Witten by: Justin Davis

APELDOORN, Netherlands, March 28, 2011 – Britain’s Olympic track
cycling hopefuls were keeping a stiff upper lip Sunday as rivals Australia
capped a hugely successful campaign at the world championships.

Heading into the final day of competition Dave Brailsford’s Britain team —
who won seven of the 10 Olympic track golds in Beijing in 2008 — had only one
gold to be proud of, from the women’s team pursuit.

Australia had six in the bag already, and after the final four events they
added two more — from the women’s keirin and Madison — to walk away with
eight titles and 11 medals in total from 19 finals.

From a purely Olympic perspective, Britain fared not too badly winning
medals in seven events while Australia won gold in six — the team pursuit,
women’s sprint and teamn sprint, women’s and men’s keirin and men’s omnium.

France, thanks mainly to their men’s sprint team and individual sprint
winner Gregory Bauge, finished second on two gold and a total of seven while
Belarus were third with two gold.

Britain finished fourth with one gold, three silver and five bronze for a
tally which, at least to outsiders, may raise a few eyebrows 15 months out
from London 2012.

Although Australia have signaled their return to the world stage after
Anna Meares won their sole track medal, a silver from the women’s sprint, in
Beijing, Britain seem unfazed.

As they did in the lead-up to the 2008 Games, Brailsford will expect his
team to raise their game for the Olympic challenge at home. With the backdrop
of London 2012 looming, that means he believes Australia’s results here are
“irrelevant”.

“If you took the emotion out of the situation, it’s irrelevant,” he said
Sunday.

“If it was different nations would we be saying the same?

“What’s the difference? You’ve got to beat the person on the line,
regardless what their nation is.

“We can only make the team of athletes the best that they can be.”
Australia’s athletes will see it differently.

Meares leaves the championships having completed a clean sweep of the
sprint events, adding the keirin crown to the team sprint and sprint titles
she won earlier.

All three are Olympic events.

Although Britain did not use their top pursuit team in an event won by
Australia here, they are likely to be the team to beat when Bradley Wiggins
and Geraint Thomas return in time for the Games.

Triple Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy was ousted in the semi-finals by
Englishman Jason Kenny, leading to suggestions the Scot has dropped down the
pecking order. Only one sprinter is allowed per country at the Games.

Despite both Hoy and Victoria Pendleton relinquishing their respective
keirin and sprint titles to Australian rivals here, Brailsford added he
expects both to raise their game in the run-up to London.

“As these individuals get towards the end of their careers, they need the
big stage to make all the little sacrifices,” he added.

“In Chris’ case he needs that Olympic drive to really make the sacrifices
that he needs to make.

“Likewise with Vicky. She’s the only rider here who took a ride off Meares
(in the sprint). There’s room for optimism there.”

Meares meanwhile believes her recent success will boost her chances of
stunning Pendleton again, in London.

“We’re in great stead. It’s a boost for morale, for sure,” said the
27-year-old Queenslander.

“Morale carries confidence and self-esteem and all those kinds of things
snowball into the team around us as well.”

Meares admitted, however, that she had every respect for Pendleton, who has
five world sprint titles and four in a row.

“Victoria’s an incredible champion, so for someone to be able to beat
her…. it’s a huge burden for Vicky to hold. She’s held that for so many
years, and that’s difficult,” added Meares.

“I hope that having won three here I can somehow carry that momentum, that
respect of what a world champion holds.”

Pendleton said after being ousted from the sprint she would return “with a
vengeance” to challenge Meares in 2012, at the world championships and Olympic
Games.

After her keirin elimination in the second round Sunday, the 30-year-old
Englishwoman tried to put her mediocre championships into perspective.

“I’m definitely under par and she’s in the form of her life. It’s difficult
to compare,” said Pendleton.

“I’m still really positive about the Olympics and getting there in the best
form and that is the most important thing.

“I’m excited about the Olympics and maybe I’m losing excitement about the
Worlds.”

Article: AFP