The Coffee Ride #196, with Reece Homfray
Some of the nation’s greatest ever pursuit riders say they are in awe of Australia’s world record ride of 3:48 last week and believe it may take 3:45 to win gold in Tokyo next year.
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AUSSIE CYCLING FRESHLY BREWED, EXCLUSIVE TO ADVERTISER.COM.AU
‘JUST HOW FAST CAN THEY GO?’
BREAKING four minutes for the team pursuit was once considered the magical barrier.
To go 3:55 was incredible, 3:50 unthinkable and now 3:48? Some of Australia’s greatest ever pursuiters were almost lost for words after Sam Welsford, Kelland O’Brien, Leigh Howard and Alex Porter broke their own world record in Poland last week.
It was the second time in 12 months they had lowered the benchmark after riding 3:49 to win gold at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast last April.
Now, two-time Olympic gold medallist Graeme Brown believes it may even take a ride of 3:45 to be crowned champions in Tokyo in 2020.
In the wake of Australia’s historic performance at the UCI track world championships last week — when the women’s team also took gold in a blazing 4:14 — The Coffee ride asked some of the country’s greatest ever track pursuiters for their thoughts on what the men’s world record of 3:48 means.
Graeme Brown:
“What they did at the world championship was exceptional.
“Our world record time from Athens Olympics was then great but now we would not only get passed, we would almost be one lap behind.
“I feel that there are no limits on where the times could go. Improved aerodynamics, clothing and training, the sky’s the limit.
“3:45 will probably be the time to win the next Olympics. Then the next barrier will be 3:40. These numbers may seem outrageous but so was the thought of, once, breaking the four minute barrier which now is positively slow, in fact, state teams ride sub four minutes regularly.”
Brad McGee:
“Like most I am amazed by the times in the men’s TP descending lower and lower. In Athens we broke the world record and felt to go much quicker would be a skill and safety concern for executing our changes — and the boys are going over half a lap quicker today.
“Knowing the work that goes on behind the scenes, the commitment from all involved and the depth and strength of the team culture I would not be shocked to see their performance outcomes continue to improve.
“I’ll watch and re-watch both our women’s and men’s teams TP’s from Poland. Their execution approaches perfection. The kind of performance delivery that motivates this old timer to get back out on the bike myself! Love it.”
Mike Turtur:
“Fantastic effort when you look at the splits, the first kilometre was 1.01 then 55, 56 and 55 it’s just incredible.
“Back in our day to consider breaking four minutes was never a possibility, you just couldn’t go that quick with the gearing and bikes.
“Then the sub minute splits after the first kilo, down to 55 seconds. I think Tim (Decker) does a really good, thorough job, he knows what he’s about and what it takes to be part of that group and he’s got a good group that can hopefully go through to Tokyo.
“There’s no danger of going too fast too soon, it’s what you want and part of the natural progression, these guys are young and they’ll get bigger and stronger and the more they do the quicker they’ll go.
“Even the individual pursuit is down under 4:10 now so it’s a combination of tracks, gearing, technology.
“The biggest gear I ever rode in a team pursuit was 94-and-a-half and now they’re on between 110-120, we used to get to a level with your RPM you couldn’t go any quicker but with a bigger gear you can keep going. You’ve just got to prepare for it.”
Stuart O’Grady:
“It’s just unbelievable the speed the guys are doing now. We went quick, everyone rode fast times relevant to their decade or era, but when you’re putting out a 1:01 first kilometre that’s just crazy.
“It’s become so much more of a power event, massive gears, gear ratio is much must faster.
“They are becoming more like kilo riders than sprinters, they spend heaps of time in the gym, all the track racing has changed.
“It’s awesome to see, it’s always been a fantastic battle with the British and like heavyweight boxers throwing punches.
“You kind of go ‘can we break four minutes’, now it’s 3:50 and well how can they go any quicker? It will be interesting to see the progress.
“How fast can you go, it’s going to be a great build up going into Tokyo and it just shows the class of Tim Decker as a coach, and him taking charge of the women’s team as well and winning the world title.”
WOMEN’S TP GOES ALL-IN
THEY may have been overshadowed by the boys’ world record but Australia’s women’s team pursuiters deserve as much kudos according to team boss Simon Jones.
Cycling Australia’s high performance manager says their gold medal was reward for buying into major structural reform which has included a new squad and new head coach with Tim Decker working more closely with Jason Bartram in Adelaide.
Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Alex Manly and Georgia Baker rode a 4:14 to pip Great Britain in their final.
“Fantastic results, one of the best I’ve encountered and one of the best medal hauls Australia would have had,” Jones said.
“It’s about the performances and the team pursuit stands out — a world record by such a margin was an incredible result and a surprise as well.
“The women’s endurance has been through quite a big change in the program and the girls have really brought in, there’s a good energy and they’re hungry.
“And it’s good for them to come out with a bit of reward for such a commitment. But there’s a lot more to do, a lot more improvement, the ride in their final wasn’t their best which is amazing and they can improve which is exciting.”
Jones said Australia would narrow its focus leading into the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“We stop and try to learn from not just the worlds, stop the things that aren’t working or are in the way, and the trick to this is to make sure we get the fundamentals right and make sure it’s not too complicated,” he said.
“Sometimes doing less is more and that’s often the tussle, there’s a pull towards doing more because it’s Olympic Games but the skill is doing less and doing that really, really well.”
RIDE AROUND THE BEND
IF YOU’VE been in Adelaide the past week and are still revved up from the Adelaide 500, why not register to ride around the V8 Supercar circuit at Tailem Bend?
Revolve 24 has added a new event to its calendar with the introduction of the Coorong Community Ride after fielding requests from families wanting to road test the new track.
“This is an amazing opportunity to ride a world-class motorsport track by bike in a safe and
controlled environment,” Revolve24 Australia director David Fell said.
“We want families and friends to come and spend the day at Revolve24 by riding in the Coorong Community Ride. As part of the event, they can experience the opportunity to try and ride a Penny Farthing or an eBike, as well as getting educational tips for cycle safety and bike checks for the kids all included as part of the registration.”
Participants will have 90 minutes to ride as many laps as they like of the 3.4 kilometre west circuit.
Revolve24 Australia will be held over two days from March 16-17 were keen cyclists will attempt to ride as far as they can in 24 hours around the track.
For registration and event details visit the website at www.revolve24.com/events/the-bend-motorsport-park.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
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