March 24/08 1:39 am - Track Worlds Preview
Posted by Editoress on 03/24/08
Track Worlds Manchester UK
Photos
It is less than two days until the start of the Track Worlds in Manchester, and most of the teams have been here almost a week preparing. Canada's team is all on site, now that Zach Bell arrived this afternoon, joining Gina Grain, Tara Whitten, Travis Smith, Martin Gilbert and Ryan Mckenzie.
While the Worlds is always a major focus, this year it takes on added importance as riders and nations have their last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics here.
For the Canadians, there are some strong chances. Zach Bell, despite his crash a few weeks ago in Australia is in good shape for the Points Race in Beijing and, barring major misfortune, should qualify. Gina Grain is also looking for a Points Race berth, although her chances are not quite as good as Bell's. Tara Whitten will need the ride of her life, and probably a top five result - which would possibly set up a battle between Whitten and Grain for the lone endurance spot in Beijing.
Gilbert and Mckenzie have to race a tactical competition. Right now, they are holding down the final position for Beijing in the Madison, and could potentially be dislodged by New Zealand, Japan or Korea, depending on where these squads finish in relation to the Canadians.
Unfortunately, barring a miracle, Travis Smith's hopes are slim. The time required to recover after his serious crash and injuries at last year's Worlds, has meant that he has few points and is low in the rankings.
Training continues tomorrow, with racing underway Wednesday.
| Wednesday March 26th | |
| 3:30pm to 4:50pm | |
| Men's Individual Pursuit | Qualifying |
| 6:30pm to 9:50pm | |
| Opening Ceremonies | |
| Women's 500m t.t. | Final |
| Men's Individual pursuit | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Men's Team sprint | Qualifying |
| Men's Scratch 15 km | Final |
| Men's Team sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Thursday March 27th | |
| 12.00pm to 4:50pm | |
| Men's Team pursuit | Qualifying |
| Men's Sprint 200m | Qualifying |
| Men's Sprint | 1/16 Final |
| Women's Individual | Qualifying |
| Men's Sprint | 1/8 Final |
| Men's Sprint | Rep. 1/8 |
| 6:30pm to 8:45pm | |
| Women's Team sprint | Qualifying |
| Men's Sprint | 1/4 Final (1st) |
| Men's Team pursuit | Final 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Men's Sprint | 1/4 Final (2nd) |
| Women's Individual pursuit | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Men's Sprint | 1/4 Final ( 3rd i.r. ) |
| Women's Team sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Men's Sprint | 5th to 8th places |
| Friday March 28th | |
| 2pm to 4:55pm | |
| Women's Sprint 200m t.t. (24) | Qualifying |
| Women's Sprint | 1/16 Final |
| Women's Team pursuit | Qualifying |
| Women's Sprint | 1/8 Final |
| Women's Sprint | Rep. 1/8 |
| 7pm to 10pm | |
| Men's Sprint | 1/2 Final 1st heat |
| Women's Team pursuit | Final 3-4 & 1-2 |
| Men's Sprint | 1/2 Final 2nd heat |
| Women's Sprint | 1/4 Final (1st) |
| Men's Sprint | 1/2 Final ( 3rd i.r. ) |
| Men's Points race 40 km | Final |
| Women's Sprint | 1/4 Final (2nd) |
| Men's Sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 (1st ) |
| Women's Sprint | 1/4 Final ( 3rd i.r. ) |
| Men's Sprint | Final 3-4 & 1-2 (2nd) |
| Men's Sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 (3rd) |
| Women's Sprint | 5th to 8th places |
| Saturday March 29th | |
| 12:30pm to 4:40pm | |
| Women's Sprint | 1/2 Final 1st heat |
| Men's Keirin | 1st round |
| Women's Sprint | 1/2 Final 2nd heat |
| Men's Keirin | Repechages |
| Women's Sprint | 1/2 Final ( 3rd i.r. ) |
| Women's Points race 25 km | Final |
| Women's Sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 (1st) |
| Men's Keirin | 2nd round |
| Women's Sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 (2nd) |
| Men's Madison 50 km | Final |
| Women's Sprint | Finals 3-4 & 1-2 (3rd) |
| Men's Keirin | Final places 7 to 12 |
| Men's Keirin | Final 1 - 6 |
| Sunday March 30th | |
| 11am to 1:15pm | |
| Men's Omnium I | Sprint 200m t.t. |
| Women's Keirin | 1st round |
| Men's Omnium II | Scratch 5 km |
| Women's Keirin | Repechages |
| Men's Omnium III | Individual Pursuit |
| 2:30 to 6:05pm | |
| Men's Kilometre t.t. | Final |
| Men's Omnium IV | Points race 15 km |
| Women's Keirin | 2nd round |
| Women's Scratch 10 km | Final |
| Men's Omnium Final | Kilometre t.t. |
| Women's Keirin | Final places 7 to 12 |
| Women's Keirin | Final 1 - 6 |
Race Notes
- Ryan's bed is the 'hot' place to be at the team hotel ... the reason is that for some reason he can access free Wifi at the location of his bed - the hotel charge is a staggering $23/day.
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