On road to redemption

AUSTRALIA’S world recordbreaking team pursuiters have warned their rivals, including Great Britain, that they can go even faster – and will have to if they want Olympic redemption in Tokyo in 2020.

Sam Welsford, the linchpin of the team that became the first to go sub 3:50 with a 3:49.8 in Brisbane last week, believes the ride was only 90 per cent of what they’re capable of producing on the big stage.

“I think going under 50 and the first team to do it two years after the Games is going to rattle a few teams and countries for sure,” he said.

“But we can’t get complacent and we’ll have to go faster at Tokyo.

“It’s only 90 per cent of what we’re capable of, I think.

“We might even be able to drop half-a-second or a second, a 48. Imagine if we could do that. It would be insane.

“This will project us towards Tokyo with a lot of belief.”

The team’s flying mullet and starter, Alex Porter, was even more bullish about what could be achieved in two years.

“This was just a step on the way to Tokyo and that’s still our ultimate goal, and hopefully by the time we get there we can shave a few more seconds off it,” Porter said.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work but, with the group we’ve got, I feel like we can definitely do something special again in Tokyo.”

Australia rode a 3:51.008 in the final in Rio two years ago where they lost to Great Britain that clocked 3:50.265, which was the previous world record.

The four riders who broke the record in Brisbane – Welsford, Porter, Leigh Howard and Kelland O’Brien – have been quick to acknowledge the wider team, including Jordan Kerby who rode qualifying then sat out the final.

“It was a great week, my first Commonwealth Games and obviously a few ups and downs,” Kerby said.

“It was good to be able to help the boys make the final and then bring Kell in with fresh legs so they could rip through and break that world record.

“I’d never stood on the side- line watching a final before as a fifth man, so it was interesting.

“I was so happy but at the same time I wanted to be out there to help them.”

O’Brien, 19, is the baby of the team but was described by coach Tim Decker as the captain.

“When I first came into the program with Tim I was really just trying to push my way into the team and learn as much as I can, but riding a 3:50 at the worlds at Hong Kong last year definitely sparked an interest in trying to go under that,” O’Brien said.

“We always strive for greatness and we’re more focused on winning than getting a time. The time is just a bonus.”