Australian Men’s Team Pursuit Set to Ride for Rio Medal

Cycling: Men’s Team Pursuit – Qualifying
Athlete: Sam Welsford

Venue: Olympic Velodrome

Australia has secured a place in Friday’s men’s team pursuit medal rounds after clocking the third fastest time during Thursday’s (Friday morning Perth time) qualifying round.

The last of nine nations to line up in qualifying, Australia’s triple Olympian Jack Bobridge, 2012 London silver medallist Michael Hepburn, plus Alexander Edmondson and debutant Sam Welsford recorded 3mins 55.606secs for the 16-lap event.

The dual-reigning Olympic champion outfit of Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Owain Doull and Bradley Wiggins (GBR) set the day’s best time (3:51.943) while Denmark (3:55.396) was second fastest, just one-third of a second ahead of Australia.

Australia will now face the Danish team in round one, while Great Britain will come up against fourth-fastest qualifier New Zealand, with the winners to meet for gold.

“The boys would have liked to have gone a bit quicker than that, that’s a little below what we’re capable of,” said Team Leader Kevin Tabotta.

“We fully expected the English (team) would come out and really go after a time today.

“But tomorrow is another day and we’re fully expecting to come out in the second round versus Denmark and put something down that can put us into the final.”

If Australia and Great Britain win their round one clashes, it will set up a repeat of both the 2012 London Games gold medal final won by the home team, and the 2016 World Championships final won by Australia.

The team pursuit continues on Friday 12 August with the first round from 4.50pm local time (5.50am August 13) with the final from 6.20pm (7.20am August 13).

Amy McCann
olympics.com.au