It is still one of the most heartbreaking moments in an Olympics - the less-than-0.2 of a second it took for Shane Kelly to pull his foot from the pedal at the start of the 1000m time trial at the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was a cruel way for the Australian to end four years of preparation after winning silver in his Olympic debut at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. Even more so as he was the world record holder and reigning world champion.
However, 'gold' was how the native of Arrarat, Victoria reacted. Incredibly, Kelly turned what could have been a life scarring moment for an athlete into one of the greatest examples of sportsmanship for generations of young riders to follow - and to this day, that spirit resonates.
Good grace ... Shane Kelly accepts his misfortune at the Atlanta Olympics.Credit: Craig Golding
Australian sprinter Shane Perkins, who was nine at the time, recalls vividly watching Kelly's Olympic dream end so abruptly. Perkins didn't hesitate in telling the Herald before a photo shoot to promote Foxtel's Olympics coverage how much he has admired Kelly who, at 40, still puts in to cycling: "I was lost for words. You feel for him ... but the way he handled himself and came back four years later [to win bronze in Sydney] - and the next year, by wining the world championship in Perth ... Not many people could deal with something like that. He handled himself so well. Why wouldn't you want to look up to someone like that?"
If want to refresh your memory of what happened to Kelly - and importantly how well he handled it - then watch the Italian television footage of it on YouTube and fast forward to 6 minutes and 30 seconds
Shane Perkins of Australia celebrates winning the men's team sprint final at the World Track Championships in Melbourne earlier this month.Credit: Getty Images
If the door opens, Porte will be ready to ride through
One of the big issues facing Australian selectors when they chose the five-rider men's road race team for the Olympics will be how they factor in selection of the road time trial. Any rider who races in the time trial two days after the road race must come from the road team. Australia qualified two spots for the time trial at last year's world titles in Copenhagen where Jack Bobridge and Richie Porte placed fifth and sixth. Who takes those spots is yet to be determined, but it is possible that Cycling Australia will not recommend to the Australian Olympic Committee that both spots are filled if they feel there are not two medal chances in the race against the clock. It is not as if Australia is not short of strong time triallists. Bobridge will not be considered for the time trial because he will be racing on the track, but with Porte for consideration are Cadel Evans, Michael Rogers and Luke Durbridge - all worthy candidates. But the question that may determine their selection is how they fit in the road team, and if other riders who are not strong time triallists would make a better fit in that five-man line-up.
The CA selectors will keep all their options open until they decide on whether Australia's best medal chances are in the road race or time trial event on June 17. The selections then go to the CA high performance management committee for approval before being submitted to the AOC by June 22.
Porte, to his credit, is keeping calm about it all. "I've put the runs on the board with time trialling, and I guess that is more [likely the event] I would go for," he told the Herald. "The problem Australian cycling has is that there are so many good bike riders - but that's not a problem to have unless you are wanting to ride in the Olympics. I am not going to lose any sleep over it because ultimately if you get the results you are going to get the spot. If Matt White [one of the selectors and national team sports director] gave me that role, I would take it with both hands. But there are other nice races this year to compete in, such as the world road titles [in Valkenburg, the Netherlands] which are good for me and maybe the Vuelta Espana. Whatever happens I won't be too disappointed."
Hosking raises the stakes
Still on the Olympics, Chloe Hosking (team Specialised-lululemon) must surely be in the frame for selection in the three-rider women's team after her victory in a bunch gallop last Sunday in the 121.3km Halle-Buisingen race in Belgium. Some may argue that in such a small national team, the best combination might come from the GreenEDGE-AIS squad that has ridden all year together - and successfully. But there is no denying Hosking's credentials. Her latest win comes on the back of her win in the Drentse8 race in the Netherlands in March where she out sprinted Italian world champion Giorgia Bronzini and Dutch world championsips runner-up Marianne Vos. Hosking's success is not out of the blue either. In last year's world title, Hosking, on debut, placed sixth.
He said it
“I don't think it gives anyone any extra strength because you've got a few more chores to do around the house – as a lot of people know well … but when you have got to go away, leave the home to be at a race, it takes you away from your family. I use that as extra motivation to make the time count because I'd prefer to be at home with the family than away doing bike races. I really want to make that time I'm away from home count for something.” - Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) on the impact of fatherhood in an interview on www.ridemedia.com.au
Bet you he won't
Cadel Evans may be out of action this week due to a sinus infection, but he is right in the action when it comes to online betting in Australia for who will be named as the official flag bearer of the Australian team for the Olympic Games in London. The Tour de France champion was yesterday priced as favourite at $2.90 by sportsbet.com.au with four time Olympic swimmer Leisel Jones in second at $3.75, followed by 2004 Athens hockey gold medallist Jamie Dwyer at $5.00, and world 100m hurdle champion Sally Pearson at $8.00. Which is all very nice for Evans fans, except that its hard to imagine him accepting the spot considering the Opening Ceremony is on July 27 - five days after the Tour and the day before the men's road race. Hardly the best way to prepare for an Olympic race - standing on your feet for hours the night before.