Carlin claims keirin bronze is his best yet
AT leasT he ended up with something to show for his efforts. and, if Jack Carlin can hope to add more glittering prizes to his collection over the years, there will always be something special about yesterday’s finale to the Glasgow 2018 track cycling programme.
The scot took bronze in the keirin by the narrowest of margins, the judges needing a photo finish to decide who had crossed the line third behind winner stefan Botticher and France’s sebastien Vigier.
Carlin, who faced an anxious wait before his podium place was confirmed, had been battered and barged out of a medal by Botticher in the sprint — and was part of the team sprint squad who didn’t even qualify for a medal race.
Yet the 21-year-old insisted that yesterday’s desperate dash in the final race of these european Championships ranks higher even than his Commonwealth Games sprint silver he won back in april.
‘The whole crowd was amazing,’ he said. ‘It’s the highlight of my career, just having this crowd backing me all the way. I’m glad I could give them something.’
Plenty of fans stayed behind after the final race to watch the medal ceremony and, no offence to Botticher, it wasn’t the German they were waiting to applaud.
Carlin (right) was also mobbed by volunteers as he left the sir Chris Hoy Velodrome afterwards.
He’d put everyone through the ringer yesterday, starting with the opening round, when he only just managed to thrust his wheel towards the line at the last gasp — pinching a qualifying spot.
He had to fight to qualify in his second heat, too. a taste of things to come in the final itself.
‘That’s keirin,’ he said. ‘It’s dangerous, it’s quick and it’s close at the line with maybe four or five riders lunging at that line.
‘I messed up the tactics a little in the final but it showed the legs were there.
‘But I managed to hold on to the bronze and come away with something.
‘I allowed too many riders over. I have just tried to have a bit more of a hold and control on the race. I’ll go back to the drawing room.
‘You come to win every time. It’s disappointing on that side. But to go away with something in front of this crowd is good. It’s been good for the team in general — and it’s been good to see Glasgow enjoying some good sport.’
Team GB finished with ten track cycling medals but only four golds, a disappointment by their high standards.
Katie archibald and laura Kenny — the latter back in action less than a year after having a baby — never quite clicked as they finished fourth.
archibald, who has to settle for one gold and two silvers from her efforts in Glasgow, admitted: ‘I’m already so aware of the mistakes we made. Not that I think it was all tactics. We just didn’t have the legs, either. ‘But I’m almost eager for the next race already, to bring about a bit of redemption. There is stuff to be learned from my mistakes, stuff to be learned from how other teams prospered. ‘I’m keen to come back and prove that we have the goods for this event. ‘I still think with the dedication that we have, and the base we have, we still have a big chance in Tokyo.’ Kenny — who won two golds in Glasgow — said she was pleased to have returned in good shape, arguing: ‘I would not have known where I was if I hadn’t put it on the line. ‘It was always going to be hard. People expect me to win even though I had a baby a year ago. But I’m glad I did put it on the line. It’s given me confidence. Hopefully its upwards from here.’