The 2008 World Track Championships started this past Wednesday at the British National Cycling Centre in Manchester, England. With the velodrome boards recently overhauled [yes, I'm one of the few who actually owns a piece of the old pines] and with the Olympics merely a scant 4 months away, this championship promised to be a fast a furious one.
After two days of competition, cheery old England has certainly had plenty to cheer about. Bradley Wiggins (GBR), the reigning World and Olympic Pursuit champion, once again dominated the field in the individual event on Day 1, while heading up the Gold medal winning effort in the team pursuit the following day.
Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade (GBR) added to the hometown gold rush by defending their World Team Sprint championship.
But perhaps the most amazing result for the home nation had to be Rebecca Romero's victory in the Individual Pursuit. It bears repeating [except for those in the US Cycling camp], but Romero really did hammer defending champion Sarah Hammer (USA) in the finals. If you haven't yet read about the former champion rower turned cyclist, her story is a startling example of finding or "falling into what you were truly meant to do."
Other Results:
Men's Scratch - Aliaksandr Lisouki (Belarus) - Gold; Wim Stroetinga (Netherlands) - Silver; Roger Kluge (Germany) - Bronze.
Men's Team Sprint - France - Gold; Great Britain - Silver; Netherlands - Bronze.
Women's 500km Time Trial - Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez (Cuba) - Gold; Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania) - Silver; Sandie Clair (France) - Bronze.
As an aside, a happy belated birthday to US Cycling legend Rebecca Twigg, who once dominated the Individual Pursuit taking away 6 World Championships. Twigg turned 45 this past Wednesday the 26th.
Party On, Dudes
Although not on the NRC any longer, the domestic circuit takes a stop in the hometown of Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan with the San Dimas Stage Race this weekend.
Men's Start List
Women's Start List
For a more local flavor, check out these races in select geographical areas.
03/28/2008
Tucson Bicycle Classic
Tucson, AZ
San Dimas Stage Race
San Dimas, CA
03/29/2008
Kirkwood Road Race (TM)
Christiana, PA
Ronde Van Brisbeen
Birsbane, CA
Orosi Road Race
Orosi, CA
Hillsboro Roubaix 2008
Hillsboro, IL
NCA Criterium Training Race #2
Norfolk, NE
Waterford Hills Training Series
Waterford, MI
2008 Uptown Greenville Criteriums
Greenville, NC
03/30/2008
Quick Release Spring Training Series #24
Ann Arbor, MI
Fisk Knob Time Trial
Cedar Springs, MI
Jefferson Cup Road Race
Charlottesville, VA
Hanford Sentinel Criterium
Hanford, CA
Hueston Wood
College Corner, OH
Becker Time Trial Series
Long Beach, CA
Mingo Creek Spring Road Race Series
Nottingham Twp, PA
3 RVS Spring Tune Up #1
Auburn, IN
Spring Training Camp 2008
Nellysford, VA
For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to TrueSport.com.
Up The Road
As the entrance of April usually marks the beginning of the northern Spring Classic campaigns for the European peloton, it signifies the Redlands Classic for the domestic one.
04/03/2008
Redlands Bicycle Classic-Stage Race
Redlands, CA
Thursday Night Training Series
Trexlertown, PA
RMR/Salt Aire-Utah Time Trial Series
Salt Lake City, UT
04/05/2008
Wards Ferry Road Race
Sonora, CA
Waterford Hills Training Series
Waterford, MI
2008 Bob Hansing Memorial Cup Series
Encino, CA
Hell of the North
Salt Lake City, UT
Evergreen Park Criterium
Sheboygan, WI
Martinez Bay Front Criterium
Martinez, CA
04/06/2008
10th Colossal Cave Road Race 2008
Tucson, AZ
Santa Cruz Classic Criterium
Santa Cruz, CA
Tyson's Corner Circuit Race
Vienna, VA
Vandervorts Corner
Clarksville, OH
NCA Spring Training Series #3
Papillion, NE
Burnham Racing Spring Super Criterium
South Beloit, IL
Redlands Bicycle Classic-Criterium
Redlands, CA
Anthill Criterium
Irvine, CA
3 RVS Spring Tune Up #2
Auburn, IN
PICC Spring Training Series-Fairview
Fairview Township, PA
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