April 5/12 21:24 pm - Men’s Omnium Wrap: Day One
Posted by Editoress on 04/5/12
Event 1: Flying Lap
Germany’s Nikias posted an early fast mark of 13.276 before Great Britain’s Ed Clancy cleared the boards with a 12.881. Clancy was the only rider to break the 13 second barrier. Canada’s Zach Bell recorded a 13.270, placing him fifth.
Omnium standings after round one
1 Ed Clancy GBR
2 Shane Archbold NZL
3 Glenn O’Shea AUS
4 Bryan Coquard FRA
5 Zach Bell CAN
Event 2: 120 Lap Points Race
Who needs the full 160 laps of a ‘normal’ points race? This race had everything: early hope, mad attacks, late deaths and a tragic crash with two laps to go (tragic, that is, until it was explained to this reporter that the two riders involved, Italy’s Elia Vivani, and China’s Hao Liu, would be able to retain their points accrued and be given a finishing place).
The main instigator of every major move was the flying red maple leaf. Despite not placing in the first two sprints, a move off the front with Viviani, Australia’s Glenn O’Shea and Ireland’s Martyn Irvine netted Bell his first three points. When this break didn’t succeed, it was Bell who was the first to recover and attempt the next getaway. A solo effort mid-way through the event appeared ill-timed, as the field closed in and no sprint points were allocated. But when the next major move appeared, it was once again Bell driving it. This time it succeeded, bringing Viviani, Spain’s Eloy Teruel Rovira and Korea’s Ho Sung Cho the full reward of a lap taken, and the 20 points on offer. Bell was straight to the front to collect another point with 30 laps remaining. He closed out the event with 29 points, finishing third. Notable omissions from the break were Ed Clancy and Glenn O’Shea, who both collected enough sprint points to keep within the top ten and share the leadership of the overall standings with Bell.
Omnium standings after round two
1 Ed Clancy (GBR) 8 points
2 Glenn O’Shea (AUS) 8
3 Zach Bell (CAN) 8
4 Elia Viviani (ITA) 10
5 Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) 13
Event 3: Elimination
Bell once again claimed a strong presence in the race, sitting comfortably on the front or within the top five riders for the first half of the fast paced event. An early casualty from the leader board came with Ed Clancy, with ten riders remaining. With the quick pace after a long day in the saddle, riders not only fought for position but equally dropped off the pace.
An interesting elimination for Italy’s Elia Viviani gave Zach Bell temporary relief with eight riders remaining, but Bell’s number was announced as the next elimination. France’s Bryan Coquard bounced back from a disastrous points score to claim the Elimination win over Australia’s Glenn O’Shea.
Omnium standings after round three:
2 Glenn O’Shea (AUS) 10 points
3 Zach Bell (CAN) 16
3 Ed Clancy (GBR) 18
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