I just wanted to congratulate and salute the sterling performances put in by the British cycling team last night, winning three golds.
Chris Hoy, beat one of Cycling's strongest contenders in the form of Theo Bos (not Hugo as I thought) to go through to the semi finals of the sprint. In a heart-stopping final leg, Hoy came from at least two bike-lengths behind to pass the Dutchman and win by just half a wheel.
Gerraint Thomas (sounds like someone from Ang's neck of the woods), Paul Manning, Ed Clancy and Bradley Wiggins spectacularly broke the world 4,000m team pursuit record on their way to pick up the first gold medal of yesterday evening. The quartet recorded 3 min 56.322 seconds to break Australia’s hold on the World Record.
Rebecca Romero showed she also had the Midas touch when she beat last year’s champion Sarah Hammer in the final of the women’s 3,000m individual pursuit, beating her by over six seconds. This surprised most people because she has only been cycling professionally for eighteen months to two years having won gold in the quad skulls (rowing) in 2005.
Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade made it three in a row for Britain as they overcame a gate error (apparently, the "beep" didn't) and came from behind to take gold from the Chinese pair.
After topping the medals table in Palma de Mallorca in 2007, the team are hoping to make it 8 Golds this year.
It's actually nice to find something that GB are good at . . .
NB
Comments
We aren't good at it
we are brilliant at it. The rest are however catching up, but I think we're up to the challenge and have youngsters coming along behind. The lottery funded system can work. However, when will the recognition arrive, or will we still have pages and pages of bloody football in the newspapers because the braindead majority prefer it that way. Or is cycling just a bit of titivation for the press more concerned with pictures of Vickie Pendleton in very few clothes than in reporting her astonishing sprinting prowess. (Mind you I wouldn't mind seeing Chris Hoy in the buff! Oops!)
Angharad
(Blushing)
Angharad
Vicky all the way
Chris is not really not really my type!
NB
(blushing equally brightly)
At least cycleing gets some attention
Not like my sport of fencing where here in the US it's almost never mentioned...
Not bad was it?
The Manchester velodrome isn't a great venue for Theo Bos. He got well worked over at one of the Winter meetings I attended. Arguably Hoy's knocking him out of the sprint competition was the highlight. Well, perhaps not, but it shows the depth of British track cycling right now. Hoy's not my type either but I do admire his muscle definition - almost like my own ... but stronger - and faster :)
What is it now? 4 golds and a silver so far. Let's hope for more to come (come on Vicky!) this weekend and at the Olympics later.
Geoff
8 golds minimum
I have faith . . .
Bones beneath the Flesh
The quad skulls sounds fascinating. If it is just a question of shrinking them, I would imagine that Papua New Guinea would have a head start in normal circumstances, so for someone from a relatively sheltered UK background to win a gold at it is quite remarkable. I notice there is a suggestion that they were having a row at the time which might imply that it was done in the heat of the moment which might make it easier for the more squeamish I suppose. Although the odds of four to one must have seemed rather daunting. Nothing like old fashioned British Bulldog spirit though. Unless the four were having a row amongst themselves and were thus fatally distracted and were unaware of the danger until too late?
I can well understand why the girl retired to the comparatively bloodless sport of cycling after her 2005 success. That sort of thing must be rather taxing both physically and morally.
Hugs,
Fleurie
Another gold!
For the GB women! This time the team pursuit oh and they broke the world record!
Angharad 8))
Angharad
Well, Now That Great Britain Has Won
In cycling, we know that they have what it takes. I hope that our cyclists here can do as well.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
6 Golds for GB!
Chris Hoy wins the men's sprint title. What an athlete!
Angharad 8)))
Angharad
He is ...
... and he did it with his clothes on ;) Disappointed Angharad?
Still not much mention on the BBC though. If it's not football it doesn't count :(
Geoff
Thats nine
Well done Bradley, Mark and Chris for taking it to nine golds
NB
I am exhausted
Just watching them! Vickie P was brilliant, so was Chris H, but Brad & Cav - what a fightback in the madison. Nine golds, with possibly another tomorrow, is ten possible? After today, anything is possible.
Angharad
Angharad
Brad and Cav ...
... sounds rather like an opera programme but no sad clowns in the madison - at least not for we Brits with all our nationalities (Welsh, Scots, Irish and English) who are celebrating a sporting success the football team can only dream of. I watched the highlights of the madison on-line earlier this evening and Wiggins speed was amazing when he and Cavendish gained a lap. Madison's are fast, furious, confusing at times and very dangerous at times but always thrilling. What a world's for the UK track team. What a shame it'll all be forgotten when the serious business of football will once again dominate sports coverage.
Geoff