World Track Cycling Championships, Bordeaux, France

World-Bos leads Dutch medals haul


"Theo Bos of the Netherlands displays his gold medal of the Men's sprint event during the track cycling world championships in Bordeaux April 16, 2006."

BORDEAUX, France, April 16 (Reuters) - Dutchman Theo Bos guided his country to the top of the medals table at the world track championships on Sunday after winning his second gold in the speed event.

"From left to right: Great Britain's Craig Maclean, silver medal, Netherlands's Theo Bos, gold medal and Germany's Stephan Nimke, bronze medal celebrate on the podium after the men's sprint."

The Netherlands ended the competition with three golds and one silver. Hosts France, Belarus and Germany claimed two titles each.

Britain were unable to repeat their feat from last year's event when they led the standings with four golds. Instead they captured one gold, four silvers and one bronze.
"Great Britain's team races during the men's team pursuit."


Britain's Victoria Pendleton, who lost her sprint title, blamed the poor showing on exhaustion following last month's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. "It has been quite hard for everyone to try and turn it around in such a short space of time," she said. "Give it another week and I'm sure it would have been a different story."

Bos defeated Britain's Craig MacLean in two successive heats in the final of the speed event. Stefan Nimke of Germany outpaced Frenchman Mickael Bourgain in the race for the bronze, also in two consecutive heats.
"The Netherlands' Theo Bos competes for gold against Great Britain's Craig MacLean in the Men's Sprint Final during the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Bordeaux. Bos dominated MacLean over two heats to win the men's sprint crown."

Bos, winner of the gold in 2004, the kilometre time trial in 2005 and this year's keirin title, has made sprinting look effortless throughout these championships. He did not lose a single heat and posted the event's fastest time in the qualifying round (10.100 seconds), covering the last 200 metres at a speed of 71.287 kph. In the final, he had too much power for MacLean, taking the first heat with an unanswered surge. The second was closer although there was little doubt Bos would triumph. MacLean, who won silver in the team sprint on the opening day on Thursday, surpassed expectations by becoming the first Briton to reach the speed final in more than 40 years.

EFFORTLESS SPRINTING

"Australia's pursuit team races during men's team pursuit at the track cycling world championships in Bordeaux, France, Saturday, April 15, 2006."

"From left to right, Australia's team pursuit members: Mark Jamieson, Matthew Goss, Peter Dawson and Stephen Wooldriges celebrate their gold medal on the podium after they won the men's team pursuit."


Another highlight on the last day of the championships was Maria-Luisa Calle Williams grabbing the first world track gold in Colombia's history, in the women's scratch race. Canada's Gina Grain took silver and former winner Olga Slyusareva of Russia was third. Williams and Grain broke away midway through the 1Okm endurance event, which was added to the schedule in 2002. Slyusareva added a bronze to the silvers she gained in the pursuit and the points race.

Christin Muche of Germany pipped local hope Clara Sanchez, world champion in 2004 and 2005, in the final of the keirin race. Shuan Guo of China took the bronze.

Spain won the men's madison gold medal ahead of Ukraine and Argentina. Title-holders Britain were fourth.


So, where is JOSIAH NG of Malaysia, the so-called "TM Ambassador"? I thought he's the Malaysian's Keirin's king... what's behind the reason now?? :)