WA cyclist Cameron Meyer claimed a fifth points race title and ninth career world crown following a masterful display at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn.
In a thrilling race, Meyer captured two laps on the field as well as regularly earning sprint points as he reinforced his status as one of the best track riders of the modern era.
He combined with Callum Scotson to win a bronze medal in the Madison on the final day of competition and will now return to Australia and plan for a successful campaign at April’s Commonwealth Games.
Following his points race victory, Meyer said it was a special feeling to again stand on the top step of the medal podium.
“Points race world title number five, it was a hard one but I am very happy,” said Meyer. “It is special. Every one of them is special, especially when you win a gold medal in the world championships.”
The pace was on from the start of 160-lap race, with plentyof attacks treating the crowd across the opening thirty laps.The first major move of the day came from the trio of Belgium’s Kenny Ketele, Great Britain’s Mark Stewart and Hong Kong’s King Lok Cheung who took the first lap on the field.
A calculated Meyer, who collected maximum points in three of the first eight sprints, made his first move shortly after the trio gained their advantage, with the West Australian catapulting into the lead at the halfway mark (45pts) after taking a solo lap.
With a litany of attacks ensuing over the latter half of the race, a further lap was taken by Ketele, Stewart, Cheung which stole the lead off Meyer.But as if writing his own Oscar winning biography, Meyer crafted his way to another solo lap and a commanding lead (70pts) with two sprints remaining.
With the laps ticking away as the bunch attempted a late surge, Meyer remained in control with his victory secured before the final sprint to the line which saw hometown favourite Jan Willem van Schip (52pts) finish ahead of Stewart (49pts) to take the silver medal.
“There were a lot of laps taken, attacks from lots of riders, so it needed multiple laps from me to take the win,” Meyer said. “For tonight I had pretty good legs and was able to pull off the win.
“To win is not easy, to be one of the favourites every time, it is a lot of pressure.
“But I enjoy it, and to be able to wear the rainbow jersey again for another year is a special moment.”
Madison:
Dual Madison world champion Cameron Meyerteamed with Callum Scotson to ensure Australia finished on the podium for the second straight year with the pair taking bronze in a punishing men’s Madison.
“To be on the podium in a Madison world championships isn’t an easy to do, it is one of the hardest events to back up and win, even just to back up a podium appearance,” said Meyer after claiming his sixth career World Championship Madison medal.
“So for us to be consistent two years in a row, last year with silver and this year with bronze, it is another step in the right direction and it shows that we are around the mark.”
“It was quick out there again tonight, there was a bit of a stand-off in the first half of the race, all the favourites didn’t want to move too early knowing it was going to be a tough end to the race,” said Meyer. “We saw an opportunity and went for it.
“The actual moment to win the world title was there, we saw it, but unfortunately we didn’t quite have the legs. But Germany was super strong, so was Spain.”
With the Madison back on the program for Tokyo 2020, the bronze continues the pair’s strong campaign towards Olympic glory.Their season also included winning the prestigious London Six Day last October and Madison gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland in November.
-CyclingAus
