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2016 Bendigo International
Madison
Men's Preview |
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Dan Fitter and Callum Scotson
return looking to go back to back and will be highly favoured
following their success at the Australian Championships in
December. Two-time winner Glenn O'Shea is chasing title number
three with Alex Edmondson, with other former winners Sam
Crome, Roy Pieters and Christian Grassmann also in action.
Sam Welsford, Callum and Miles Scotson and Alex Porter fresh
off their team pursuit world title will be looking to carry
their form back to Australia. Some of Australia's top young
talent will also be on display with reigning junior world
champions Kelland O'Brien and Rohan Wight also lining up.
Past Winners
2015 - Dan Fitter/Callum Scotson
2014 - Sam Crome/Roy Pieters
2013 - Leif Lampater/Christian Grassmann
2012 - Franco Marvulli/Loic Perrizzolo
2011 - Cameron Meyer/Leigh Howard
2010 - Washed Out
2009 - Glenn O'Shea/Leigh Howard
2008 - Glenn O'Shea/Leigh Howard
2007 - Miles Olman/Nick Sanderson
2006 - Zac Dempster/Mitchell Docker
2005 - Simon Clarke/Nick Sanderson
2004 - Brett Aitken/Erik Weispfennig
2003 - Steve Woolridge/Rodney McGee
2002 - Brett Aitken/Scott McGrory
2001 - Brett Aitken/Scott McGrory
2000 - Stephen Pate/Baden Cooke
2016 Australian Championships
1 Fitter/C Scotson 17
2 Meyer/Howard 12
3 Ross/O'Brien 11
4 S Law/J Law 26 -1Lap
5 Edmondson/O'Shea 25 -1Lap
2015 Bendigo Madison
1 Fitter/C Scotson 26
2 Grassmann/Lampater 85 -1Lap
3 Bobridge/O'Shea 62 -1Lap
4 Brown/Welsford 50 -1Lap
5 J Law/Yallouris 47 -1Lap
The Contenders
Daniel Fitter and Callum Scotson
The young guns caused a surprise upset last year upsetting
some of the biggest names in Australian cycling. A lap in the
second half of the race set them up for the win as no other
team as able to shake them. The duo showed it was not just a
one off performance as they claimed the Australian Madison
title in December again against a world class field. With
another year out of the junior ranks the duo are even stronger
but after their success over the past 12 months expect them to
be heavily marked. Callum Scotson comes in having claimed the
team pursuit world title last year and with the form he showed
will be very dangerous. Both are excellent pursuiters and will
likely be looking to take a lap, though they pack quick
sprints.
Alex Edmondson and Glenn O'Shea
One of the most well credentialed team in the field with six
world titles between them. Both are former National
Championships in the discipline and finished fifth at the most
recent championships in December. The Duo will be looking to
improve on their third place finish as O'Shea chases a third
victory in Bendigo and Edmondson a first. O'Shea produced a
stunning display to claim bronze in the omnium World
Championships last week only losing gold on count back.
Edmondson skipped Worlds but don't expect that to hurt their
chances. O'Shea is one of the best tacticians in the world and
both pack two of the quickest sprints in the field and their
team pursuit world titles shows taking a lap is well within
them.
Sam Crome and Roy Pieters
Can Crome and Pieters repeat their performance of 2014 and
again beat out some of the best Madison riders in the world?
Were unable to defend the title last year but still finished a
highly credible sixth not far from the podium. With the field
knowing what happens when they are given even a little bit of
room they are unlikely to be given much. Crome spends most of
his time racing on the road but has always been a strong rider
on the track, while Pieters claimed the Dutch scratch race
title last year and competes on the six day circuit.
Kelland O'Brien and Matthew Ross
A young pair with Kelland O'Brien still a junior but they
shouldn't be discounted. O'Brien is the reigning junior world
champion in the Madison and one of the most talented riders
seen. His individual pursuit is among the best in the world
while possessing a sprint to match the best in the world in
bunch races. At the Australian Championships in December they
duo had the early lead but held on to finish an impressive
third. After showing their ability to match the best in
Australia expect them to be in contention again here.
Scott and Jackson Law
The Law brothers will be chasing success and after just
missing the podium at the Australian Championships in
December. Both are strong and very tactical riders with
Jackson the 2015 Australian Champion in the event. Scott
showed some good form at the recent Australian Championships
claiming silver in the points race and bronze in the scratch
though he wasn't at the level he has been in previous years
and missed selection for the Track World Championships.
Jackson is a strong pursuiter making the pair a very dangerous
combination.
Miles Scotson and Sam Welsford
Both Scotson and Welsford come in having claimed the team
pursuit world title in Australian Record time and will be
looking to continue their run of form. Scotson claimed the
Australian title in 2013 while Welsford is as former silver
medallist at the junior world championships. The younger
Welsford might be best known for his speed in the sprints but
he claimed the individual pursuit title in February in a world
class time. Scotson is another excellent pursuiter but also
produces a strong sprint. With the form they are on expect
them to be fighting for the title
Rohan Wight and Alex Porter
Another young team but one that could spring a surprise. Wight
claimed the junior world title last year with Kelland O'Brien
(racing here with Matthew Ross). Wight only stepped out of the
junior ranks at the end of last year but has made a strong
start with silver in the scratch race and fourth in the
omnium. Porter heads in having claimed his first elite world
title last week in the team pursuit and London. Both are
incredibly talented riders who will be competitive in the
sprints but don't be surprised to see them go on the attack as
chase a lap.
Nick Stopler and Christian Grassmann
Grassmann is a former winner in 2013 when he partnered with
Leif Lampater, and the duo finished second last year.
Grassmann returns looking for another win but partners with
Nick Stopler. Both Stopler and Grassmann are regulars riding
the six day circuit in Europe, with Grassmann claiming the win
at Bremen six day earlier this year. They have their work cut
out for them but if they can pick up some early points they
could find themselves contending later in the race if they
have the strength to match some of the Australian pairings.
Another team to watch is 2004 Olympic Champion Graeme Brown
who partners with Brad Evans. The experience Brown was fourth
last year with Welsford while Evans finishing eighth. It will
be a big ask to find the podium but don't discount them.
Sam Witmitz and Mark O'Brien will be eager to improve on their
seventh place finish last year. Other names to keep an eye on
are Andreas Mueller and Stephen Hall. |
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