Golden Brits Clean Up On Beijing Olympic Track
by Justin Davis
BEIJING, Aug 16, 2008 (AFP) - Britain continued its dominance of the Olympic track cycling events here on Saturday by adding a further two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal to their impressive win in the men’s team sprint.
It got so bad that Scotland’s Chris Hoy, who won team sprint gold on Friday, had to avoid losing focus as a result of watching the Union Jack being hoisted in honor of his team-mates.
During a commanding second day of racing at the Laoshan Velodrome, Britain proved that, while it might have lost an Empire, its National Lottery-funded track programme remains a mighty force in the world of cycling.
Started 12 years ago, it is threatening to give Britain medals in every one of the 10 Olympic track events being held here until Tuesday. After just four finals, they have six medals in all.
Britain are guaranteed another two on Sunday, when Rebecca Romero faces team-mate Wendy Houvenaghel in the final of the women’s individual pursuit.
Englishman Chris Newton started things off Saturday when he claimed a well-deserved bronze in the points race, won by Spanish veteran Joan Llaneras who reclaimed the gold he won in Sydney in 2000 in commanding fashion.
Bradley Wiggins then successfully defended his Olympic crown when he beat New Zealand’s Hayden Roulston to gold in the individual pursuit.
Olympic debutant Steven Burke put his pursuit credentials on display by winning the match-up for the bronze medal against Russia’s Alexey Markov.
As they stepped up to the podium, Hoy - who anchored Britain to gold ahead of France on Friday - had to battle stay focused on the job ahead of beating five formidable rivals in the keirin final.
The 32-year-old from Edinburgh proved unstoppable as he added Olympic gold to his world title. But he admitted the “eventful day, with too many things happening” has caused him unexpected pre-race tension.
“I just tried to focus on my ride, that’s what I did, and to finish one-two on the podium is just unbelievable,” said Hoy, who was delighted to see fellow Scot Ross Edgar finish second to claim silver.
“Bradley was up on the podium for his medal just before the keirin final. I didn’t look at him, or the flag, because I knew that would just set me off.”
The 27-year-old Wiggins had on Friday set a new Olympic record in qualifying for the first round of the pursuit, but the Londoner was somewhat off that pace against Roulston.
Wiggins finished the final of the 4,000 metres race against the clock in a time of four minutes 16.9 seconds, leaving Roulston - who had led for the first 2,000 meters before trailing in the closing stages - with the silver.
Victory meant Wiggins, already Britain’s most decorated cyclist, had won his fifth Olympic medal and the first of three possible golds at these Games.
The Belgium-born time-trial specialist will also spearhead Britain’s pursuit team then pair up with Mark Cavendish in a bid to add Olympic gold to the Madison world title they won in March.
With victory in the coveted team event in mind, Wiggins added: “I had to play it safe, not chased world records,” he said.
“I’m pleased that it’s over. It’s one of three races.”
Even ahead of her final with Northern Irishwoman Houvenaghel, England’s reigning world pursuit champion Romero is assured of writing a page in the Olympic history books.
Romero won an Olympic rowing silver four years ago in the women’s quadruple sculls and will now become only the second woman, and the first Briton, to win medals from two different sports at the summer Games.
Roswitha Krause, of the former East Germany, won a swimming silver at the
1968 Games in Mexico from the women’s 4×100m relay and then won silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s handball in 1976 and 1980.
“I’m really pleased,” beamed Romero. “I’ve had coaches taking me aside and telling me I’ve made history! Now I have at least got the silver.”
Hoy will begin his bid for a third gold medal in the qualfying for the men’s sprint on Sunday.
He is the reigning world champion, and supremely confident.
“I’ve been doing personal bests for the last three weeks now, getting faster and faster,” he said.
“Who knows, if I wake up in the morning with fresh legs it could be a great day. If not, then we’ll just take it each stage as it comes.”
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