Olympic track cycling predictions

[Catwhoorg]

UCI ruels for DQ are:

1) if a rider draws away by more than 15 metres before the end of the lap that he is to lead
2) if a rider does not draw away by more than 15 metres after the end of the lap that he was supposed
to lead
3) if one rider pushes another.


Taking 1 and 2 together that's a 30 m 'window' on a 250m track.

If the UCI wish to keep the window, then some serious track marking changes are needed. A clear fixed line across the whole track showing the start and end of the window.

16.5 secs (average today for the women for 200m and thats sprinters line to finish - correct ?)

thats a 2.5 sec 'window' (roughly)for the 30m.

Tight but not too silly.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

UCI ruels for DQ are:

1) if a rider draws away by more than 15 metres before the end of the lap that he is to lead
2) if a rider does not draw away by more than 15 metres after the end of the lap that he was supposed
to lead
3) if one rider pushes another.


Taking 1 and 2 together that's a 30 m 'window' on a 250m track.

16.5 secs/lap (rough average of the event today), thats 1.95 secs.
not quite as narrow as I thought.

If the UCI wish to keep the window, then some serious track marking changes are needed. A clear fixed line across the whole track showing the start and end of the window.

I hope that isn't a direct copy and paste, because if so they can't even draft regulations without scope confusions in the language. The insertion of the word by seems to serve no purpose other than to make the rule mean something they apparently don't.

 

[Catwhoorg]

It is direct cut and paste I am afraid.

First time reading the track rules in a long time. Boy have they got messed up.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/g...bjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NDk3OTg&LangId=1

(Page 33 for the cut and paste)

 

[Morbius]

This really seems like a rule for the sake or a rule, rather than one that prevents an unfair advantage.
Like the rule that says you cannot get more than 15m ahead. What is the advantage to the second rider of being dropped? Surely it is far more distance than you would use if you want to accelerate up to the back wheel before overtaking.

 

[willbick]

i really dont understandf the point of these overtaking rules. surely the point of the team sprint is to get the last man/woman to the finish line as fast as possible. what does it matter when they hit the front? if the leadout rider does 10 metres or 500 metres why should it matter?

 

[Jeriko]

I haven't seen this discussed anywhere yet, so what do we make of Hindes admitting he crashed to get a restart after messing up his start? I'm not much of a trackie so how is that sort of thing viewed?

I'm astonished at how openly Hindes has talked about it given how badly it makes them look. It's one thing to let slip during the post race interview that you faked it, but I've also seen him quoted as saying the team had discussed such a scenario and that Hoy and Kenny were cool with the whole thing. Why is he saying so much?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/britains-hindes-admits-to-crashing-purposely-in-team-sprint_232933

 

[avanti]

I haven't seen this discussed anywhere yet, so what do we make of Hindes admitting he crashed to get a restart after messing up his start? .................

I heard that the US pursuit team crashed on purpose during the 84 Olympics (a low risk tactic at the time seeing how smooth the 7-11 velodrome was).

Watch out for the UCI to update the rules.

 

[Ferminal]

Don't worry about fixing the rules, just get rid of the pathetic event.

GB excellent, don't know what to say about Germany.

 

[abbaskip]

Pathetic event? I like the TP. It's ridiculous the number of track events they've already taken out. We should be adding, not taking away events.

Pity Australia only have three good riders riding. It'd be a real contest if someone like Cam Meyer (even Renshaw and Goss were gun pursuiters early in their careers) committed to it too.

Badminton teams were DQed for it. We'll see double standards here for sure.

 

[Morbius]

I think it's bad, though not as bad as deliberately losing. Having said that, I'd like to hear from a track racer to see if using the rules like this is considered accepted practice.

In restrospect, it was interesting that on the BBC coverage, equipment guru Boardman said there was something wrong with the steering and never mentioned deliberately falling. I suspect he knew what happened.

 

[Ferminal]

Pathetic event? I like the TP. It's ridiculous the number of track events they've already taken out. We should be adding, not taking away events.

Yes, it's a pathetic event with the rules the way they are. It should be the fastest team (one person) to the line however you want to achieve it. Instead they try and make each person do exactly 250m and the event has descended into a farce in two consecutive major competitions.

Either fix the rules or dump it in favour of the Kilo or IP, events where you actually know the result as the rider crosses the line.

 

[greenedge]

those are the boring, predictable events. and who cares about an omnium? except the cat IV riders that are doing it.
who is going to win the Madison? the Kilo? the Individual Pursuit? the Points race? this is where the drama is, oh wait, the IOC got rid of all those events.
I can't wait to see who wins the BMX 'kiddie' race.... lol

out of those 4 i would choose the IV and the points race.

Bobridge and Meyer would have owned.

 

[spalco]

What if they just made Team Sprint heats "best time out of two"? Then it wouldn't matter if one run gets stricken because of this rule. Or does it take too much energy out of the riders to do that?

 

[woodie]

Yes, it's a pathetic event with the rules the way they are. It should be the fastest team (one person) to the line however you want to achieve it. Instead they try and make each person do exactly 250m and the event has descended into a farce in two consecutive major competitions.

Either fix the rules or dump it in favour of the Kilo or IP, events where you actually know the result as the rider crosses the line.

They all know the rules. They are all trying to do the sneaky get the run at the wheel. I refuse to believe that with the level these people are at they get confused about where the mark is, maybe they can make it a bigger cone or something but they all know the rules

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just putting it out there, I think Team GB should have their medals taken away for what Hindes admitted to doing. Not in the spirit of the Games nor in the spirit of fair sport.

If you miss the change over area, you do not deserve to win because you broke the rules.

 

[Ferminal]

They all know the rules. They are all trying to do the sneaky get the run at the wheel. I refuse to believe that with the level these people are at they get confused about where the mark is, maybe they can make it a bigger cone or something but they all know the rules

Yes, the rules were enforced correctly, my problem is not with the decision. My problem is that the rules do not produce the best sporting outcome.

 

[Hawkwood]

out of those 4 i would choose the IV and the points race.

Bobridge and Meyer would have owned.

It seems stupid to have a massively expensive indoor track and then use it for two hours on the first day. Didn't the UCI dump the events because it said there wasn't time in the schedule to run them all? It also seems daft to only allow one rider per country for each event, especially when in other sports, swimming, canoeing etc this is not the case. Okay so I'm British so am biased, however Bauge has said it's stupid not including Hoy in the sprint.

 

[JimmyFingers]

The French seem bitter about winning silver because of Hindes admission, but it didn't happen when riding against them. They got beaten legitimatly in a world record time: should accept you were beaten by a better athletic achievement, rather than hope for a DQ and easier opponents.

Also don't think Bauge should be riding these Olympics as he's about to start a ban, and the fact they fielded Bourgain in the Road Race. Any negative aspect of Hindes' action when held up in that mirror seems fairly benign.

Forsteman is another of course.

And we need the Kilo and IP back desperately. Crazy the IOC wants to make the Olympics a lesser event than the World Champs

 

[Hawkwood]

The French seem bitter about winning silver because of Hindes admission, but it didn't happen when riding against them. They got beaten legitimatly in a world record time: should accept you were beaten by a better athletic achievement, rather than hope for a DQ and easier opponents.

Also don't think Bauge should be riding these Olympics as he's about to start a ban, and the fact they fielded Bourgain in the Road Race. Any negative aspect of Hindes' action when held up in that mirror seems fairly benign.

Forsteman is another of course.

And we need the Kilo and IP back desperately. Crazy the IOC wants to make the Olympics a lesser event than the World Champs

I've made the point before I think, the kilo is a pure event in the tradition of the original olympics, not subject to random rules. The IP is another pure event and should never have been dropped.

And at what point will they decide that building expensive velodromes for Olympic Games only for them to be used for just a few events is a waste of money?

 

[King Boonen]

Just putting it out there, I think Team GB should have their medals taken away for what Hindes admitted to doing. Not in the spirit of the Games nor in the spirit of fair sport.

If you miss the change over area, you do not deserve to win because you broke the rules.

Well put it back it's part of the rules and they played within them. you might not like it but you can't complain about it.

In regard to the early change, I'm undecided. If you believe the rule should change here surely it should change in athletics? The point is that everyone rides the same distance on each team, afterall it is a team event. I think it's harsh but fair. Everyone knew it would happen after the worlds and as has been pointed out, 2.5 seconds or so to change is not that narrow a window at all.


I'm not sure I dare to say this, but based on their form could we see a gold medal sweep for the GB men? Not sure about Clancy or Kenny, but both look very good, although Clancy will struggle in the omnium I think.

 

[spalco]

I've made the point before I think, the kilo is a pure event in the tradition of the original olympics, not subject to random rules. The IP is another pure event and should never have been dropped.

And at what point will they decide that building expensive velodromes for Olympic Games only for them to be used for just a few events is a waste of money?

I'm pretty sure the London velodrome will find more use post-Olympics than the canoe slalom course and the waterpolo arena.

 

[King Boonen]

I'm pretty sure the London velodrome will find more use post-Olympics than the canoe slalom course and the waterpolo arena.

Which is also a massive shame. I wish I could go back to canoeing.

It will be interesting to see if the useage tales off. I reckon it'll be high at first but will drop considerably over two years.

 

[Hawkwood]

I'm pretty sure the London velodrome will find more use post-Olympics than the canoe slalom course and the waterpolo arena.

One of the people responsible for building the veleodrome gave a talk where I work. He said the velodrome came in ahead of schedule and within budget, it was designed to be very energy efficient, so hopefully it will have a viable future.

 

[JimmyFingers]

I'm pretty sure the London velodrome will find more use post-Olympics than the canoe slalom course and the waterpolo arena.

Already hosted a World Cup event and really is the best velodrome in the world right now, isn't it? World Championship venue for the future. Everyone likes riding there, its the fastest track there is.

As for Hindes fall, gamesmanship not cheating. It's not pretty but no worse than a football player feeling a touch in the penalty area and going down, or a F1 driver slowing to let a teammate pass. If it isn't against the rules there shouldn't be any teeth gnashing. as I said certainly no worse than fielding an athlete that has missed 3 tests and due to start a ban, or hiding riders in other disciplines to bolster your track team

 

[richtea]

As for Hindes fall, gamesmanship not cheating.

Poor teenager clearly doesn't have enough years under his belt to handle the media yet - you could see Hoy and Kenny wincing during that interview. Hope it doesn't stop him enjoying his well earned victory.