Two Gold medals and a world record created something of a fantasy opening for Team GB at the Track World Championships in Australia yesterday (April 4), but there was disappointment too, particularly for Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton. The Men’s Team Pursuit squad – Edward Clancy, Steven Burke, Peter Kennaugh and Geraint Thomas – stunned the Oz home crowd by taking top spot in a record time of 3:53.295, with Ben Swift scoring the Brits second Gold in the men’s Scratch race. On the flip side Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton only managed a disappointing fourth in the Women’s Team Sprint having been nudged out of the medals by China and Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Chris Hoy, who had been expected to race for Bronze in their opening event, found themselves relegated for a minor infringement regarding illegal changes between riders.
As if proof were really needed that the Championships are likely to continue to be an emotional rollercoaster the latest news from day two (April 5) is that the Women’s Team Pursuit squad of Laura Trott, Danielle King and Joanna Roswell have set a new World Record of 3:16.850 in qualifying, setting them up for the possibility of matching yesterday’s Mens’ success.
