TRACK | Australia challenge in Team Pursuit Qualifying

Team Pursuit Qualifying

Australia's title defence in both the men's and women’s team pursuit was cut short after both teams finished fifth in Thursday’s afternoon qualifying session. 

In the men’s competition, Denmark stunned the Championships after shattering Australia’s existing world record set one year ago in Poland by over a second (3:46.579). The Danes then went on to beat their own mark hours later in the first round with a time of 3mins 46.203secs. 

For Australia, reigning world champions and former world record holders Sam Welsford, Alexander Porter and Leigh Howard teamed with nineteen-year-old debutant Luke Plapp to clock the fourth-fastest time of the day (3:50.015). 

While the eight fastest teams secure a trip to the first round, a top-four position is required to remain in contention for the rainbow jersey. Australia’s title defence remained intact until the final ride of the day when Italy took fourth overall, just two-hundredths of a second ahead of the Aussie team. 

In the first round on Wednesday evening, Cameron Scott came in for Howard, with the quartet posting a time of 3mins 48.625secs in their defeat of Switzerland. They will face Italy in Thursday’s bronze medal final. 

In the women’s event, reigning world champions Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Annette Edmondson and twenty-year-old debutant Maeve Plouffe looked strong in their ride (4mins 14.934secs), the second-fastest of the day to that point behind Great Britain. 

However, subsequent rides by Canada, New Zealand and finally the USA, who posted the fastest time of the day of 4mins 11.229secs, pushed Australia into fifth, ending their title defence. 

Competition in the women’s team pursuit resumes with the first round on Thursday, with the winner of Australia and Ireland to race the winner of Italy and Germany for the bronze medal. 

Scratch Race
In the women’s scratch race, Alexandra Manly finished eleventh. Manly will look to defend her points race world title later in the week.