So what did we all think of the UCI Track World Cup?

[Ljones]

For the first world cup or on that matter any sort of professional racing that I have viewed live i thought it was pretty great. Also this is just me trying to actually use our website and not just be an innocent bystander.

Oh and whilst I'm on who will be coming along to the Southern Cross Junior Open at Tempe. Its being held on Saturday the 19 January 2008. I know anyone who would come along apart from Theo wouldn't be competing since we only have two juniors and this is a juniors competition but I'm just looking for support here. Thanks

[Simon Llewellyn]

Track world cup was amazing. Every day of it was different and there are so many great moments...

My highlights were probably...

On Friday night the men's team sprint final and the men's points race were probably the pick of the bunch of the races. Watching Danial Ellis take out his first big senior medal was really awesome. Particularly how two years ago he was racing against Paddy in the U/19's. I also really enjoyed the points race because I learn so much about tactics and in particular about european racing. The race was won in the first five laps of like an 80 lap race, when the field was caught napping. 3-4 riders took a lap and Australia picked up the bronze.

On Saturday I think I would have to say The women's 500m Time Trial, the Men's Keiren and the Men's Scratch race were always going to be the races to watch. I was actually really disappointed to see Theo Bos lose to Chris Hoy though. I love seeing the showman win.. Paul Craft and Brownie had me in tears of laughter all night though. It was a really fun and enjoyable night.

Then Today was an exceptional day out. M<e Huw and Adrian sat right on the startling for the women's Kerin. So we could see the coaches giving the last minute preparation and I won't ever forget seeing how focused the riders were... The madison was also amazing. THe Dutch Lapped the field three times to win over the Spanish's two...

[fenn_paddler]

For the first world cup or on that matter any sort of professional racing that I have viewed live i thought it was pretty great. Also this is just me trying to actually use our website and not just be an innocent bystander.

I took the family on Sat night and really enjoyed the night overall.

Highlights were the 20k womens points race and the keiran. The 20k appeals because the riders have to be more than one-trick ponies. A bit of slow and fast twitch muscle to do well in this one. Sad to see the aussie girl (bates?) in tears being consoled after the event. I guess some nights you have the legs and some you don't, no matter how much the crowd is behind you.

The NRL scooter race was a waste of time - I'd only heard of one of the players (david peachey)....are Cadel and Robbie going to be the half time entertainment at the next footy match...maybe run around the field juggling fooballs to entertain the crowd?

Anyway we'll be back to dunc gray the next time there's a biggish event on. I see in the sunday paper it's costing bankstown taxpayers a considerable amount to keep open; I would be concerned that if a less sports-aware council gets in, they will push to shut it down and put the money into something that more directly benefits local taxpayers - most there on Sat night would not have been local council rate payers. I remember reading about the demolition of the 76 montreal olympics velodrome - apparently one of the finest, but was never financially viable after the olympics.

Cheers,
Alan

[mcrkennedy]

I went with my son on Sunday afternoon and we enjoyed ourselves. While it was mostly elimination sprint the highlight for us was the Madison. It was both chaos and theatre and yet you could still work out what was happening.

What was really interesting was to watch the Madison from the top of one of the banks. Watching 20 cyclists doing in excess of 50kph while 20 other cyclist strolled at about 30 kph and all of them looking like they were just on the track by themselves.

While my son did not know any of the rider it was great for me to see riders like Bailey, Macier, Hoy, Wiggins and Cavendish going around. I am sure that there were other great names riding while I was watching.


It a shame there were not more people there.

[Ljones]

Cadel and Robbie going as the half time entertainment, what a joke that would be.

[Huw]

I thought the Sydney World Cup was brilliant. I can honestly say that I enjoyed it more than any other sporting event I've been to. Probably that's because I like cycling more than any other sport. It's also the closest I've ever been to the athletes in a major sporting match. Stuff watching flyspecks playing aerial ping-pong from row Q, level 3 - I could see, hear and smell the athletes as they did battle on the track. OK, so maybe smell is too much information, but it's true, and they smelt better than me on the day. I could see the concentration, loneliness, strain and jubilation written on their faces. Events which permit such access to athletes of such high calibre are rare indeed.

I had goosebumps watching the sprints (it's true; ask Simon), and the madison turned out to be a classic memorable race.

I couldn't make it Friday or Saturday, but saw as much of Sunday's competiton as I could - 5 hours of world-class action. It cost me $30. A bargain at three times the price if you compare it to eyestrainers at Homebush.

I took 360 photos. That's 1.2 per minute. Most turned out blurry, but I've included some that I think are interesting.


Dunc Gray Velodrome



Women Kieran finalists await race start



Start of a Kieran final



Adrian, Simon and I got to sit right at the Women's Kieran start line. Amazing!



German sprinter, post-race, getting the star treatment from the team mechanic



The German mechanic had a unswerving eye for detail



Great Britain's Chris Hoy set for a start in a sprint final



A battle-royale about to erupt between Hoy and Bauge. Bauge won.



After beating Hoy, Bauge was matched against Baugain. Both riders here waiting the start.



A tired Bauge, gracious in defeat after being outmatched by Baugain

[mikesbytes]

Adrian, Simon and I got to sit right at the Women's Kieran start line. Amazing!

Look at that smile

[weiyun]

Women Kieran finalists await race start

It's obvious who are the indoors only specialists.

[Simon Llewellyn]

Here's a few of my photos from that session...


One of the dutch sprinters; Tim Veldt or Tuen Mulder


Hijgennar in the women's Keirin


THe German chick who caught our eye and I"m still not sure who she is?


World Champ Victoria Pendleton wins her heat against the dutch sprint champion for the weekend; Kanis...


Mark French keeps an eye on his German opposition in the first round of the sprint...


Kerrie Meares lines up for the women's keirin


A photo of Huw taking a photo...


My favourite bike of the weekend. An aluminium Merkx. Yep no carbon fibre in this frame but very quick!!!


All bikes should be loaded with a ghibli! THough the dura ace campag mix could be viewed to be blasphemy by some


About 90% of bikes at the Sydney track world cup were loaded with mavic five spokes. THe other 8% used front discs and the final 2% were four spokes and the were I think 2 sets of actual spoked wheels! But the tyres on this bike ooze class all the way!


This is a typical sprinters set up. disc, five spoke or four spoke in the case of the dutch and double straps with clipless pedals which are so tight they need to be hit to release...


You could feel the stress and focus generated by these sprinters from our seats...


Some German class!!


& a machine that generated alot of talk as the fork snapped on one of these machines in the women's team sprint with no one else in sight...