Track World Champs 2011 Apeldoorn - NL

I thought you were getting a bit wound up there, Eggy

I'm pumped man. I was on the turbo watching yesterday and today's coverage. It's great to be back on top*.

*not referring to my turbo - I'm usually on top.

Too right mate...Youre still moaning about that too..;-)

Don't give me this poor loser bollocks again. It's not the Ashes.

Let's get back on topic.. How many World Champions does Australia now have?

Less than British Olympic gold medallists.

awesome.

Its a shame that so much focus is put on the Olympics. But, Like Mr Smyth said its all about the public. It's a rare time normal people watch any other sport *except *football so its the only time funding bodies can justify spending millions on those pesky cyclists that jump red lights all the time on their brakless fixies.

Its a bummer that some of the most enjoyable events have been dropped from the Olympic programme, but they still exist at a World level so really, from a cycling fan's point of view, the Worlds should be more important than the Olympics (like the road race and TT) - its just that some teams (with GB at the helm) don't take it as seriously, sending athletes intentionally not at their best, and some not at all.

Less than British Olympic gold medallists.

Sorry, I wasn't talking about synchronised tea drinking or team dole theft.

Who's the cute blonde?

I think Rob might have to get saving.

No need. It's Macdonalds if I lose, the Dorchester if I win.

They don't do chunky chips or bbq sauce. Must try harder.

I know a good heroin chicken place..

Walkabout burger

You'd have to chip in for the pint of Fosters or a Snakie too then.

That Madison was exciting! Silly dutch blew it.

Did one of you actually go there ?
I went there yesterday together with my 8 years old son and we had a terrific day.
And yes, the Dutch weren't superb in the Madison, but al least they took a medal (despite several mistakes, despite the quality of the field).

We enjoyed the overall atmosphere. Of course, everybody was going nuts when there were Dutch riders on the track and epecially if they did well.
But how far can you go as event organizer or official member of the jury?
Of course, you try to make the crown enthousiast. But playing better and louder music as Teun Mulder has to ride, makeing serious difference in announcing Dutch or foreign riders.....
You can do it up to a certain level, but sometimes I felt that they crossed the line sometimes. Riders already have the advantage of home track, home crowd, ...
Felt a bit embarrassed. Or am I too critical?

And playing music during competition is worth another thread maybe. As far as I understood, it was the request or suggestion of the UCI. Some kind of try-out maybe.
WC isn't 6 days, right? And IF you play music, make a proper selection.

Yep i was there...

Did one of you actually go there ?
I went there yesterday together with my 8 years old son and we had a terrific day.
And yes, the Dutch weren't superb in the Madison, but al least they took a medal (despite several mistakes, despite the quality of the field).

We enjoyed the overall atmosphere. Of course, everybody was going nuts when there were Dutch riders on the track and epecially if they did well.
But how far can you go as event organizer or official member of the jury?
Of course, you try to make the crown enthousiast. But playing better and louder music as Teun Mulder has to ride, makeing serious difference in announcing Dutch or foreign riders.....
You can do it up to a certain level, but sometimes I felt that they crossed the line sometimes. Riders already have the advantage of home track, home crowd, ...
Felt a bit embarrassed. Or am I too critical?

And playing music during competition is worth another thread maybe. As far as I understood, it was the request or suggestion of the UCI. Some kind of try-out maybe.
WC isn't 6 days, right? And IF you play music, make a proper selection.

I felt that they crossed the line sometimes. Riders already have the advantage of home track, home crowd, ...
Felt a bit embarrassed. Or am I too critical?

not at all, it's perfectly reasonable to raise these points.
australia do a similar thing in the cricket, annouce 'South African born Kevin Petersen' when he walks on to the pitch, but when they let a malaysian into their team? not a peep out of them.
they do it to wind the players up but it obviously doesn't work.

The focus on the Olympics does seem in danger of backfiring but, on the other hand, the profile of track cycling and cycle racing in general is now awesomely high in this country on the back of Olympic success. Previously, in the 1990s, cycling seemed to be at a low point in the public imagination and participation. (Happy to be corrected on that point but that's my perception of the time.)

Yep i was there...

You were in the inside of the track / centre field I guess ?

Good point Mr Cheese. Should World level racing be a sterile format to find the best rider, or crowd entertainment with non-fixed riding. The way I see it there's no point having these championships if no-ones interested in watching. I've seen blurb about riders being modern day gladiators - so I'm sure they can put up with a bit of background noise.

Same thing happened with cricket, now it's "acceptable" to have music at T20 and 50over games, at least they kept it out of the tests!

At world champs I think it's fine if there's music in the intervals, but not whilst racing is on* Cycling fans want to watch cycling, if you want music go to a fuckin disco.

*unless it's metal

Na mate..block G!

You were in the inside of the track / centre field I guess ?

why would the england team worry about australia? they will be concentrating on their own plans/training not what other teams are doing, don't be surprised if England win nothing in april, because they will possibly not even travel to the next round. wouldn't be surprised if the just send the kids.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but last time I checked Sir Chris was from Edinburgh!