BikeNZ Sprinter Powers His Way to World Cup Gold Medal in Beijing
Big Manawatu sprinter Simon Van Velthooven was a mixture of muscle and might in taking out the keirin gold medal on the second night of finals at the UCI World Cup in Beijing.
Van Velthooven, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, was in superb form at the Beijing Velodrome, winning his first round, his semifinal and final in emphatic fashion.
In doing so he disposed of two-time World Cup Keirin champion Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia) and Commonwealth Games kilo gold medallist Scott Sunderland (Australia) in the event where riders haggle for position behind a paced motorbike which gradually increases speed before leaving the track two and a half laps from the finish.
“Simon was untouchable tonight,” said BikeNZ head coach Tim Carswell. “He won the semifinal soft pedalling the whole front straight. And in the final he placed himself perfectly with a lap and a half to go and going through the bell he just unleashed over the top of them all.
“This is just reward for a huge amount of hard work and with a string of fourth placings, it is fantastic to see him take the step up on to the top of the podium.”
The win has elevated Van Velthooven to second overall in the World Cup standings behind Cali winner Awang but ahead of Sunderland and Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy.
The 22 year old was delighted with his success.
“It’s been a good build-up. My race head was good today and it was finally good to get a medal at a world cup and even better to win a gold,” Van Velthooven said.
“I’ve had many keirin finals and it’s always been bad luck so to fire up and get it today was relieving more than anything.”
Van Velthooven said his experience racing in the professional circuit in Japan has helped.
“It has taught me to be patient but not hesitate when the move comes. The win gives me more confidence. My race times were good. I know I can race the best in the world. It’s a nice feeling to pay everyone back after all the backing from BikeNZ, SPARC and Skins.”
Southland 21 year old Tom Scully finished fourth in the six-discipline omnium after some consistent efforts on the second night. He was sixth overall after the first three events yesterday and tonight was eighth in the 4000m individual pursuit, fifth in the 15km scratch race and seventh in 1000m time trial.
Great Britain’s Sam Harrison won the gold in a tight battle from Canada’s Zach Bell and Germany’s Roger Kluge with Scully 12 points back in fourth.
Bell now leads the World Cup standings from England’s Ed Clancy with Kiwi Shane Archbold in third to force a competitive battle for selection for the final World cup in Manchester, the world championships in March and ultimately in London where the omnium makes its Olympic debut.
Christchurch’s Joanne Kiesanowski , seventh overall in the Cali World Cup last month, is currently in 12th place after the first day’s racing.
She was 13th in the 250m flying lap, 11th in the points race and 15th in the elimination ahead of the final three races on the final night comprising the 3000m individual pursuit, scratch race and 500m time trial.
Southland-based Canterbury sprinter Natasha Hansen made it through to the eighth finals in her first World Cup.
The national champion qualified 13th fastest in 11.733 seconds before winning her B quarterfinal and ultimately losing her eighth round clash against Ukraine’s Lyubor Shulika.
In tomorrow’s final night kiwis will be in action in the women’s individual pursuit, the points race for men and women, Van Velthooven in the sprint and Hansen in the keirin.
Results, UCI World Cup, Beijing, day 2:
Keirin semifinals: Simon Van Velthooven (NZL) 1, Scott Sunderland (AUS) 2, Hersono Canelon Vera (VEN) 3. Semifinal 2: Azizulhasni Awang (MAL) 1, Kota Asai (JPN) 2, Sebastian Doehrer (GER) 3.
Final: Van Velthooven 1, Sunderland 2, Asai 3.
World Cup standings: Awang 20, Van Velthooven 18, Sunderland 16, Chris Hoy (GBR) 12.
Women’s sprint, qualifying: Natasha Hansen (NZL) 11.733, 13. B Quarterfinal: Hansen bt Wai Lee (HGK) 12.108s. B Final: Monique Sullivan (CAN) bt Hansen 12.334s. Eighth final: Lyubor Shulika (UKR) bt Hansen 11.840s.
Men’s omnium day 2:
4000, individual pursuit: Martyn Irvine (IRL) 4:28.747, 1; Sam Harrison (GBR) 4L28.849, 2; Roger Kluge (GER) 4:31.324, 3. Also: Tom Scully (NZL) 4:34.968, 8.
15km scratch race: Michael Freiberg (AUS) 1, Amo Van der Zwet (NED) 2, Unai Zubiaur (ESP) 3. Also: Scully 5.
1000m time trial: Alors Kankovsky (CZE) 1:04.394, 1; Harrison 1:04.494, 2; Kluge 1:04.659, 3. Also: Scully 1:05.905, 5.
Final points: Harrison 28 points, 1; Zach Bell (CAN) 30, 2; Kluge 32, 3; Scully 43, 4.
Women’s omnium, day 1:
250m flying lap: Leire Olaverria (ESP) 14.689, 1; Pascale Jeuland (FRA) 14.710, 2; Tara Whitten (CAN) 14.745, 3. Also: Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) 15.188, 13.
Points race: Liz Armitstead (GBR) 26 points, 1; Whitten 25, 2; Steph Pohl (GER) 24, 3. Also: Kiesanowski 5, 11.
Elimination: Kirsten Wild (NED) 1, Whitten 2, Jeuland 3.