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Men Sprint Preview |
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Multiple Junior World Champions,
Senior World Champions, Commonwealth Champions headline the
men's sprint events. Rising star Matt Glaetzer, one of the
most well known Australian track riders Shane Perkins are
joined by Pat Constable, Jacob Schmid, Peter Lewis, Nathan
Hart, Emerson Harwood, Braeden Dean, Daniel Ellis among others
in an exciting men's sprint field.
Sprint
Matthew Glaetzer
Not just one of Australia's best but the world's best. The
former Junior World Champion won his first sprint title last
year and with his win in the time trial and 2012 keirin win
became one of the few to complete the sprint triple. Few in
the world can match Glaetzer's acceleration when he goes.
Fourth in the sprint at the World Championships last year
before winning the opening World Cup round in Cali and the
Austral Carnival.
Shane Perkins
One of the most experienced members of Australia's track
cycling program. After a few health issues the Olympic bronze
medallist is back and looking to regain the title he won in
2009 and 2011. Perkins has twice been a World Champion in the
keirin and team sprint but the title in the sprint has thus
far eluded the former Junior Champion. If Perkins is back to
his former level expect to see him challenging for the win.
Pat Constable
Former Junior World Champion in the team sprint
made a giant step forward last year. Second place in the
Austral behind Matt Glaetzer as well as finding the podium at
the BikeNZ Classic and numerous other top 10 finishes at UCI
events. Put in a strong performance at his first World Cup in
Cali this month winning the 5th-8th sprint final.
Jacob Schmid
Another former Junior World Sprint Champion but unlike Perkins
and Glaetzer hasn't quite managed to make the step up yet. A
strong 2014 sees Schmid moving in the right direction after
claiming his first senior UCI sprint victory at the BikeNZ
Cup. Schmid has a very quick turn of speed and if he is on
good form will be a contender for the podium spots.
Peter Lewis
2014 was a strong year for the 16th ranked Lewis. Second at
both the Adelaide Cycling Grand Prix and South Australian
Track Classic before finishing fourth at the Commonwealth
Games. Has continued his strong results in the 2014/15 season
with seventh at the Guadalajara World Cup and third in at the
Austal in September, where he beat Shane Perkins in the ride
off the bronze.
Daniel Ellis
2010 winner Ellis is one of a number of former winners who
will be out looking to regain his title. Finished 16th at the
World Championships but otherwise didn't race much in
2014. Finished ninth at the Oceania Championships.
Other names to watch: Mitch Bullen, Andrew Taylor, Emerson
Harwood, Nathan Hart and Braeden Dean.
Keirin
Shane Perkins
Defending champion and three time winner will be looking to
make it four. Has spent a lot of time in recent years on the
Japanese keirin circuit and it has made him in to one of the
best in the world. In signs he is returning to his best after
injury Perkins claimed silver at the Cali World Cup earlier
this month.
Matthew Glaetzer
Glaetzer, a former Junior World Champion became Commonwealth
Champion in 2014. Every race he competes in his tactics get
better and better. With the keirin having a degree of luck to
it nothing is certain. What is certain however is Glaetzer's
speed, if he is well positioned will be in contention.
Jacob Schmid
Outside of his Junior World Championship victories Schmid's
biggest victory to date came in the keirin at the Oceania
Championships. If Schmid can get his tactics right he has the
speed to pull off the victory and claim his first individual
national title.
Andrew Taylor
2013 Champion Taylor hasn't raced much in the past 12 months
but when he has, has been round the mark. A narrow second to
Schmid at the Oceania Championships in October. Made the final
last year finishing sixth. His lack of racing could be a
factor but is one of the more experienced riders in the field.
Mitchell Bullen
Bullen just missed the medals last year in fourth and rounded
out the podium at the Oceania Championships. A former winner
in the sprint, if he can stay out of trouble could well be in
with a shot of finding the podium this year.
Other names to watch: Emerson Harwood, Patrick Constable and
Braeden Dean.
1km Time Trial
Perhaps the biggest question here is who will ride. Since the
removal from the Olympic programme the true test has fallen in
terms of priority. In Scott Sunderland and Matt Glaetzer
Australia has two of the fastest riders in the world.
Scott Sunderland
World Champion in the team sprint left the sprint disciplines
behind to focus on endurance but is still one of the best in
the world over 1km. Sunderland set the Australian record of
59.675 in Guadalajara in January 2014. After a mechanical
issue at the start last year expect to see the dual
Commonwealth 1km time trial champion eager to get the
Australian title.
Matt Glaetzer
Glaetzer is the defending champion after posting an Australian
Championship Record time of 1:01.175 last year in Adelaide on
a very warm day. With his focus on the sprint he may not ride
but if he does will be fighting for that top spot on the
podium.
Scott Law
An endurance rider but Law with the inclusion of the event in
the omnium many endurance riders still focus on it. Law
claimed silver last year and is one of the best endurance
riders over one kilometre. Won the time trial at the London
World Cup with a time of 1:03.513.
Other names to watch: Luke Davison and Nicholas Yallouris.
Team Sprint
Will be added when pairings are known.
Under 19
Derek Radzikiewicz
2015 Junior Oceania Champion in the sprint, keirin and team
sprint. Now in his second year as a junior looks to repeat the
double at national level. A quick turn of speed sees him the
name to watch.
Cameron Scott
Silver in the under 17 sprint and bronze in the keirin last
year. The time trial though is where Scott is at his best.
Took the under 17 national title last year with an Australian
record of 32.998 and followed that up taking the Junior
Oceania title in October.
Thomas McFarlane
Reigning under 17 National Champion in the keirin also makes
the step up to under 19’s in 2015. Claimed bronze in the
sprint and just missed a medal in the time trial.
Ryan Schilt
Schilt, the under 17 national sprint champion from last year
makes his first appearance as an under 19. Schilt also claimed
silver in the time trial and keirin last year.
Conor Rowley
Bronze in the 500m time trial at under 17 last year and fourth
in both the keirin and sprint. Made his debut as an under 19
at the Oceania Championships last year finishing second in the
sprint and third in the keirin. As well as taking the team
sprint title.
Elliot Stacey
Twelfth last year as a first year junior but Stacey has
improved over the past year. Silver in the time trial and
bronze in the sprint at the Oceania Championships.
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