Anna Meares spearheads the Aussie team as she locks horns with her British nemesis Victoria Pendleton. Pendleton beat Meares to individual sprint gold in 2008, but Meares punched home a point to win three sprint medals at the 2011 World Championships including a third team sprint title alongside Karlee McCulloch. Male sprint star Shane Perkins looks to rock home-favourite Sir Chris Hoy and has enjoyed a strong combination in the men's team sprint alongside Scott Sunderland and rising star Matthew Glaetzer on the road to London.
Australia’s male endurance ranks are full of youthful promise, with youngsters Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis and Michael Hepburn excelling each time they take to the track. The men's team pursuit team is becoming a well-oiled excitement machine looking not just for gold but also the world record in London. New to the endurance ranks teenager Alex Edmondson and his sister Annette Edmondson could become the first Australian brother/sister cycling combination to compete at the Olympic Games. The women are also focused on team pursuit glory, with 2010 world champions Josie Tomic and Ashlee Ankudinoff among the contenders. The exciting addition of the Omnium is sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats as the athletes battle through six gruelling events to reach an eventual winner.
CYCLING FORMAT
For the first time in Olympic cycling history, the number of track cycling events will have an even gender split, with five men’s and five women’s events on the program. There are three 'sprint' events- sprint, team sprint, keirin- and two 'endurance events'- team pursuit, omnium. Only one athlete or team can compete in each event.
- Sprint
Classic short distance event in which two or more riders cover three laps. Only the final 200 metres is timed. Riders obtain a seeding through the qualifying 200 metre flying time trial with 18 men and 12 women qualifying for the first round. From quarter final stage onwards rivals match up in best of three heats to determine progress to the following round.
- Team Sprint
In men's team sprint two teams of three riders compete against each other and the clock over three laps of the track. After one lap the first rider peels off to allow the second rider to set the pace. This rider completes their effort with one lap to go and then it is up to the final cyclist, traditionally a time trial specialist, to finish off. The leading rider must not swing up until a full lap is complete and must peel off between an area of 15 metres before and after their start line, otherwise the team will be disqualified. The fastest eight teams go through from the qualifying round to the first round and from there, the fastest two winning teams contest the race for gold and silver and the other two winners contest the race for bronze.
Women's team sprint follows the same format but involves only two riders from the start.
- Keirin
Up to seven riders compete over 2000m. A special motorised bike called a derny leads the field for the first 1,400m starting at 30km/h and bringing the riders up to a speed of 50km/h. Cyclists manoeuvre for the best position before the derny leaves the track. They then sprint for the finish line. The first two riders across the line in the qualifying heats go through to the first round with the losers contesting repechage heats. The two winners of each of three repechage heats go through to the first round. In the first round the first three riders in each of the two heats qualify for the medal final and the losers ride off for 7-12 place.
- Team Pursuit
Men's team pursuit involves four riders while women's teams comprise of three riders. The rider on the front of the quartet/trio must keep the pace as high as possible but must not ride so fast that they drop any of teammates. The front rider will swing up the track at the end of their “turn” and must smoothly rejoin the team in the fourth/third wheel position. The pace is then set by the rider now on the front of the group. The time is taken on the front wheel of the third rider across the line and it is often the case that only three riders will finish.
In the qualifying round each team rides alone on the track against the clock with the fastest eight teams going through. In the first round and finals, one team starts on each side of the track and they race each other and the clock. The fastest two winning teams of the first round contest the race for gold and silver and the other two winners race for bronze. In the finals the winner is determined by either catching the other team or recording the fastest time. A team is deemed to have been caught if the team chasing comes within one metre of the back wheel of the rider at the back of the rival team.
- Omnium
Omnium is a reasonably new event that sees six disciplines collide in an event attractive to endurance riders. It is known as the ‘heptathlon’ of track cycling and involves a medley event involving a Flying Lap (250m time trial), Points Race (30km for men, 20km for women), Individual Pursuit (4km for men, 3km for women), Scratch Race (15km for men, 10km for women), Kilometre Time Trial (500m for women) and finally an Elimination Race (every two laps the last rider over the line is eliminated).
QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION
Athletes secure places for Australia by attaining a high Olympic Track Ranking. The ranking includes results such as UCI World Cup “Classics” and the 2011 and 2012 World Championships.
The 2012 World Championships will be a precursor to the main event in London and will be held in Melbourne from April 4-8, 2011.
For all the Nomination and Selection documentation click here>>>
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC HISTORY
Since Edgar “Dunc” Gray won Australia’s first Olympic cycling medal in 1928, the nation has enjoyed a long and proud Olympic history. With nearly 40 medals won on the track, it is one of Australia’s most successful Olympic sports and has produced legends such as Russell Mockridge, Dean Woods, Kathy Watt, Stuart O’Grady, Bradley McGee and Anna Meares. Australia dominated the Olympic cycling podium at the Athens 2004 Olympics, winning 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze on the track.
To read more about Australia’s Olympic cycling history click here>>>