’ASHES ON WHEELS’
HOW AUSSIES PLAN TO BRING DOWN POMS
WORLD and national records could fall at the Anna Meares Velodrome today when Australia’s men’s and women’s team pursuit squads renew hostilities with the Poms in cycling’s “Ashes on wheels”.
Two years after their heartbreak in Rio, where the women crashed days before competition and the men broke a world record but lost a final to Great Britain, teams are predicting super-fast times on a slick new track and in hot, humid conditions.
Amy Cure and Annette Edmondson were involved in the high-speed crash that dashed their medal hopes in Rio and say while it has motivated them, they are not looking back.
“Obviously you learn things from every race but it’s sport and crashes do happen, so if we were to think about that every time we got on a bike we wouldn’t get much further,” Cure said.
“Every race is a new opportunity and we’re more looking forward at what’s to come than looking back.
“We’re all riding together really well and we’re doing times that we haven’t done before, so we’re looking forward to getting into it and seeing what we can do.”
Edmondson was bullish about what the Aussie quartet could do on the Brisbane track in the 4km race against the clock.
Their Australian record is 4min 13sec, which was also the world record in 2013.
“We’re hoping to do an Aussie record, so that’s one of the goals,” Edmondson said.
“We’re going really fast at training so we’ll keep our heads on our shoulders and not think about anyone else, just focus on ourselves.
“It (racing) will be interesting because obviously GB is normally together as a team, but we have got some strong squads from England and Wales especially, and Canada who have been in a camp in New Zealand.”
The men were pipped for gold in Rio but go into the Games as defending champions after their win in Glasgow four years ago.
When asked at the team launch whether GB’s world record of 3:50.2 could fall in Brisbane this week, coach Tim Decker said “anything is possible” but he wouldn’t publicly declare the time Australia were targeting.
“I think it’s (world record) possible but everything would have to come together very well,” he said.
“The boys are moving well but more important than time is executing and trying to win the gold medal.”
WE’RE ALL RIDING TOGETHER REALLY WELL AND WE’RE DOING TIMES THAT WE HAVEN’T DONE BEFORE