Track World Cup Round 2 - Colombia

Beasty

Starts today in Cali today, running until Saturday. Can't find any TV listings, but in case there is any delayed coverage could posters please use spoiler tags with any race info

Irish representatives are Martyn Irvine and Ciara Horne. The Omnium starts today with an initial qualifying event, the flying lap and points race this afternoon, and elimination race later on

Looks like some weakened teams (GB have only sent a team of 3 women), which hopefully gives Martyn a chance of some big Olympic qualifying points. This could well be the make or break event for his Olympic hopes following his DSQ last time

EDIT - just noticed Caroline Ryan is also there representing the Cunga team in the individual pursuit

The Jaw

Sorry Beasty, but why did Martyn get DQ'd in Boratville? I read his blog and although very frustrated, he does not actually say what happened.

Harrybelafonte

The Jaw wrote: »

Sorry Beasty, but why did Martyn get DQ'd in Boratville? I read his blog and although very frustrated, he does not actually say what happened.

He was DQ for taking too longto drop out after coming in last in the elimination race

Beasty

This year they have introduced small lights on the bars that flash red when a rider is eliminated. At the previous event (the Eurpoean championships) there had still been problems with clearly eliminated riders continuing in the event which then was neutralised a couple of times to get them off the track (I think this was the first time they had used the new system)

They therefore clamped down in Astana, with strict enforcement and Martyn became the first victim of the new "regime". In his case I believe he genuinely did not get the opportunity to look down at the light (he was in the middle of the bunch by then I believe) before they DQ'd him for taking too long to leave the track. It meant he was eliminated from the whole competition and didn't even pick up the 10 Olympic qualifying points available just for turning up.

GlennaMaddy

Sunday at 10am on Brit Eurosport, not sure if it'll cover the omnium.

G'wan Marty!

Harrybelafonte

Live feed here: http://www.trackcyclingnews.com/cali11tv.html

Not exactly top quality, but still...

Beasty

Omnium 1st day

Having got through the qualifying points race the first proper event was the Flying lap, with Martyn finishing 7th. In the points race he finished 9th, and 14th in the elimination race

The good news however is that 3 riders, from New Zealand (currently 1st in the Olympic rankings), Italy (7th) and Spain (6th) were all disqualified from the elimination race, meaning they will pick up no Olympic qualification points

This has allowed Martyn to take 6th place overall - In terms of the European teams France leads the competition with Denmark just ahead of Martyn in 5th place

However he now has a great chance to pick up some good points with the 3 disqualified riders out of the way (and GB not sending anyone to the event), and some of his stronger events to come later today

The European teams ahead of Ireland in the Olympic rankings are:
Russia (currently 15th place in Cali)
Netherlands (failed to qualify)
Belgium (8th)
Poland (21st)
Denmark (5th)

So if he can get ahead of the Dane he could make some significant inroads (he needs to overtake 3 of those riders ahead of him in the rankings to qualify for the Olympics)

The Jaw

Beasty wrote: »

This year they have introduced small lights on the bars that flash red when a rider is eliminated. At the previous event (the Eurpoean championships) there had still been problems with clearly eliminated riders continuing in the event which then was neutralised a couple of times to get them off the track (I think this was the first time they had used the new system)

They therefore clamped down in Astana, with strict enforcement and Martyn became the first victim of the new "regime". In his case I believe he genuinely did not get the opportunity to look down at the light (he was in the middle of the bunch by then I believe) before they DQ'd him for taking too long to leave the track. It meant he was eliminated from the whole competition and didn't even pick up the 10 Olympic qualifying points available just for turning up.

Cheers for that Beasty. Seems pretty harsh, but I suppose it is a mistake he wont make again. Its a real pity through after flying out there etc.

He isreally getting used to the bunch racing, so fingers crossed he does well this weekend.

RobFowl

Womens Pursuit results

Caroline Ryan 7th in individual pursuit with 3.40. Ciara Horne 11th with 3.42.

Beasty

Omnium 4k pursuit

4:29.382 for Martyn in the pursuit, taking 8th place

I reckon Martyn drops a place to 7th in the competition, a point behind the Australian

Importantly his main rivals did not make much inroads - the Russian has moved up to 12th, the Belgian is now 11th and the Pole is 19th

Beasty

Omnium Scratch race

7th place for Martyn, but it moves him up 1 place overall to 6th with one event to go. He's overtaken the Dane, although the Belgian has moved up to 7th - it still looks very encouraging - he's 4 points behind the Australian in 5th place although the Turkish rider in 4th lookswell ahead with an 11 point advantage

If he can keep or improve his position in the final event he should move up a at least a couple of places in the rankings for Olympic qualification with a good chance of getting up into the final qualification place (all this is unofficial based on my own calculations!)

Beasty

Omnium - Time Trial (final event)

8th place for Martyn - great news as that should move him up to 5th place overall, and with only 2 Europeans ahead of him I'm pretty sure that will move him up to 8th in the European Olympic qualification rankings (ie the final qualifying place) - a fantastic comeback following the disappointment of Astana

EDIT - I've just worked through the Olympic qualification points - I think Martyn is still 1 place adrift in 9th, but only 5 points behind the Polish team with Denmark and Belgium now less than 100 points ahead

Beasty

One of the great things about Martyn's performance was his consistency - in finishing 5th, he was never better than 7th in any single event - indeed he was only lower than 9th in the elimination race, which can be a bit of a lottery. I think that was his best ever placing in a World Cup event

He took his chance and now needs to build on this in the remaining World Cup events in Beijing (January) and London (February) as well as the World Championships in Melbourne in April

Current Euopean rankings for Olympic qualification (as calculated by Beasty, and hence completely unofficial):

1. GBR 1460pts
2. GER 920
3. ESP 833
4. FRA 823
5. ITA 800
6. BEL 643
7. DEN 640
8. POL 570
9. IRL 565
10. NED 468
11. RUS 430
12. CZE 366

Still a long way to go, but very encouraging for Martyn

Beasty

Highlights have just started on Eurosport 2

EDIT - now TV coverage has finished I've removed the spoiler tags

Slideshowbob

Don't know what it is but I can't get into supporting Irvine in his quest for an Olympic place.

Maybe it's because it's a new discipline or the qualification comes across as vague with no finish line in sight.

When will he know if he's qualified? How many more events left for him? Is he currently on target for a place?

If he does qualify is it likely to be a 5/6/7th ish place finish like what he's getting at the world cup events?

Also, David oloughlin seems to show up for the odd event. Is he seeking a place too, or could two qualify? Or is he just keeping in with a shout if MI gets injured?

Beasty

Slideshowbob wrote: »

When will he know if he's qualified? How many more events left for him? Is he currently on target for a place?

If he does qualify is it likely to be a 5/6/7th ish place finish like what he's getting at the world cup events?

Not sure how my previous posts in this thread could be more explicit on these points.

The remaining qualifying events are Beijing, London and the World Championships in Melbourne in April. Ireland needs to be in the top 8 European qualifying nations.

On the O'Loughlin question, the qualification place belongs to the country, not the individual. If Ireland qualify O'Loughlin could be nominated, but I would imagine this would require an injury or major loss of form for Irvine.

Beasty

Awang's first event since taking a 20cm chunk of the Manchester track through his leg last season:eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNBrcil9lX0

morana

each nation can only enter 1 rider in the omnium at any of the world Cups and Worlds. So its not possible for DOL to ride the omnium for cunga. He has ridden the points I think in the past.

As regards the selection of any rider that will have to be using the selection criteria which are available on the website but we have to get a place first and thats not definite yet.

Beasty

morana wrote: »

but we have to get a place first and thats not definite yet.

To put it in perspective, Ireland currently (by my calculations) have 565 points after last season and the first 3 events of this season, and are not (yet) in a qualifying position. There are still 1,100 Olympic qualification points available for anyone winning all 3 remaining events, and there are teams currently behind Ireland that could easily overtake them with a decent performance in Beijing (indeed, Turkey came from nowhere in the rankings to take 4th place in Cali - another performance like that and they could be in the reckoning)

morana

Beasty wrote: »

To put it in perspective, Ireland currently (by my calculations) have 565 points after last season and the first 3 events of this season, and are not (yet) in a qualifying position. There are still 1,100 Olympic qualification points available for anyone winning all 3 remaining events, and there are teams currently behind Ireland that could easily overtake them with a decent performance in Beijing (indeed, Turkey came from nowhere in the rankings to take 4th place in Cali - another performance like that and they could be in the reckoning)

Recep from Turkey trains with MI!

Beasty

Official Olympic Qualification standings (I gave Ireland and Belgium 20 points too many, so Martyn is actually 25 points behind the Pole):

Beasty wrote: »

1. GBR 1460pts
2. GER 920 930
3. ESP 833
4. FRA 823
5. ITA 800
6. DEN 640
7. BEL 643 623
8. POL 570
9. IRL 565 545
10. NED 468 478
11. RUS 430
12. CZE 366