Olympic track cycling predictions

[King Boonen]

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

Is he just about to start a ban? I thought he'd already served it?

 

[lanternrouge]

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.

Aussies resorting to desperate measures now to try and get a medal? What a sad little man you are.

 

[JimmyFingers]

Is he just about to start a ban? I thought he'd already served it?

Similar to Contador they back-dated it, so stripped him of some medals he won last year and first half of this year, but allowed him to ride the Olympics. So basically he's never really served a ban, just lost the titles he achieved. Shouldn't be riding now IMO

So yes I got it wrong d'oh

 

[King Boonen]

Similar to Contador they back-dated it, so stripped him of some medals he won last year and first half of this year, but allowed him to ride the Olympics. So basically he's never really served a ban, just lost the titles he achieved. Shouldn't be riding now IMO

Yes, but they had to do that. I don't think they could strip him of all medals won since the last missed date and then ban him from a later date as well.

To be honest surely they have a system in place that would have told them within a few hours that it was his third missed test? If not there's a massive contract in there for any database programmers around.

 

[JimmyFingers]

This is the thing: ban when they miss, don't let them race and compete and earn sponsorship money/endorsements etc rather than retro-actively take medals away, or ban once investigations and all appeals have been heard so the rider can't continue to compete and train at the top level.

he lost titles yes, but there was no interruption to his experience, training and competition, wish means he is still in top condition. A condition which is suspect. Another bungled case from the UCI.

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

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.

I feel like the Chinese did just that. The second rider passed essentially right at the end of one lap. So maybe the first rider pulled for 249m and the second pulled for 251m. If the first rider has to still be in front at the pursuit line, then aren't they riding on the front for a little bit more than a lap and the second rider less? IMO, the Chinese did the exchange exactly at the point that was originally intended in the team sprint, with each rider pull one full lap.

 

[King Boonen]

I feel like the Chinese did just that. The second rider passed essentially right at the end of one lap. So maybe the first rider pulled for 249m and the second pulled for 251m. If the first rider has to still be in front at the pursuit line, then aren't they riding on the front for a little bit more than a lap and the second rider less? IMO, the Chinese did the exchange exactly at the point that was originally intended in the team sprint, with each rider pull one full lap.

I agree with you, but it's still the rules and they knew they would be enforced since the worlds.

It's not a great rule, but it is the rule. I would have liked to see the photo Boardman said he'd seen though.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

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.

The round it happened in, they only needed a top 8 time, so frankly it had no effect on the result anyway.

Still pretty stupid from Hindes to admit it - Hoy looked horrified in the interview watching him.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Massive Bluff from Aus if they're anywhere near - 2 crap rides in the TP so far.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Embarassing from the Aussy women.

3 Victory rides for the British at this rate, rest of the world are bloody miles off the pace.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

All the difference is in the final km - does everyone else know you need to ride to the end?

 

[3wheeler]

Awesome GB,, Smash em guys.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Home crowd motivation. Wont get her the Sprint but may just get her the Keirin.

Well, you both called it. Meares did not seem he usual self but Pendleton looked strong.

 

[CobbleStoner]

they should put the tandem sprint back in instead of the new team sprint, or at least the 2 man team sprint that they do at 6-days, where the 2 riders slowly get up to speed at the top of the track, then the front guy hand slings the sprinter into the last lap.

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).

do you realize that velodrome was concrete and outside? hardly smooth, like indoor boards. I crashed on the 7-11 velodrome before the 84 Olympics and not only did it rip up my whole side, but the paramedics came up to me and told me they were going to have to scrub out the lead paint from my wounds that came off the surface, they changed to a non-lead paint for the games, nice of them to let let us local racers be the ginny pigs

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gutted for Anna but hopefully she will come back and win Gold in the sprint.

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

I agree with you, but it's still the rules and they knew they would be enforced since the worlds.

It's not a great rule, but it is the rule. I would have liked to see the photo Boardman said he'd seen though.

It's an interpretation of the rules that has been in place this year, but the actual rules do not stipulate that the lead rider must be in front at the pursuit line.

The rules say the lead rider must draw away in a 30 metre section of track which is centred on the pursuit line.

 

[LugHugger]

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

Point of order - Canoe slalom course has been open to the public since last year. There are a number of new local clubs started and expect the sport to gain more prominence in the uk over the next few years.
No idea about water polo though!

 

[greenedge]

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.

Glenn O Shea is the favourite for omnium in my view. Clancy is good and evidently on great form but he seems to lack speed.

Laura Trott has a better chance for GB in the omnium.

 

[search]

Glenn O Shea is the favourite for omnium in my view. Clancy is good and evidently on great form but he seems to lack speed.

I don't think o'Shea is the favorite, his poor performance in the team pursuit was the reason Australia couldn't fight for (or at least be closer to) gold, I doubt he is in perfect shape.

There are at least ~10 riders who can win the omnium, I hope for Kluge to win but I think Zach Bell is slight favorite (for just being most consistence)

 

[LugHugger]

Glenn O Shea is the favourite for omnium in my view. Clancy is good and evidently on great form but he seems to lack speed.

Laura Trott has a better chance for GB in the omnium.

So Clancy lacks speed, eh?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I don't think o'Shea is the favorite, his poor performance in the team pursuit was the reason Australia couldn't fight for (or at least be closer to) gold, I doubt he is in perfect shape.

There are at least ~10 riders who can win the omnium, I hope for Kluge to win but I think Zach Bell is slight favorite (for just being most consistence)

He did a very similar pursuit at the Melbourne Worlds where he dropped out early and went on to win the Omnium so I don't see your logic.

 

[search]

He did a very similar pursuit at the Melbourne Worlds where he dropped out early and went on to win the Omnium so I don't see your logic.

Maybe I have to watch it again, but I'm pretty sure he did longer turns in Melbourne.

I don't say he can't win the Omnium, he just isn't the favorite from my point of view.

 

[JimmyFingers]

terrible call relegating the Venezuelan

 

[Avoriaz]

terrible call relegating the Venezuelan

Agree. Would be good to see an official explanation for that. The Aussie guy was trying to climb inside him

 

[spalco]

As far as I understand, the Australian crossed below the red line first, trying to go on the inside and the Venzuelan closed the gap. I very much question wether the decision would have been made the same way with reverse positions though...