hammer SILVER, Edmondson BRONZE

Laura Trott (GBR) today became the youngest double medal winner in women's track cycling. Trott won her second medal, taking over the record of Anna Meares (AUS) (Athens 2004). Trott became the second British woman with multiple medals in cycling track, after Victoria Pendleton. Trott at just over 20, also became the second youngest person to win two gold medals in track cycling. Burton Downing (USA) won two gold medals in the men's 25 mile race and the 2 mile race at age 19 years and 182 days at St Louis 1904. 

After taking silver in the women's team pursuit, Sarah Hammer (USA) another silver medal to her tally. Prior to 2012, the United States' last woman with a medal in cycling track was Rebecca Twigg (USA) in women's 3km individual pursuit at Barcelona 1992. Annette Edmondson (AUS) won bronze, making Australia the first country to win 10 medals in women's track cycling in Olympics. In the end Trott won by a two-point difference with victory in three of the six events in the inaugural Olympic omnium

500m TT

The final event was a nail biter. Trott was fastest in the 500m Time Trial to complete the dream win. Trott and Hammer were the last to ride against the clock. Trott set a searing 35.110 seconds ahead of Annette Edmondson. Clara Sanchez (FRA), a sprint specialist, who before the Olympics had not ridden an Omnium in International competition, was sitting in 18^th place before the 500m TT. In a field of endurance riders, Sanchez’s third place defined the overall result. She finished behind Trott in the sprint-friendly flying lap and 500m time trial events, but ahead of Hammer which cost Hammer two points that proved costly to the American.

The scratch race was full of attacks and aggression right from the start.  Going in, Sarah Hammer (USA) and Laura Trott (GBR) were separated by one point, with Tara Whitten (CAN) and Australian Annette Edmondson tied at 21 points for third, eight points behind Hammer. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) and Malgorzato Wojtyra POL) attacked immediately.

Trott, Whitten and Edmondson were all active at the front. Hammer was towards the back.

Trott accelerated on the front then slowed. This slowed the bunch which allowed Kirstin Wild (NED) to attack. Jolien D'Hoore (BEL) chased Wild but she had half a lap. Tatiana Sharakova (BLR) and Edmondson chased. Trott reacted which forced Whitten to chase.  Six leaders formed but not for long. Whitten, Edmondson, Trott, Sharakova, D'Hoore and Evgeniya Romanyuta (RUS) made up the front of the race. The peloton chased hard to bring the race back together.

With 20 laps to go, Sharakova decided to attack again. D’Hoore and Maria Calle Williams (COL) went with her but Whitten and Edmondson's spot the move and close the gap.

Whitten and Hammer react to a move by the Russian Romanyuta and China’s Li Huang to bring it all back together.

Trott and Hammer were on each other’s wheels when Wojtyra tried to go again. With 13 laps to go, the bunch were sitting tight together. With 10km, Hammer put in a big attack D'Hoore could not hold the wheel but Edmondson brought it back.

Leirie Olaberria (SPN) attacked with 7 laps to go, she's was joined by Angie Gonzalez (VEN) and Calle (COL).

Things tightened up again with 3 laps to go. Trott moved to the front, Hammer, Edmondson, D'Hoore and Wild all moved up. Hammer went with 2 to go. Edmondson matched her and attacked with one to go to win.

With the final 500m last, the battle for Gold was between Hammer and Trott. Hammer needed to finish no lower than third. In the event of a tie on points, the cumulative time in the timed events will be the tie breaker. Hammer had the advantage after her win in the pursuit.

Laura TROTT (GBR) – gold On securing gold in the final 500m time trial, "I cannot believe this is happening to me. I was losing my head a little bit between the events because they weren't going the way I wanted them to. I am so happy."

On her form during the Olympic Games, at which she also won gold in team pursuit, "My coaches really helped me to peak on time. I couldn't ask from much more from the coaching staff. They've helped me improve so much since worlds (championships). My family and friends are here, and the support of the crowd."

On support from her family, "I couldn't have done it without them. The amount of money they put in when I was young and they had to take me everywhere. My dad had to give up his cricket. I am so happy and I cannot thank everyone enough."

On the crowd, "It is crazy, they definitely helped me. My legs were killing me. It feels like the roof is getting lifted off. The crowd was chanting my name and I thought 'I am not going to let them down.”

On whether she thought she could win two gold medals, "I wouldn't have put it totally out of the picture after winning two in Melbourne (at the 2012 world championships)."

On the final event, the 500m time trial, "I'm never normally that nervous because I am good at it. Not many people can put three points into Sarah Hammer (USA)."

On the promise she made to her sister Emma (Trott), "I promised her a car if I won both (medals), so there goes the prize money."

On whether she felt 2012 was too soon for her, "I never thought I would make it to 2012, even my dad said 2016 and I thought 'that is so far away.”

More to come

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Photos   Click on any image to enlarge >>

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