The world’s best track cyclists will be on show at Hisense Arena over the next three days, with Premier John Brumby joining world and Olympic champion Anna Meares today to launch the second round of the UCI Track World Cup.
Meares, who will compete in the women’s sprint, team sprint, 500m time trial and keirin in Melbourne, is looking forward to the tough program on one of her favourite velodromes.
“It’s a really good feeling (to be here), lots of energy, lots of excitement but a little bit of nerves in there as well,” the 26-year-old said.
“A home World Cup is always very important, there are only four legs of this World Cup in the world each year and we are very fortunate to have one in Australia and particular here in Melbourne where the crowd really do come and support the Australian cyclists.
“I have nothing but good feelings on this track and I love coming here.
“I haven’t raced here too often but the world championships in ’04 where I won a gold and a silver, and the Commonwealth Games in ’06 where I won a gold and a silver and also World Cup’s as well so it’s been fantastic with my history here and I am hoping the future will also be as positive.”
One of the more intriguing battles will be in the women’s sprint tomorrow night where she’ll come up against China’s Shaung Guo.
Meares and Guo have history on the track, having locked horns at the Beijing Olympics in the semi-final of the sprint when Guo was disqualified in front of her home crowd.
“(Guo) is one of those riders that you hate drawing because you know it is going to be really really difficult,” Meares said.
“In the quarter finals (in Beijing) we had to line up against each other four times which is really unusual in a sprint tournament.
“It would have been very tough to be disqualified in front of a home Olympic crowd and to her credit she is a beautiful person and has always still said hi to me and shaken my hand after a competition.
“She is definitely one of the toughest. I wouldn’t say the most aggressive, I think Klara Sanchez of France is one of the most aggressive and you could probably throw my hat in there there as well but definitely one of the toughest to come up against.”
The Melbourne round of the UCI Track World Cup will be held 19-21 November at Hisense Arena.
Tickets for the event start from $7 and are avalable through Ticketek
Event Schedual
Thursday 19 November
Day session (start 12 noon)
– Women’s sprint qualifying
– Women’s scratch race qualifying
– Women’s individual pursuit qualifying
– Men’s team sprint qualifying
– Men’s individual pursuit qualifying
– Men’s points race qualifying
Night session (start 7.00 pm)
– Men’s points race 30km final
– Men’s individual pursuit final
– Men’s team sprint final
– Women’s individual pursuit final
– Women’s scratch race final
– Women’s sprint final
Friday 20 November
Day session (start 12 noon)
– Men’s team pursuit qualifying
– Men’s keirin 1st round
– Men’s scratch race qualifying
– Women’s points race qualifying
– Women’s team sprint qualifying
Night session (start 7.00pm)
– Men’s 1000m time trial final
– Men’s keirin final
– Men’s team pursuit final
– Men’s scratch race final
– Women’s points race final
– Women’s team sprint final
Saturday 21 November
Day session (start 12 noon)
– Men’s sprint qualifying
– Men’s madison qualifying (if required)
– Women’s team pursuit qualifying
– Women’s keirin 1st round
Night session (start 7.00pm)
– Men’s madison final
– Men’s sprint final
– Women’s keirin final
– Women’s team pursuit
– Women’s 500m time trial final
For more information visit www.trackworldcup.com.au
Source: Cycling Australia
