Clancy, as ever, struggled in the two bunch races with an 11th place in the
points race and 10th in the scratch, which made it almost impossible to get
into medal contention. But not quite. Clancy is a remarkable rider with his
own enormous strengths.
He won the flying lap on Saturday with a ride that included within it a 200
metres time that would have qualified him fourth in the men’s individual
sprint. He also produced a world-class time of 4min 20.853sec in the 4 km
individual pursuit yesterday to take second place in that event.
“I’ve got no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing,” said Clancy afterwards. “I
was here for the team pursuit. You can be the best omnium rider in the
world, which I am not, and still not get a medal. You have got to have a bit
of luck and that’s why I put all my eggs in one basket, the team pursuit.
“A medal here is a nice bonus to be honest. If I had trained for the points
and scratch and lost some weight and speed I wouldn’t have been so good in
the kilo, or the pursuit or flying lap.”
Clancy was making up for lost time up with Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh,
Steven Burke and Andy Tennant’s team pursuit celebrations — not the least of
his achievements in the omnium was getting motivated after that triumph on
Friday night.
“It’s really hard, you do some damage in the team pursuit, mentally as well as
physically. There is so much pressure and expectation. It was hard Saturday,
getting up early in the morning when your team-mates are lying on their beds
fully clothed with hangovers and you walk through the carnage to get to the
door, off to do a day’s work at the omnium. Mind you they were here to
support me today, that was great.”
One of the first to congratulate Clancy was another long-time friend and
colleague Mark
Cavendish – an old flatmate from a year spent racing in Germany and
two years at the British Academy in Germany – and Clancy confirmed that the
world champion appears to be thinking seriously of trying to make the
British team pursuit squad for the 2016 Games in Rio.
“Yes, Cav is talking about it, that’s quite exciting, and I know Brad
[Wiggins] has been talking about it as well.
“I don’t know if they are just mulling it over or if they are serious. Cav has
won everything, he has had such a fantastic career but he knows the one
thing that is missing is an Olympic gold. If he came back, that would make
my day.”
Meanwhile, reigning world champion Laura Trott gets her omnium campaign under
way early on Monday morning in the flying lap, one of her specialities, in
which she finished second at the world championships in Melbourne in April.
The women’s field is arguably the strongest of any event on the women’s
programme, and with all the main contenders having contributed mightily to
their respective team pursuits, residual fatigue should not be a huge
factor.
Unlike the world championships, those concerned have enjoyed a rest day
between competitions. Australia’s Annette Edmondson, who narrowly lost out
to Trott at the worlds, Tara Whitten, of Canada, and the American Sarah
Hammer should also figure prominently in the medal fight.
Further medal hopes
Monday
Men’s individual sprint
Jason Kenny should contest the gold medal race with Grégory Baugé and has a
strong chance of winning.
Tuesday
Women’s individual sprint
Victoria Pendleton is likely to duel for gold with Anna Meares and should win
if she keeps up her current form.
Men’s keirin
Sir Chris Hoy is favourite to win and claim a record-beating sixth gold.
Women’s omnium
Laura Trott is among the favourites, having already claimed team-pursuit gold.
August 5th, 2012 → 10:25 pm @ carbon
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