Brunswick Cycling Club

2009 UCI World Masters Track Championships

The journey commenced on Sunday the 18th, Alan Comte and myself (Walter Dapcich) packed the car – two BTs, six pairs of track wheels, two road bikes, two mag-trainers, two sets of TT bars, helmets and bags of clothing. Heading up the highway nothing extraordinary occurred, that was until we hit the NSW border, and there we were greeted by a ‘black cloud’ of bees.

The car and the road bikes on the roof were pelted making driving almost impossible as the wind screen was literally covered in the splattered internals of the bees. Stopping in the Albury township for lunch (and to clean the windscreen) we noticed the local flies took a liking to our bikes, or rather what they had on them. After a quick bite to eat we moved on. We decided to go straight to Sydney rather than stop at Goulburn as we were making good time. We got into Sydney just after 7pm, but the Dunc Gray Velodrome was closed, so we headed for the motel in Lidcombe, completely unpacked and filled our room with bikes, wheels and bags.

Monday morning came and we packed the car and headed down to the Dunc Gray Velodrome. We didn’t expect to be riding as Alan had already confirmed with officials that registration for the Monday Time Trial events had to be done on the Sunday (he was told in no uncertain manner, that this is a ‘World Championship event’, not your normal ‘open’). When we got to the registration table the gentleman in front of us was being lectured on the fact just mentioned as he was trying to get a start in the time trial. Alan and I looked at each other and decided to just get our numbers and start the competition on Tuesday with the individual pursuit. When Alan got to the table he just requested to start with the IP, but curiously the official questioned, aren’t you riding the time trial? Alan said, “yes I was, but……”, “no you’re on later this afternoon, here is your number, international licence, athlete lanyard and back pack, thank you” was the official’s reply. Hmmm, very interesting, I didn’t enter the TT so for me it wasn’t an issue, just got my number (and other stuff) and walked away.

When we got all our gear into the centre and picked a stop to camp, we looked around and saw a number of familiar faces, Peter Ganss (fellow Brunswick member) was rolling around as were a number of riders from other Victorian clubs who occasionally frequent the BCC Tuesday night track racing, Megan Marsh, Stuart Vaughan (Hawthorn), Peter Wykes, Craig Whitehead, Tony McNulty (Preston) and John Quilligan (Carnegie) amongst them and Hilton Clarke had a group of his team there as well. Also there were large contingents from France, Great Britain, South Africa, Iran, Columbia, the United States and of course New Zealand. All in all some 450+ competitors from 21 countries participated at the championships.

Alan (50-54) got prepared and faced up to the 500m TT, got his new disc wheel in and was ready. Alan recorded a 41.057s time and was please to get the ride under his belt. Peter Ganss, like myself gave the TT a miss. Some phenomenal performances were done a number of world records were broken. In the mens 50-54 division, David Le Grys from Great Britain was one of the world record breakers, but unlike many, after his ride rather than warm down, he went outside for a smoke!

Tuesday saw the running of the individual pursuits, Alan suited up again, and great discussion about what schedule to ride took place and he received a number of schedules via SMS from the coach (Mark Niewand). In the end it was decided to go for a 2:35 (for the 2000m), a fair improvement over Alan’s best. Things started off really well with Alan some three seconds up on schedule after a few laps and he held that for a few laps. Things got tough in the last two laps (lesson learnt: 6 laps efforts at training still leave you two laps short of the 2000m) and Alan finished with a 2:38 which still beat his previous best by some three or four seconds and he was pleased. It was then my turn in the 45-49 division, and not having done a pursuit since the Victorian Masters Omnium Championships (and that was over 2000m) I wasn’t sure how the form would hold up over the 3000m distance. Again as per Alan, I extended his 2:35 schedule out to a 3:53~54. Like Alan I started well and was 3 seconds up after 3 laps, and I can vividly recall myself questioning how I was going to hold this pace for another 9 laps. A few laps later I caught a glimpse of the other rider and that gave me something to chase. I caught the other riders some two or so laps from the finish and ended up with a 3:52, knocking off some 8 seconds off my previous best. Cannot complain, and was very pleased that my last 6 laps were all within 0.2seconds of each other – was able to keep the same pace and didn’t die off. Peter Ganss (55-59) who rode his qualifying earlier in the morning recorded a 7th place finish with a 2.37 (2000m). As per the Time Trials a number of world records in both men’s and women’s events were broken.

Wednesday came and we were ready to tackle the scratch races, with most of the men’s divisions needing qualification heats. I was up first and we had to cover 20 laps with the first 12 qualifying. The fields in each heat numbered around 22~23. Whilst the pace was nothing really extraordinary two factors played against us, one the large field and two the tactics employed. For the last 10 laps or so I found myself towards the back of the field and riding 3 quarters up the track (and covering a lot more distance per lap than I would have liked), but getting to the front 6~8 riders was virtually impossible with an almost rotating bunch just behind the main 8 all trying to get position. I didn’t make it to the final, but was able to give Alan some tips. Alan started well and again like myself found himself in the back half of the group and couldn’t get over them at the finish. Peter Ganss got through in his division (55-59) and so he had to backup later in the day. The evening session started with the official welcome ceremony for the event and some light entertainment by two young ladies from the local area. The scratch race finals provided some exciting races (and unfortunately some falls). Peter Ganss, in his scratch race final rode a good race to end up in 6th place.

Thursday saw the beginning of what would be the longest two days of the championships with the running of the sprint. Alan was up first for his flying 200m and he set a time of 13.089s. Alan was hoping to go under 13 seconds and was a little disappointed, but I’m sure the sub 13 second 200 isn’t too far away for Alan (Metros maybe??). The time was enough to qualify and Alan was into round 1. I was then up and was a little tentative as to when I should actually hit out, I watched most of the flying 200s and decided that the way to go was stay up on the fence until a metre or so beyond the finish line, then head down the bank to the 200m marker. I probably didn’t have enough speed coming to the bell, but I ended up with a 12.720s, not bad, but could have been a little better. Like Alan that was good enough to qualify for round 1. Peter Ganss went straight into Round 1 of the sprints.

In round 1, I met the defending world champion, Gerrard O’Connell, and I decided to go from a lap and a half to go, I had nothing to loose. Not sure what happened behind me, but I was told I had a gap coming to the bell, and he caught me round the final bend to cruise over the line by a wheel – I was out of the competition. Alan met a South African in round 1 and put a good effort in to get pipped on the line in a time of 13.050 (breaking that 13sec is closer). Peter won his first round in 13.307s and was in to round 2. Alan fronted up for his repechage and wise advice from an old sprint pro (me!!) told him to lead out at all costs. The plan worked and Alan won in a time of 13.373s to make it into round 2.

In round 2, Peter Ganss came up against a Frenchman and was beaten in a quick time of 12.724s, so Peter was destined to ride in the last chance repechage. Alan in round 2 was up against the fastest qualifier in Gary Mandy of Australia, and again the instruction was, lead out. Alan did lead out but was pipped on the line in a time of 13.406 to find himself going to the repechage. In the 3 up repechages both Peter and Alan tried a few things, but ultimately were beaten and they dropped out of the competition.

Being out of the sprints gave us Friday off (from racing at least) and Alan and myself took the opportunity to head into Sydney where we walked around (looked around a bike shop in town – well what else would you do???) and took in some lunch. In the afternoon we headed back to the velodrome where Alan did a 45 minute session on the trainer and I just sat around. The evening session featured the finals of the sprint and saw the biggest crowd at the velodrome, and they got their monies worth (well entry was free to spectators) with some really good match sprinting.

Saturday morning came and headed down to the velodrome to contest the qualification heats for the Point Score. Out on the criterium circuit Cycling NSW held junior races, so the place was full of like minded people and it provided for a larger than normal crowd watching the racing in the velodrome. Some riders had enough by Saturday and were scratching from the event so both Alan and Peter got to go straight to the final later in the day. I wasn’t so lucky and had to ride a 60 lap PS qualifier with first ten qualifying for the final. My heat featured last years defending champion and having learnt from the scratch race decided I needed to be up near the front of the pack. My plan was to not contest the early sprints if I wasn’t in a good position and then try to pick up points towards the end. After twenty laps 3 riders (including the defending champion) had lapped the field, so they all received 20 points each and probably assured their place in the final. After the second sprint (20 laps) I decided to try my luck and went out after a rider who was some 30 metres in front of the pack. I quickly caught and passed that rider and was joined by Anthony Gavan (Footscray) and we worked half lap turns and quickly gained the lap, but we backed off before joining the pack until we grabbed the points on offer at lap 30. I got the 5 points and Anthony the 3, and then we joined the pack which gave us both an additional 20 points, good enough to make the final. For the rest of the race I just sat in the pack, but some 6 laps out from the finish the defending world champion and myself found ourselves off the front and we worked together to the finish were I picked up another 3 points. So, all in all, very happy with my ride and I qualified 3rd for the final.

In the afternoon Peter Ganss was up first and he rode a good point score, but his race featured a solo breakaway which gained a lap (and won the world title). Peter finished in 13th position. Alan lined up for his point score and he was riding mid field when a clip of wheels had some riders on the ground, Whilst luckily Alan didn’t end up on the ground he was caught up in the mess and lost touch with the pack and effectively was out of the race – not the most pleasant way to register a DNF. I lined up for my point score final and knew that the pace would be high and ridden completely different to the heats. I started well riding up near the front and found myself leading out the first sprint, but was swamped down the straight. I kept working up near the front and trying to stay out of trouble. I decided I was doing a bit too much and so I drifted towards the back of the field. After the third sprint I was chasing the pack when someone up front put the hammer down, my race was effectively over and I too registered a DNF.

Bad luck story of the point score races had to go to a Frenchman in the 40-44 division who almost had the race sewn up when with five laps remaining another rider took his front wheel out causing a fall. With his wheel completely wrecked the Frenchman couldn’t continue and the spare wheels were on the other side of the track. His daughter was sobbing when it was announced that he effectively would register a DNF. After much discussion with the commissionaires his point tally was re-instated and he ended up with the silver medal (apparently there is some rule about not actually finishing the race due to a fall/mechanical if within 5 laps of the finish).

That was it – we packed up our gear, headed back to the motel, dinner and sleep (now sleeping – that’s a story of it’s own – we thought the motel in Lidcombe would be a relatively quite place, how wrong we were – it was the capital of the midnight Grand Prix with the races taking place virtually every night and then the trucks rolling in early every morning). The next morning we headed home bright and early taking with us great memories and stories which will live on for a long time.

So all in all the championships were a great event, we witnessed some incredible riding (16 world records were broken) and met some great people. If you ever get the chance to participate, do it. Next year the World Masters Track Championships move to Portugal. Hopefully the championships will come back to Australia again soon.

Congratulations to all the competitors and of course the 2009 world champions and placegetters and a thank you to all the officials who put in some very long days and ran a good championship program. Full results are available at www.cyclingmasters.com.au

This entry was posted by W. Dapcich on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm and is filed under Reports, Track.