Hoskins Snares Silver
WAIS cyclist Melissa Hoskins has won a silver medal as part of the Australian women’s team pursuit squad at the 2013 Track World Championships in Minsk, Belarus.
As was the case for the men, the women’s team pursuit final was again a battle between Australia and Great Britain, but unlike last night it was Great Britain who grabbed the gold.
Australia’s Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff and Melissa Hoskins set a time of 3:20.696 to qualify a berth in the gold medal final for Australia.
“We certainly wanted to go out there and do a really good time and we knew we’d have fresh legs in Amy (Cure) to bring it home in the final and the girls did a great job to come home with the silver,” said Ankudinoff who made way for individual pursuit silver medallist Cure in the gold medal race.
2012 Olympic Champions Laura Trott and Dani King welcomed Elinor Barker into the line up to clock the fastest qualifying time of 3:18.704 for the 3000 metres.
The Australians upped the pace in the final to finish in 3:19.913 but so too did the Brits who clocked 3:18.140 to win the gold medal.
“They are a bit hard to beat at the moment and really have been for the last few years but it was a good race and I think we’re getting closer,” said Hoskins. “We have a few years now to peg them back. I’m really proud of how the girls rode today and I think we rode really well as a team.”
Edmondson was also backing up from Wednesday’s individual pursuit racing where she placed third.
“We had a hit out this owning and my legs were a little heavy in that but that’s the point of the hit out and by the time the racing came round I was feeling alright and happy to back up and feel a bit stronger in the final,” said Edmondson. “Just a shame we couldn’t pull off the gold.”
Cure says watching the team ride qualifying from the sidelines was nerve wracking.
“But it was awesome to see them qualify for the gold and silver medal ride,” said Cure. “I was right behind them cheering my hardest.
“We gave it all we could tonight and unfortunately couldn’t bring home the gold but all we can ask for is to give it our best.”
In the men’s team sprint 2012 world champions Scott Sunderland (AIS-WAIS) and Matt Glaetzer were joined by Mitchell Bullen and qualified for the bronze medal final against France. Sunderland, in the first wheel position got the team off to a flying start but France responded coming home strongly and finishing two-tenths of a second quicker than the Australians. Germany won the gold medal final against New Zealand.
Day three of racing will feature a host of Cyclones talent. In the afternoon’s qualifying sessions Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton start their sprint campaign with the flying 200m qualifying round while Matthew Glaetzer, Scott Sunderland and Andrew Taylor will contest the first round of the men’s keirin. Glenn O’Shea, who won gold in the team pursuit on day one, begins the defence of his omnium crown and fellow pursuit gold medallist Alexander Edmondson will line up in the 40km points race. Melissa Hoskins is back on the track for the women’s 10km scratch race.
– Cycling Australia