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Last Updated: Jul 15th, 2008 - 19:02:18 |
2008 Beijing Olympics: The Individual Pursuit Races
By Paddy Doran
Jul 15, 2008,
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MORE RECORDS TO BE BROKEN
With the resurgence in the prestige of track racing during recent years there is huge competition to be successful in these events and more of the top road riders are being attracted to them, which is probably going to further improve the Olympic Pursuit records, which have been reducing over the last 40 years. Training methods are improving; bicycle and equipment technology improvements are ongoing. It’s a discipline that has a record of good road riders being successful in.
The Irish Paralympic Cycling team have already qualified four cyclists (with two sighted pilot riders) riders for the games through their results in World Cup events over the last year.
David O'Loughlin had a very good performance in the 4-kilometre individual pursuit event at the World Track Championships earlier this year when he was placed 6th and achieved an excellent qualifying time, which was within seconds of Bradley Wiggins who is one of the favourites for the Olympic pursuit title.
Qualifying times for world championships
1, Jenning Huizenga (Netherlands) 4.16.34
2, Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) 4.17.02
3, Alexei Markov (Russian Federation) 4.18.24
4, Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) 4.18.33
5, Bradley McGee (Australia) 4.20.43
6, David O'Loughlin (Ireland) 4.20.91
7, Luke Roberts (Australia) 4.21.89
8, Taylor Phinney (United States Of America) 4.22.36
9, Antonio Tauler Llull (Spain) 4.22.65
10, Volodymyr Dyudya (Ukraine) 4.22.73
So what type of performance will be required to win a gold medal in the Olympic Pursuit?
The individual pursuit race is one of the great track events, which is physically and mentally very challenging. To just qualify to the final four riders, a really fast pursuit must be ridden during the qualification ride, which is similar to an individual Time Trial as the fastest four qualifiers challenge for the medals.
This means that on a physical level the demands are huge, as it is simple enough……… riders must go very fast for four Kilometres and this takes a huge amount of talent, great coaching /training and it hurts!!.
The qualifiers then must meet each other like two boxers where it is man against man. Psychological strengths or weaknesses then become really important… especially as the finalists are probably quite close in regards to the time that they can cover the 4,000 meters in. Pacing strategies must be decided based on the strengths and weaknesses of opponents. Some riders can start very fast or may be very strong over the last few laps. Finals are often slower than qualifying rides as they are more tactical.
So, what will the fastest time be in the Beijing Olympic pursuit event?
Based on the graph of the progression over the last 40 years it is most likely that the 4,000 metres Individual pursuit record will be taken to 4. 13 or, 4 .14 at next months Olympic games.
I enclose a graph and figures below of the progression of the record over the last 40 + years if it continues as it has progressed to date, we can look forward to more records at these games.
Hopefully David O'Loughlin will improve even further by the finals in Beijing and have a very good performance at the games.
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Cycling - Track Men
Last Update: 21-Aug-2004
INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT OLYMPIC RECORD PROGRESSION
Nr Name NOC Result Date Location
15 Bradley WIGGINS GBR 4:15.165 20 Aug 2004 Athens, GRE
14 Robert BARTKO GER 4:18.515 17 Sep 2000 Sydney, AUS
13 Robert BARTKO GER 4:18.972 16 Sep 2000 Sydney, AUS
12 Andrea COLLINELLI ITA 4:18.972 24 Jul 1996 Atlanta, GA, USA
11 Andrea COLLINELLI ITA 4:19.653 24 Jul 1996 Atlanta, GA, USA
10 Chris BOARDMAN GBR 4:24.496 28 Jul 1992 Barcelona, ESP
9 Chris BOARDMAN GBR 4:27.357 27 Jul 1992 Barcelona, ESP
8 Gintautas UMARAS URS 4:32.00 22 Sep 1988 Seoul, KOR
7 Gintautas UMARAS URS 4:32.83 21 Sep 1988 Seoul, KOR
6 Robert DILL-BUNDI SUI 4:32.29 24 Jul 1980 Moscow, URS
5 Robert DILL-BUNDI SUI 4:34.92 23 Jul 1980 Moscow, URS
4 Mogens Frey JENSEN DEN 4:37.54 17 Oct 1968 Mexico City, MEX
3 Xaver KURMANN SUI 4:40.41 17 Oct 1968 Mexico City, MEX
2 Giorgio URSI ITA 4:56.64 17 Oct 1964 Tokyo, JPN
1 Tiemen GROEN NED 4:57.48 16 Oct 1964 Tokyo, JPN
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