Welsford Wins Gold in World Cup Debut
Sam Welsford has made a successful debut at senior Track World Cup level over the weekend, winning a gold medal as a member of the Australian team pursuit squad in Mexico.
Just last August, Welsford, Fitter, Porter teamed (with Cullum Scotson) to win the junior world title Korea.
In their first major international competition since graduating from under 19 to the elite ranks, they were joined by reigning world champion Glenn O’Shea to record the fastest qualifying time in Friday’s session after clocking 3mins 57.132secs.
For Saturday’s finals, O’Shea made way for fellow reigning elite world champion Scotson – himself a junior world champion just one year ago – with the quartet recording 3mins 55.375secs to defeat Switzerland in the semi final.
It was a traditional ‘Ashes on the Track’ battle in the gold medal ride with just half a second separating Australia and Great Britain after three kilometres.
However, the Aussie teenage quartet showed their legs in the final few laps to ride away to win by over two seconds in a superb time of 3mins 55.976secs.
“Our times were awesome. It was great to do two 3:55’s,” said Welsford who is relishing being amongst the senior ranks.
“Racing at the world elite level is a great experience alone but to do with two senior world champions is unreal.
“Learning and taking advice from Glenn and Miles helps the three of us [Welsford, Fitter and Porter] a lot.”
In Friday’s qualifying in the women’s team pursuit, the Australian team of Annette Edmondson (SA), Georgia Baker (TAS), WAIS athlete Elissa Wundersitz and Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) qualified seventh fastest.
Under the new qualifying format the winners of the 1v4 and 2v3 heats in round one move on to ride for gold. Of the remaining six teams, including those from 5v8 and 6v7 heats, the two fastest ride for bronze.
In their second round, the quartet posted a time of 4mins 26.064secs, missing out on the bronze ride by half a second. In the ride for fifth Cuba was no match for Australia as Cuba were caught with two laps to go.
In a very busy campaign, Wundersitz contested the women’s omnium with her day one schedule consisting of a 17th position finish in the scratch race, a 20th place in the individual pursuit (3mins 46.200secs) and a 17th place effort in the elimination race to end the first day 21st overall.
Wundersitz consolidated her form on day two, with an eighth place finish in the 500m time trial (36.546secs), 11th in flying lap (14.533secs) and a strong ride to claim the final sprint in the points race to finish the omnium ranked 16th overall.
-with Cycling Australia