All eyes on Bobridge as Brits sight track gold
COPENHAGEN: Breaking 14-year-old world records might not yet be on Jack Bobridge’s radar, but all eyes should be riveted on the Australian today in the men’s pursuit at the world track championships.
ON TRACK: Bobridge (left) leads his teammates in training for the men’s team pursuit on the eve of the UCI World Track Championships in Ballerup near Copenhagen. — AFP photo
Bobridge, 20, was hailed the world’s fastest man over 4km (16 laps) under current rules last month when he posted a blistering time of 4min 14.427sec at his national championships.
It was well short of Chris Boardman’s 1996 world mark of 4:11.114 however the Briton’s feat was set using an aerodynamic stretched position that has since been banned by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Putting Bobridge’s achievement in perspective is not too difficult.
It was faster than the Olympic record set by Britain’s reigning Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins in Beijing — and the Adelaider is still only 20 years old. Beaten to the gold medal at last year’s world championships by American sensation Taylor Phinney, their expected match-up on could provide some early drama in the five-day competition.
Bobridge’s teammate Rohan Dennis also clocked an Australian record in Adelaide last month only to have Bobridge better it minutes later.
Both will contest the individual pursuit today, and coach Ian McKenzie hinted that the fast track conditions in Copenhagen will, like Adelaide, be conducive to some strong performances.
“It’s a bit of a tough one as to whether they’ll go as fast but it would be really nice if they do,” said McKenzie.
“The conditions were pretty much perfect in Adelaide so that contributed to the world-class times but having said that the track and conditions here seem pretty quick and I think they’ll both be very competitive.”
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy will saddle up for the keirin hoping to regain his crown having missed the championships last year due to injuries sustained in a keirin crash.
If he hadn’t already won gold in the men’s team sprint yesterday Hoy, who recently went under 10sec for the flying 200 metres in Manchester, will be hoping the superb form he has helps him to a British record 10th world title.
For Britain’s women meanwhile today could be a cause for double celebration.
World and Olympic sprint champion Victoria Pendleton will team up with Jess Varnish in a bid to regain the team sprint title while their pursuit team of Wendy Houvenaghel, Joanna Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead have their title to defend.
The men’s 15km scratch race, in which Frenchman Morgan Kneisky is reigning champion, will also be held today. — AFP