Day 1 World Track Cycling Championships

COMMENTATOR: Up towards the line and the gold medal goes to Great

Britain, the Olympic champions again! Gold for Britain once more,

for the third Olympic games in a row! There is a medal here tonight,

it is silver! Gold for Great Britain! They smashed the world

record! Jason Kenny wins the gold medal for the second time in his

career. A spectacular silver. Mark Cavendish as an Olympic medal, it's

a silver one. And it is a richly deserved one. Laura Trott is

Britain's most successful female Olympian of all time. Can she get

over the line? I think she can! It's a golden hat-trick in Rio!

Sensational cycling. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

STUDIO From the golden sun of Rio to the

Winter of discontent, British cycling has been through the ringer

over the past eight months and how it will emerge is one of the big

questions to answer at the Track Cycling World Championships, stage

for the first time in Hong Kong and only the second time it has been in

Asia. It is rare in sport to have a World Championship is every single

year but that is what happens in cycling. It is 7pm here and I'm

reliably informed it has been raining all day but that won't

matter in the very futuristic looking velodrome. Looks like a

spaceship has landed in Hong Kong. Delighted to say I am joined here

insulted by Sir Chris Hoy and Jo, for you, two Olympic golds and five

World Championships. The World Championship that come after an

Olympics are always a little bit different, aren't they? They are.

You have the people who underperformed in Rio who will be

determined to come back fighting strongly and get nations like

Australia and Germany, they often come back really strong in the first

World Championships. You also have the young pretenders, the young

athletes who have not had a chance yet at world level, this is their

chance to get back to the world stage and hopefully win a medal. Jo,

for a lot of those within British cycling, it is too much to expect to

see them come straight to a World Championship is after an Olympics,

so some of the big names taking a step back? It's quite unusual if

you've wanted to go straight for this series. There are a view who

did, like Katie Archibald. A view of us took a step back. I've retired.

Some people are on a bit of downtime which is fair enough but gives the

opportunity for some young British riders who have watched Rio and felt

like they wanted to be there to actually go and lay their markdown.

We're going to see people you might not have heard of and see them in

action and see if they can step up to the plate. Jo mentioned her

decision to retire but first let's reflect on a golden rear.

Joanna Rowsell... This is going to be some fight. I don't believe it

commits a world record! -- I don't believe it, it's a world

record again. And the crowd are getting behind them. Great Britain

win the Olympic title and the gold medal and another world record!

Joanna Rowsell is one lap away from the world title. It's gold for

Joanna Rowsell and Great Britain! When she gets going, she can keep

going all day long. The crowd are on their feet. Joanna Rowsell wins gold

for England in the women's individual pursuit. What an Olympic

final we have on our hands here. Jo Rowsell Shand takes over down the

back straight and now Great Britain are starting to turn the screw here.

Gold for Great Britain! They have smashed the world record!

STUDIO I suspect it's a little bit like

watching your life flash before your eyes, but when you look at that, Jo,

what do you think cycling has brought to your life? It's changed

my life completely. My first World Championships was here in Manchester

in 2008 which was the first lap and I guess I'm unrecognisable now to

the girl that first joined the cycling team ten and a half years

ago. I was very shy, had very little confidence. I must have had some

self belief in myself as an athlete, but for me, relocating to

Manchester, meeting all the people and legends of the sport like Chris,

that was terrifying! It's amazing for me to look back at that and see

how my life has changed. I met my husband through cycling and my best

friends are all cyclists. I've definitely become a lot more

confident and happy. It's amazing to watch that back, so thank you for

that! You're very welcome, thank you for everything you've given to

British cycling. It's a big decision to stop. Chris, you've done it. How

would you advise Jo to reassess and adjust her goals? For me personally,

I try to find something that was a big passion in my life, something to

focus on something to get your teeth into. I know you're already thinking

about that clearly can what you're going to do in the next few years,

but for me it was exploring things I couldn't do when I was a full-time

athlete. I became a dad as well. Things like that, just experiencing

a greater life out there, the bigger world out there. Are you looking

forward to it or do you treat it with a certain amount of bread? I

am. It was a really difficult decision to make and it took me a

long time to make it. I think for a while deep down I knew I was done as

a cyclist. I'm the sort of person who always looks for new challenges

and I had won everything I could possibly win as a cyclist, you can't

get higher than Olympic champion and world record-holder, and I saw them

something more. Add the Olympic pursuit for Tokyo, that would have

motivated me... But to go out and try new things... When I first had

the meeting with my head coach, I didn't actually say the word retire.

I had to call it the R word, I couldn't actually say I want to

retire! That was a step too far. It took a while to come to terms with

the idea of not being an athlete and not preparing for an Olympic Games

and it was incredibly difficult. I'm currently applying to university to

start in September. Great, to study? Physiology. Which has a nice link to

elite sport, so I could perhaps go into coaching, but the degree is

more taught from the point of view of physical activity for health,

using physical activity for things like obesity and diabetes. A

different perspective. The science is the same but it is down to how

you apply it and it could apply across the board. I think it will be

an interesting degree for me, something I'm very interested in.

Ever since I left school, I had a levels in biology, physics and

maths, I was very much a scientist back then and now I can go and study

whatever I want to study and maybe going back -- go back into elite

sport. Brilliant. We're thrilled to have your intellect here as well as

your knowledge of cycling. Here are the athletes we should be watching

out for. In the men's team sport, the average age of our team is 20.

They took gold in the Glasgow World Cup last November. No British

representation in the women's team sprint. The dominant side looked to

be China, they are the Olympic champions. Elinor Barker, who won

gold in the team pursuit in Rio, is concentrating on individual events

here. We will see her in the women's scratch today. And it is the first

round of the men's team pursuit. Andy Tennant at 30 is the senior

member of the team and he just missed out on the Olympic Games.

Determined to make his mark here. The women's sprinting scene in

Britain, we will talk about it in a second but if you wanted get in

touch with us, details at the bottom of your screen, if you want to get

tips on fitness or mental health from these two, use everything they

know. But obviously also questions about I cling or team members,

anything you want just via our way. Becky James is taking a break and

there's only one British female sprinter out in Hong Kong and that

is Katy Marchant. Are we looking at a bit of a problem in British sprint

cycling at the moment? I don't think so, you look at Vickie Williamson

who is thankfully finally getting back on her bike after a horrific

crash at the sixth day in Rotterdam over a year ago now. She is well on

her way to making her way back into the team. We have some really

talented young riders snapping at their heels of Katy but at the

moment Katy is focusing on the Kieren. I don't Inc is any crisis

intends of the future but there is still work to be done. In terms of

how you gel well, and it is always exciting watching the team sprint,

for the women it is a team of two rather than three. Jo, I will just

get your view on this as well, the strength of the teams that are

lining up for this. In the women's team sprint, yeah, I think China

will probably be the favourites, they are the Olympic champions.

Russia were the world champions from this time last year but I think that

is because China were disqualified in the final. I think Russia and

China are the big two favourites here. I would love to see Team GB

back in the mix but like Chris says, there are a view riders who have

unfortunately had injuries or something, that will not be

competing in this winter. But it is something that excites me going

forward and I personally would like to see the event go to three riders

and three laps rather than two. This is the only event now where there is

not equality between men and women in terms of the number of riders in

the team, so for me that is the last step. This event has been

progressing really well since it has been on the programme. The gap has

been getting lower and lower so I would like to see it equal out on

three, so that is my thing. Yes, absolutely. I think we're all

nodding in agreement. Let's let the commentators take it away.

COMMENTATOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you and welcome to this futuristic

velodrome here in Hong Kong, just eight short Drive away from the

centre of the city, and we are just in time for the fourth race in this

women's team sprint qualifying. Australia, Stephanie Morton entire

Lee McCulloch. The Australians we will be watching here, they are one

of the traditional forces in this event, particularly when Anna Meares

was paired with Thirimanne colour. That is a few years ago now and they

are not one of the big favourites. It is a pretty decent time, the new

fastest one, 32.785, for Australia. We have already seen how fast the

men's team pursuit was. A pretty special performance and you often

find that a good performance sort of goes through the whole team. I

suppose it's not surprising that the Australian sprinters are also really

raising their game here. Often the case for the Australians posed

Olympic Games, they tend to perform well the year after an Olympics. I

suspect that here in Hong Kong it will be no different. It's

interesting, isn't it, Chris, that different countries have very

different ideas about how to prepare? Many of them treat the

World Championships as seriously as the Olympic Games. Of course, they

are World Championships, so so you should come about their funding is

not just dependent on how you do in the Olympic Games. That may be a

reason why the British team approach things slightly differently.

Possibly. To do with the change of funding and also culturally of

course. But they do tend to perform well very consistently. We've got

used to the British team who do tackle it in a very different way,

it's all about the Olympic Games, tipping off after that major

competition. That is a cycle we have seen repeated three times now. I

don't want to put too much pressure on them but we're expecting to see

good solid performances. This is the one event where there is no British

interest, but it is a really strong field. Joanna was talking before

about China, the Olympic champions, and also Russia, the defending world

champions. We should not forget too Germany and that brilliant pairing

from any years now, Kristina Vogel, who is a world and Olympic champion,

and Miriam Welte. They are never far away. Great talents in world track

cycling. They are one of the real crowd pleaser is as well, one of the

real characters of the sport. Incredibly consistent and so are the

Chinese pair, but mistakes have been made as we heard alluded to earlier

in World Championships. The rules for this event have been tidied up a

bit now, making it a lot easier for riders to stop people being

relegated, because that is not what anybody wants to see. It's all about

that front wheel, they can't pass before the first line. Just to let

you know that China have got Junhong Lin racing and

Shuang Guo. A little bit messy Art of the blocks. The German pair

cleanly away. This is a strong finish now. Kristina Vogel powers

over the line. New fastest time and China way out of it. China's time is

a long way back and that has now come up as the third quickest time,

but they were some considerable distance behind Germany. Germany

32.356. When you consider that the world record is 32 dead, that is

really a very respectable ride. They have set themselves out as being the

team to beat. So consistent and .3 of a second clear of Australia at

the moment. Coming into this, perhaps no great surprise. Kristina

Vogel has been in very good form over the winter track system,

winning the Kieren and the sprint in Los Angeles and she won the

individual sprint as well in Cali. In stark contrast to many Olympic

champions, Kristina Vogel deciding to keep racing through and she has

kept that going. Riders deal with the pressure in different ways. Some

see the competition as an adventure and the result is just a symptom of

doing something they want to do. Others really build up on the result

and it's all about that result, there is a lot of pressure and they

need to get away afterwards. So we see a real disparity in performances

in this post-Olympic period. We have got four gold medallists on the

track in the Great Britain squad including Katie Archibald and Elinor

Barker. We will see them in different events to those at which

they were involved in in Rio. A busman's holiday. They are still on

the track but just getting the mental break of avoiding an event --

of doing a different event. Next on the track, Russia,

. Against Spain. Don't forget this is a three round competition and

this is the qualifying phase which will see them go through to the top

eight first will ride against eighth, second against seventh. The

better ride you perform now, the easier ride you get through and the

two fastest winners contest the gold. 12 teams in this qualifying

round and eight of them will go through. I way they go. Let's see

what kind of form the Russian pairing have brought here to these

championships. Voianova Leading the way on lap one.

Shmeleva takes over for the final lap. No surprise to see Spain

trailing at this point. Here we come up towards the line and their time

was 32.962, well down on the time set by Germany. These are big gaps

in a competition like this, which can be decided by hundreds or even

thousands of a second. The German team are going to be tough to beat.

So, Germany fastest qualifiers ahead of Australia, Russia and China.

Spain, Netherlands, Canada and Colombia also going through. We will

lose Mexico, Korea, Italy and India. We're just waiting for official

confirmation of that. But interesting to note that from what

we've seen so far, it is Germany who have the real speed in their legs

that this particular moment in time. Good to see Australia as well coming

back in this particular event, because they were dominant a couple

of years ago, they won the world title three years in a row. And as

Daria Shmeleva, a former junior champion, just winds down, there is

the confirmation of the qualifiers in the women's team sprint.

COMMENTATOR: Germany out in front. Australia one of the countries you

were saying had a lot to prove after Rio. With the retirement of Anna

Meares, it has given Carla McCulloch the chance to show her skill. News

through recently that Mark Cavendish has been diagnosed with glandular

fever. Glandular fever is going to knock him out for a while, isn't it?

Jeff, that's pretty serious. The risk is that you try and get back

too soon and it extends the time you will be laid off for. I'm sure he

will get the best of ice on that but it is frustrating, he has still got

a lot left to achieve, he wants to win the highest number of stages

ever in the Tour de France and that will certainly hamper his

preparation. Let's concentrate on the qualifying for the men's team

sprint but that team of Heinz and Callum Skinner, Callum is the early

one at the World Championship 's and he is focusing on individual events.

It is a relatively new line-up, they are pretty exciting. Let's hear from

these new names. As a team, we're really close, we're really good

friends off the track as well. We'll came onto the Academy programme

around the same time. We were looking at a five-year goal, Tokyo

and then anything before that would be like a bonus. Obviously we want

to go to win. We are a young team and we have to give our best

performance and just see where that puts us. It can stand us in good

stead. Fantastic riding and the youth put in a fantastic

performance! We would like to go top five. If you go top five, you're

always going to be vying for a medal. It's a great record at any

level. Coming from their age through the Academy process together. I'm

really excited to see what those guys can do on the big stage. It is

very much their moment and how will they cope with it? Jack Carlin on

the left and that is Elinor Barker on the right. We will see her later

on in the scratch race. Chris, I started to ask you this but we

didn't have time to hear your answer, what is the secret to

gelling in the sprint competition. As a team, each rider has a very

different job to do, very different skills. The starter has to be an

exceptional rider accelerating the team up to a good pace. Number two

had to have the ability to soak up the start but deliver a strong lap

for the final person to hang on to the end. It is more than just

physical attributes, they are all good friends, they get on well and

they gel as a unit. It's very exciting for them just now, they are

on an upward Sharjah rhetoric and who knows how far they can go? -- an

upward trajectory. Let's have a look at Canada. The qualifying has

started but very early stages. Chris, talk us through what happens

here. Oh dear oh dear oh dear, nightmare. A lot of the holder

uppers are not that experienced. They're not from your team, they're

from the venue? That's right. A lot of the guys are big guys, 90

kilograms class and they have heavy bikes, so it can happen. Sometimes

it happens like dominoes, all six riders go down, not ideal when

you're about to start the race. These wheels are also very fragile

for lateral impact. They are designed very strong. You could

almost push your finger through that we'll if you hit it hard enough, so

there is a risk of damaging that ?3000 wheel. Is that it, I Canada

how? No, they get a restart because it wasn't their fault. But

psychologically it can be a distraction.

COMMENTATOR: They were the first two teams to go, Clare, actually. There

was a good story, it wasn't the rider who fell but a chap... Patrice

St Louis Pivin is one of the riders and he only set foot in the

velodrome for the first time 30 months ago, he was a power lifter

and one of the other riders suggested he tried out a training

camp and clearly it went rather well! Away. Cross-fertilisation I

believe is the term applied from going from one sport to another in

the sporting world, but it's actually a really good idea to take

people with the basic abilities and most importantly a desire to do it,

and give them the opportunity to try something different.

And experienced rider for the Netherlands, five times a world

champion on the track and three times on the sprint. Not for a

while, though. Nils Van't Hoenderdaal for the Netherlands.

Over half a second that of Colombia at this point. Of course it's all

about setting the time but it gives us an indicator of the blistering

pace being set here. Really quick bite Jeffrey Hoogland now. He leaves

it at the end and Theo Bos is an round three for the Netherlands.

Heading into the autumn of his career now, back on track in the

last year or so. Powering around the track at the bottom of this bowl as

he comes over the line in 43.970, nearly 43 hundredth of a second

quicker than the time on the other track from Colombia but it is all

about the time, they're not strictly trying to knock out the team on the

other side. Labouring a bit. You could see he was shaking his head,

wasn't happy with that. Nicely out of the gate. Respectable start there

by any measure. And so, so important to get out of the gate quickly in

this event. It doesn't win you the race but it can certainly lose it

for you. It's almost impossible to pick up the pace if you are not

thrown into this race at a high-speed. One of the key things

about this race in the last for five years is how they keep tweaking the

rules to adjust them in terms of the changeover. That is what has proven

to be the difficult part of the race. It's where people have

qualified on a berry regular basis and now they will do probably what

that to start with, it's all about the front wheel crossing the line.

Basically your counterparts can't cross over the line before you do.

Simple as that. The front rider has got 15 metres to get out of the way,

and out of the way is determined by the red line on the track. We've got

some excellent teams to come and in the seventh hit of eight will be

Germany and Great Britain. The last two Howell, New Zealand, the

defending champions, and Poland, as well. But at the moment we are

watching Japan, where Kazunari Watanabe is

the most experienced rider in their team. A real wobble there by the

Japanese team. Well off the track, and that is going to cost probably a

tenth of a second or more and in an event like this that can be

absolutely critical. Yoshitaku Nagasako leading the way on job --

that one for Japan commit his job is done. It is Yudai Nitta now for the

Japanese team. Not getting a time up for Japan at the moment, I think

perhaps riding off the track caused a bit of a problem. Jose

Marino for Spain... Japan with the second fastest time so far. Good

recovery at the end. Still a decent start, under 18 seconds for that

opening lap, but a better finish, I think. Well, had the experience and

the staying power to stay in there. -- Watanabe had the experience and

the staying power. You appreciate the timing of that effort, they

throw their weight back and forward in anticipation of that gate

opening. Get it slightly wrong and the wheels can snatch a bit. That is

what can happen. But recovered well. The medals will be decided tonight

in both the men's and women's team sprint, but still to go out onto the

track in the next few minutes. Next up will be the Czech Republic and

China. Here's confirmation of the standings in the clubhouse. The

Netherlands the quickest up to now but many of those teams will be

knocked down the leaderboard in the next few minutes. Tomas Babek, for

Czech Republic. Hush around the velodrome. Away they

go. It the might be the shape of the track actually pushing people down a

little bit here. It is a bowl-shaped track we've heard about. It was

actually quite quick, in the team pursuit qualification earlier today.

We'll have to see if it is the same for the team sprint. China

predictably the fastest so far. Many of the riders will be familiar with

this track. They had a World Cup meeting here last year. The track

was actually built in 2013. It's not like Rio where they basically turned

up and rode on it the day before the Olympics started. They're now coming

around for the Czech Republic. Sojka there. And China's time will be the

fastest so far. Just the quickest by about a tenth of a second.

Disappeared off the computer for a moment. Home advantage, always makes

the World Championships that little Morabito important. A very

respectable performance from them. -- a little bit more important. When

you are trying to drive out the power it takes self-discipline to

hold the position and not become more upright to get some more

powerout. You can see them on the back

straight. And Belarus now, starting near us.

But here are the Australians. Matthew glat zerl World Champion in

2012 -- Matthew Glaetzer. The Commonwealth keirin champion, in

good form, too. Jacob Schmidt with him. Schmidt a former two-time World

Champion and Nathan heart a common wealth games' bronze medallist. --

Nathan Hart. Away they G Australia fourth in the Olympics. And we have

a false start as you can see. We'll wait for the replay but it was the

starting rider. The Australians, haven't stopped here. That's

interesting. Australia are still piling around the track. Looking to

set their time. The familiar figurer of Glaetzer there on the start. He

is familiar. His body position. Mouth gaping wide open. Still second

fastest. Well hoping for a good finish here and it looks as if

that's what they are going to get. Here coming up to the line, Jacob

Schmidt for Australia, emptying the tank there. 44.136 for Australia.

Third quickest time, unofficially. Waiting for that to come up on the

screen. Belarus are saying - we do get another go, don't we? They do,

they get another start regardless of the cause of the mishap. But the

Australians did well to keep their composure. Normally there is a gun

fired and, so, they are well within their right. They have no problems

to keep going but often they are distracted. What happened here, do

you think maybe the gate didn't let go of the rider in time, an electron

malfunction with the gate? Our camera shot was a little bit close

up for us to be able to see there. He has It was just on head and

shoulders. They will go at the end, Belarus. They will have to wait

until everyone else has had their ride now, I think. They'll have to

go and warm down. And they will be on their own. Meanwhile, the

Australians, oh, almost a false start there. The first rider must

lead away. A well-drilled team. A respectable ride but I suspect he

will be a little bit disappointed with that to be honest. I have to

say we wandered down by the Australian pit a little earlier and

spoke to Gary there, and saw them all sitting there, getting prepared

and also, from what we have seen so far, Australia are all business,

aren't they, here at these Championships? Yes, it is a pattern

we have seen in past years, in performing post Olympic Games. They

enjoy competition. They are consistent throughout the Olympic

cycle, the four-year psychle. Often if they've had a disappointment at

World Championships, ory at Olympic Games they tend to take that out at

the worlds. They are looking sharp here. Early days I know in this

five-day World Championship. A slight delay because of that mishap

for Belarus but they'll have their chance to ride shortly. Here we go

with France. A young team for last. -- a young team for France. Up a

against them Russia. ! Well I'm not sure the Beard is the

most aero dynamic thing you could have for an event like this. Well,

this young French squad were second in the World Cup meeting in

November. Can they translate that level of performance to here in the

big change in the World Championships? Leading the way for

France is Edelin. The fist rider. on this first lap is... Up towards

the men what have they got in their legs? We are about to find out. Less

than 50 m to go, over the line they come and France 43.390. Puts them in

the lead. So they'll be pretty comfortable with that. Facial hair

or not. Well they look happy with that, certainly. No surprise. France

have been one of the powerhouse force a long time in World Frack

Cycling. We are seeing the next generation of their riders coming

through as well. -- World Track Cycling. They will be pleased with

that one. They were the fastest out of the blocks, 17.6 their opening

lap - they weren't the fastest out of the blocks. Only fifth fastest

but what a finishing lap. They have set the time to beat. It's not

always about the actual lap time. That's a really important element to

this event. It's about the delivery speed. So if there is part of your

lap where you are sling shotting the next rider in. And it is so

important you are speeding up not slowing down towards the end of your

turn. A tight balancing act. Particularly, of course, if you are

man 2 because you have to stay on the heels of man 1 who was blasting

to get away from the gate. All power on that first lap to set the tempo

and platform to go on and win. Man 2 has to have the speed to get on the

tail, not overcook it but also make sure theyp don't blow man 3's doors

off before his term. It is almost three different physiologies you

require and you can see the difference between them. The A

muscle to do that first lap. It is much, much less about aerodynamics

and power. Now about what about this, Jack Karlin, Truman and Owens

for Great Britain. 19, 20 and 21. Britain, of course the Olympic

champions, not with this kree yo but they've won two sets of gold medals

over the winter in World Cup races. A real opportunity. Calum Skinner

concentrating on the individual event. So it is all down to them

here. As they prepare to go to the start. Calum Skinner, one of the

gold medallists from Rio watching on. Watching his young team-mates in

this World Championship but look at the Germans on the other side of the

track. They are all power. Max leads them off. Leading on lap one for

Great Britain, Jack car Lynne. Let's lack at the time here now Carlin.

17.301 for them A very good start. Fastest of the series so far and

right at the tail end. So that means fastest of all the teams. The

British team are flying here as Owens takes them through. Here comes

Truman now, on the last lap. This the qualifying ride. Can he keep the

pace going? Can Great Britain set the fastest time? We're about to

find out now as they cross the line, 43.416. Second fastest. Great

Britain second-fastest time so far but a very strong ride out of the

gate for this young trio at the World Championships. Well the French

were around half a second clear of everybody else. So they really have

closed that gap and put some distance between them and the chien

autos who are currently in third position. They can be really

pleased. They said they wanted the finish top 5. Well what a great way

to set your stall out. And maybe the experienced rider had more in his

legs in the final lap, perhaps that's where the difference was made

for the French. We'll get some real analysis from Sir Chris Hoy later

on. The real expert at this particular discipline. A great ride.

I think they can be pleased with that one. As we watch Joe Truman

from Hampshire, the national sprint champion for 2017. Man 3. A chance

for him to get his breath back. They will need to do that because we will

be seeing them again in a little while. There we are, Great Britain

definitely through, we just need to find out where they are in the

standings but as you can see, second fastest up to noint and now we've

got an interesting one, because it is the last set of teams on the

track and we have the defending World Champions, the Olympic silver

medallists there from New Zealand and New Zealand have brought the

A-Team for this one. No messing around from them. No young riders

getting a chance here who are inexperienced they've gone with the

big boys, Mitchell, Dawkins there they are so used to run together.

And Poland, their team is good, too. We are watching a New Zealand trio

who won the world title in 2014 and last year and Ethan Mitchell is the

man who'll lead them out on will 1. -- on lap 1. Well, an excellent

start from them already, 0.2 of a second ahead and fastest-opening lap

in the series. Mitchell's job is done. It is Sam Webster now who

leads the way. Two times World Champion a Commonwealth champion as

well in the individual sprint and it'll be up to Eddie Dawkins to

bring it home at the end of the ride. Eddie so disappointed with

that Olympic silver medal last year. Can they bounce back with another

World Championship gold this time round as he grits his teeth? Their

time is the fastest, 43.267. They have the speed in their legs and the

Kiwis looking good. Dkwins was stalled at the end. Waiting to get

through. He had to back off a little bit before he started that final lap

and out of the gate, when you get it right, it just looks as if you are

not trying hard, because there is no swinging all over the place, it is

just a deleen, clean effort, all the power going into forward motion. He

was saying he was it was as if he was stuck in the Hong Kong traffic.

Backing up, ready to G he had the speed but not the room he had to

wait. Right on the wheel, waiting. He knows he can't overlap until that

line is crossed. You can see that actually, quite right. It was close,

very, very close. Let's have a quick look at the judges. See if there is

any deliberation, because he really did, I think get his timing perfect

there, which I think he did. Well, let's hope so, because it was only

going to be a fraction, wasn't t either way? They are such a good

trio and what form they are in. Let's see how the British trio match

up with the world's best as we await confirmation of the result. I think

Great Britain will be third fastest qualifiers. We've still got to have

Belarus. We've forgotten about them. They still have to race because

they, remember, had that accident at the start of their ride earlier on,

when the rider ended up on the gate, Veremchuk. Here they go, hoping

second time lucky. A better start this time. Well, a

little bit grabbed by the gate You can just see the snatch in his hands

as the rear wheel pulled him. Second rider leaving a gap here for him to

accelerate into. The now well-recognised strategy for team

sprint. Closing off a little bit quicker, though, again had to stall.

That's in the what you want. It is better to come in late and

accelerating. Now lap 2, he is about to hand over now for the third and

final lap. This is the last team on the track for the qualifiers for the

men's team sprint. Remember, eight teams going through to the first

round and I don't think Belarus will be one of them, in all likelihood.

14th fastest. 45.445. Great Britain will be through. The young trio have

performed well, we're just waiting for the official confirmation but we

think they are the third fastest team on the track here. I think so

but they're going to get a tough draw. They'll have the hardest heat

of all, I think but we'll wait for confirmation.

We watch Belarus complete their ride and hopefully we'll get the

confirmation of the teams that have gone through any moment now.

Remember when Belarus fell, Australia just carried on as if

nothing had happened and set their time. As they were perfectly

entitled to do and Belarus had to wait until everybody hells finished

before they got their ride. -- everybody else finished.

To qualifying in the men's and women's team sprint. Here is the

official result of the qualifying: Great Britain third-feastest They

have a good draw, 43. # will be their opposition. Nearly three or

four tenths of a second as a buffer. So it is good for them. They could

be going for a medal. STUDIO: But it is a very, very tough

schedule. Half an hour to warm-down and

warm-up and 42 minutes between that and the medal races you can see Jack

Truman shattered. Jack Carlin, less to do physically but when you are

the third man, Chris, as you know, it is just, brutal It is brutal. I

really feel sorry for Joe. Half an hour didn't seem like too bad a turn

around but when you have been producing that amount of lactic acid

the body is trying to flush it out, he will be hurting and thinking

about getting back on his bike for the second ride and hopefully final

round. Withdrew do you see the areas for improvement? The fist lap was

exceptional. A 12.30. He has done that before. Ryan Owens, I think did

a really exceptional ride here. 12.57, I think it was for the second

lap. That's world class. Owe quiff tloent Jason Kenny at the Olympic

Games. I think the fatigue was showing on Joe Truman having to soak

up the quick start and second lap. He will be hoping to go quicker.

Potentially he might be holding back a little bit subconsciously thinking

- it is just the qualification round. Come the final I would like

to see him do a 13.2 or quicker. Still scope to get into the gold

medal race? I think so. They can't hold back now. There is only a tenth

and a-and-a-half difference between first and fourth. They know the

ballpark figures. They could win or be out of the medals, it could be

that close. The first medals will be decided in the next race, the

women's scratch race which features, Elinor Barker, 22 from Cardiff. She

was part of the team pursuit that took gold in Rio but is focussing on

different events. Let's hear from her. I think I will still be racing

team pursuit but not the same build-up. I will not train for it

every day, it'll be like a bit of a cycle or warm-up for the other

races. It helps keeping you fresh. I don't think I could focus on it

completely for four years which is why I'm taking time out. But I think

it'll still be xet ti. The worlds are a little bit later this year and

the qualification is more strict than it was four years ago, after

London, approximate means people are having a solid track season and

enough time to come back after a post-Rio break and get back up to

fitness and be going well and have a lot of focus, so from what I've seen

at World Cups, I think it'll be competitive. Let's centre on the

focus, you mentioned a little less on the team pursuit. I can

understand it, maybe the demands are a bit too much for that for our fo

you are years, aren't they? I think so. I have been intrag with the

girls for a couple of weeks now -- I've been training, I have been

enjoying it. But, realistic clicks if I'm going to enjoy it in Tokyo,

if I want to still be doing it in Tokyo, I can't have an entire block

of focussing on team pursuit, it's a bit too precise and too numbers

based to have that kind of mental space for eight years, so toll take

time out is quite refreshing. Rob with the questions, speaking to

Eleanor about a week ago about why she's facing herself. Jo Russell

Shand watching here. 22 and her fifth major Championships She came

into the team after the London Olympics and has been focussed on

team pursuit almost solely since them. I can understand her comment

about wanting to try other things. This is a scratch trace which isn't

an Olympic event but part of the op nigh um, but people now would like

to show they have potential for that event. It opens up a lot of

opportunities. El is a very determined rider ie. ' Excited to

see how she will get on. And this is a big bunch -- I'm excited to see

how she will get on. This is a big bunch race, and it is all about race

tactics. Let's join the commentators.

COMMENTATOR: 40 laps of the track for the riders. 40 laps, Elinor

Barker racing for Great Britain. She was third in Los Angeles. And

giving herself a mental break, by riding other events. She said she

needed to step back from the team pursuit for a bit. Maybe is if she

decides to go back in a couple of years ahead of Tokyo she can gop and

focus on it, remember than constantly doing the whole thing. A

busman's who will day. It keeps them focussed on the racing. -- a bus

man's who will day. It gives them a change of scene. There is Elinor.

The Japanese rider, she is on the front. She gives way to the rider in

the pale blue, with black, yellow and black band around the chest of

Belgium. A big name in the race. A real star.

I think she has been attracted by the Maddison as well as races on

this one. She's on the front at the moment. She hands over to the

Italian rider. And taking over is the Norwegian, who is dominating the

Norwegian track Championships. She has seven national titles. Sarah

Hammer swinging off the front. One of the most prolific riders in

recent years. In the endurance event. We see an attack here. The

21-year-old German there No-one following at the moment. Nobody

wants to use up energy but if you can't sprint you've got to do

something and going for the long one, you don't, it doesn't often

come off but if it's the only chance you've got, it is the best

opportunity and she's got a quarter of a lap now. There is a tempo Hynd

which will stop anybody trying to join her when the pace is high, she

has held out there. Gaining steadily at the moment. Slowly increasing the

pace without leading the chase. Everyone playing poker, hoping

somebody else will use up their energy. There is the front of the

race. The German rider nearly has half a lap. You can see there now.

Elinor Barker just peels off the front. Now coming through for

Australia there, Christina Klonan. A first year elite rider, the

Queenslander. Well, it is significant. Hard, hard work. It'll

be starting to bite. She still has three-quarters of this race to go.

Here is the counter from the Russian. She has decided to wait

long enough and catapulted out and the rider from Hong Kong has decided

to go with her. Hence a few cheers in the main stand here down below

us. They are working well. Not sure if she will be able to make a lot of

use of these two. We'll see if she can slot in. A dangerous move. Do

you think she was waiting or do you think she's cooked? It was the right

thing to do but you can see the fatigue now. It'll be tough to

recover from that. I don't think they will be given opportunity to

get themselves organised because the chase is on Hynd. I think we know

the answer, she was tired she hasn't managed to hold the wheels and the

rest of the field baring down from here. The rider from Hong Kong, who

also rides on the roads, she got a decent placing in the overall in the

Tour of Thailand last year, looks Hynd and leads them through, 26 laps

to It makes you wonder, all this effort

to get up front, I have company and then to stop is a Kaurous move. Why

do it in the fist -- curious move. Why do it in the first place? It

might have been an element of panic because Pala looked like she was

gaining too much time. There is Pavlendova from Slovakia. 15 laps

into this race. China represented up at the front.

By Li, the national scratch race champion. Barker still in the pack.

Moving forward now, following the wheel of a rider that we haven't

mentioned yet. Kirsten from the Netth Netherlands. Here is Hamer

coming from the back, a serious move. Sarah hammer going for it. The

great rival of Laura Trott. Four times she's ended up with a silver

medal. But she has a great record at the World Championships. She is

going for it now. The danger has been spotted and Kirsten senses she

has to follow otherwise they will not be seeing her again? A really

big, committed move, for somebody who can sprint, Sarah Hammer. She'll

try to bluff it to get somebody else do the chasing but decided she will

have to close the track. Will they work toting? I'm not sure, actually.

It is a classy she riders here. Yes, Jasmine Glazer from Canada. World

silver medallist last year in London. She's up there too, twice

she stood on the podium at the Olympic games. So the Canadian on

the front, then the United States and Kirsten Velde. A hay-powered

trio we have. And having a look to see Elinor Barker who is involved in

the chase. They are losing the gap. Barker and Dura, part of a

three-rider group, closing in rapidly at those on the front. They

have help from the Italian rider as well. Barbieri from Italy. Now a

leading group of six. Well, it is a big number to go up the road now,

but it might be too big. You start to get a passenger, somebody who is

not going through. Nobody else wants to expend energy and everybody

intings U in an event like this, 15 laps to go, you need a group of

three to four absolute maximum. But they are rolling through and you

have to say when all the talent is up the road, who is going to do the

chasing? Yes, real talent in the leading club. The Australian was

trying to get something going but realises nobody is prepared to help

her. Now the Polish rider tries to open up the gap and lead the chase

and much more the Australian is on the front, using up a lot of energy

in her fist World Championship race at elite level A closeable gap. The

length of the straight at the moment. But you have to do it

quickly and at the moment they are swunging up the track, you can see

the judge be pointing at the front of the race, sometimes it breaks up

so much, it is hard to know which is the pointed end. That's his job to

point at the first rider all the time. Elinor Barker is tucked in

rather neatly in the mid-ess backpack. I think of the riders

there, certainly several others who have done far greater amount of work

that she has. She has ridden cannily up to this point. Wild used up a lot

of energy. Well, 12 laps to go and they themselves have the main group

within their sights. A long and a straight away. The impetus has gone

out of the chase. They don't believe they could make it and so they could

end up catching now with 11 laps to g that could get really messy for

this group because the winner, who's almost certainly going to come from

this six now... It could get messy for us in the commentary box, Keegan

eye for anybody if they're all mixed in together. -- keeping an eye.

Ten laps to go but the gap is closing but thankfully hasn't closed

yet. Kirsten Wild on the front They are ticking through now, waiting for

the finish and it is going to be decision time, soon. I say it often

when we watch this event, nine laps to go at about two-and-a-half

minutes of racing. You have to choose and am I go to wait for the

sprint or attack? And in that no-man's-land where people hesitate,

often a lone attack can work. Much to the crowd's delight, she is

off the main pack now. This could get very exciting. Euro may remember

she forced that early breakaway, she has been lapped by the riders at the

front. Elinor Barker at the front for Great Britain, Kirsten Wild of

the Netherlands just behind her. Tucked in in third place from

Italy,... Barker wants to get to the front here. She doesn't want to be

stuck in traffic. Wilde also aware of the danger. This one is likely to

come down to a sprint. Elinor Barker has risen this race really well so

far, as Jasmin Duehring hits the front. Barker is nicely placed on

the shoulder. She is just in the right place. Got to be careful not

to get swamped. Hammer coming round the outside. She has had a little

breather, in her terms anyway, and ready to go for it again. The rider

from Hong Kong looking feisty, stuck in the middle of the track out on

her own. Three laps to go and positioning is so important. Sarah

Hammer is trying to up the pace but the others can sense that as well.

Wild is not giving an inch there, as Elinor Barker comes around the

outside. Kirsten Wild will not give way. Barbieri of Italy in third

place. Elinor Barker in the business end of this one with two laps to go.

She just got stuck on the shoulder. Barker, look at this ride! And now

at the bell it is Elinor Barker from Great Britain, 150 metres away from

World Championship gold. Can she hang on? Half a lap to go, they are

closing in a bit, I don't know if Kirsten Wild has enough left! Barker

has just got an bit more. Can she do it? Just pipped by Barbieri of Italy

underlined! So, so close. What a dramatic race and what a superb

effort from Elinor Barker of Great Britain. That so nearly led to her

becoming the world's scratch race champion. He will finish with the

silver medal. She could not have done any more. We barely mention her

name in the first half of that race, which is exactly what you want. She

positioned herself well and she use that energy very carefully. It was a

good move, she came around the outside. See what duck on Kirsten

Wild's shoulder, she had to go forward. She couldn't stay there,

she couldn't be salaried and go back. She was committed with two and

a half plus laps to go, to be honest. So the strength was there

but the race was decided for her, really. She had to go just that

little bit early. Elinor Barker just swaps there as they crossed the

line, but Barbieri came second on this stage of the Tour down under on

the road, beaten by Kirsten Wild to the line on that one. But she had

the staying power here as they came up towards the line, and did Elinor

Barker hang on for the silver medal? I thought she had... In the jihad.

The computer was telling us otherwise. She gets the silver.

STUDIO That was heartbreaking for Elinor

Barker. What a terrifically brave ride that was in a gruelling ten

kilometres around that velodrome. Having caught up and negotiated the

traffic problems, she is caught just wide. That is a great performance

first of all and then what she might be thinking after it... She might be

initially disappointed because she thought she was going to get the

gold medal, but when she reflects on it... You will be happy. When she

got stuck on Kirsten Wild's hip. It is a long way to go on the outside.

You either drop back or commit and go for it and get to the front. The

Italian was quite canny and, to be fair, she had a great ride. Jo,

let's have a look at the closing stages and see what Chris is talking

about. Just being stuck in a little bit wide. The Dutch rider in the

orange on the inside committee took the shortest line around the track.

Elinor Barker is travelling further this whole time but trying to get

herself at the front. She obviously wants to lead the race out for the

spring, she thinks that is her best chance. But it's taking her a while

to get round Kirsten Wild. In those six runners in the break you have

got some world-class sprinters. Elinor Barker just runs away from

them here. She's got so much power. Kirsten Wild, Sarah Hammer, Jolien

D'Hoore, they are just all such strong sprinters but she has got a

gap on them. She has got the speed going up the banking and coming into

the home stride. -- the home straight. Frustrating for Elle.

Elinor Barker making her way to the interview position. Let's hear from

her. And in the Barker, a silver medal but so close to that gold

medal. Just take us through that last couple of laps, there. Yeah, it

all went pretty well, to be honest, I just guess not quite fast enough

at the end. When I came round Kirsten Wild, I thought I had won

the race committee is like the fastest sprinter there is, but it

doesn't always stay the same bad as it? Congrats to her but I'm

disappointed. It was brave to go to the front but the Italian had the

benefit of seeing what was going on behind. Yet, it was a plan but it

was ever so slightly too soon, which was possibly what cost me the race,

I suppose. I wanted someone to take it on sooner. I thought she was

going to and I was going to get a perfect lead out. A bit disappointed

now but hopefully by tomorrow I will feel a bit more proud of it. I think

you should do, it was a really well put together race just on the line

there. Yeah. I already feel like I want to do it over. Thanks very

much, Elinor Barker. Thank you. STUDIO

More relaxing to -- more reaction to Elinor Barker's race later on. She

has more races to come. But it is that women's themes print. -- the

women's team sprint. COMMENTATOR: It is a veritable

conveyor belt of bike racing here now and already we're getting under

way with the women's team sprint. This is the first round. Remember,

we're down to the last eight here. According to how these races go will

sort out who goes through and races for the medals later on. China

versus Spain. It is pretty close, this one. Hundreds of seconds in it

at the moment. China leading the way but as Chris says, only by a

fraction, as they come round towards the finish here. It is Eleanor can

that is for Spain who has been pipped to the line. They improved on

their lap in the first round. Half an hour between these rounds and for

the sprint athletes, it is pretty brutal. Everything going into just

driving that effort out. The first few pedal strokes critical in such a

short event. So, China powering over the line

with Lin Junhong, last year's Asian sprint champion, and Guo Shuang who

has been at the top of her sport for a long time as well. The defending

champions now, Russia, up against the Netherlands. Shanne

Braspennincx, who also writes the more endurance -based races. Keira

Lambert Inc as well. Actually, Laurine van Riessen has come in for

this race. There should be half a second between these two on paper.

If they are able to just keep repeating these performances, that

is a very different thing to just posting a fast qualifier. No change

for the Dutch but you just get the feeling this is going to be about

Russia. I way they go, clean start. Just look at the power being put

down their by Shmeleva of Russia. Voinova has got the little gap that

will allow her to come powering through for the final lap. You can

see the snap out of the gate was very sharp. The thick end of a

second between them there, which is enormous at this level of

competition. In fact it goes out to over a second. 32.456 is the time

for Russia. They are warming up very nicely, as this competition goes on.

The second fastest time in the competition so far.

So, only Germany have gone faster in the qualifiers. They've got to be

pleased with that. But Russia, with a ride like that, could change,

hoping it will be enough to put them in the final. We won't have to wait

too long, Australia and Canada will be on the track at any moment and

then it will be Germany and Colombia. So about details, this

event, as we've heard already interviews, if you're in the top

five then you're in with a shout of a medal.

At the highest level, it can be about who makes the least mistakes

as well. Consistency is as important as physical ability.

Kate O'Brien and Amelia Walsh for Canada. We are only 20 seconds away

now from this race. This is where the riders need to put it all about

them on the line. This will determine whether they are racing

for medals later. Kaarle McCullogh is the rider for

Australia. Away they go, Kaarle McCullogh is world champion in this

event three times but not for a long time, 2009, 2010 and 2000 11. Can

she get back to the summit this time with a new partner in Stephanie

Morton? They will be looking to better their previous lap and they

have done just that. 18.828, Australia, going just faster. And

they maintain it? Stephanie Morton over halfway through their final

lap, going towards the line, 32.570 the time for Australia. That was a

good ride and a good finish by Morton. Not quite as quick as

Russia. 32.456 for them, but Australia looking good too. It must

be very difficult being in that second place and deciding how much

to charge at the end. You will know, is your team-mate likely to die at

the end and you just rely on them to kick out that last bend? All those

subtleties. Stephanie Norton's career has progressed really well,

she first came to prominence as a tandem pilot in the para- cycling in

Australia. She won a gold medal in London in the Paralympics. Her dad

is here taking photographs, believe it or not. My had a word with him

earlier today. Proud as punch. Proud Yorkshire man. He got a few good

shots there, I think LEXI will have time to get a view more as well. We

will be seeing more of Stephanie Morton on the track in the next few

days. Almost ready for this final ride. Colombia the lowest qualifiers

of the eight. They are up against it, basically. The time is still

important. It's not just about winning, it's about which medal

you're going for. Kristina Vogel and Miriam Welte, three times previously

this team have it did the title. They look very good, they were the

fastest qualifiers. I think I said Australia then, this German pair. So

slick. They are so still but all the power is going forward. The control

muscle, their timing pretty good actually. Just look at the speed.

Kristina Vogel is the rider we want to see. Into the back straight for

the last time. Kristina Vogel, world and Olympic champion, crosses the

line with the fastest time. 32.668, not the quickest of those in the

first round, but more than enough to see off Colombia but yellow the only

team is actually seen so far down a little bit slower... Might be a

little bit disappointed there. Gone quite considerably slower.

Three tenths of a second. Still very fast, but at this level, you just

can't afford to make mistakes. So, they could well not be in the final,

Germany. They are not one of the fastest two teams.

Well, as always, we had best wait for full confirmation. We've had a

couple of glitches on our computer so far, so we hate to go ahead of

the captions, but here we are. Russia against Australia for gold

and silver, and as we thought, Germany just letting it slip after

that great start they will have to race for bronze. Having finished in

the Olympic and the well tended love it, given the way they start earlier

today, that will be a disappointment, I think. Release a

prized by that. They looked so slick. I didn't see anybody

challenging them there, and their pedigree is such that they are good

performers and you could expect them to deliver again and again. Slowing

in that second ride quite considerably. They will be really

disappointed. Men's team sprint coming up

STUDIO Let's get a quick thought from Chris

Hoy on what the British men have to do now in this round of the team

sprint. It's not just about beating the Dutch, it's about recording a

fast enough time to get the win in the gold medal race. They have to

win a hit but they have to do it with a quick time. -- win a heat. He

will still feel his legs from the first ride. But hopefully it will be

the rider for the gold medal. At the moment Poland against China is on

the track. COMMENTATOR: Well, a slight problem

here, Claire, because China are powering around the track, still

going, and the officials have been blowing whistles constantly telling

them to stop! They just won't. We've had whistles, we've had guns! Well,

that is going to cause a problem. We're not quite sure as yet, we will

see on the replay what caused the false start. It's usually one of the

riders overtaking rider won in the starting gate that causes the gun to

be fired. They must lead off. You can see here, they have already

anticipated the start quite badly, to be honest. And now the problem

they've got, Chris, it causes problems themselves and they have

spent a lot of their energy. You can't fault their commitment,

though! They are determined to see it through. You can fault their

hearing, though! What is interesting, we normally use a

starter's pestle to fire a real gun and it is a very different sound to

the electric one way using here. It is very different and it might just

not being bedded in their psyche. I think we just need something that

makes everybody jump, like we used to have. Because clearly what they

are using their didn't work there, with China. He thought that his job

was done for a little while but the news isn't good. For China.

So they ride off on the inside of the track. We will have a minor

delay but it won't last for long, because next up will be Great

Britain and the Netherlands. Owens, Carlin and Joseph Truman the riders.

This lovely space age velodrome has only been here for three or four

years. They do have a fantastic facility. We are seven hours ahead

of you here, so it is mid-evening in Hong Kong. One or two bleary eyed

team staff in the centre of the track just getting used to it,

working off the jet -- working off the jet lag from the

last 48 hours or so. As the British trio head to the line. Performed

well in their qualifying ride. They certainly did, they can be pleased

with that. They wanted to finish top five in this competition, but

they've got a very good chance here at ending up with much better than

that. So fingers crossed. But as we've already seen, it is all about

repetition and backing up, being able to do it not just once but

again and again. A couple of changes for the Dutch because Neils van whom

the ... There is no Theo Bos and no

Jeffrey Hoogland either for this one. Off they go. Three laps of the

track to decide whether Great Britain's young trio will race for a

medal tonight in the men's team sprint. Nicely out of the blocks

both teams, plenty of snap there. You can see the gap starting to

form, it's intentional. The others accelerating into its. Yes, don't

worry, that wasn't a problem there. Jack Carlin's job was done and now

Ryan Owens, who was the reserve sprint of Great Britain in Rio last

year, giving his team absolutely everything, as they take the bell. A

bit of a lag there, not quite on the wheel, but that could cost in the

closing stages. Joe Truman for Great Britain, booking a final -- Matthijs

Buchli a final ride for the Netherlands. The Netherlands the

fastest time. 43.481, still awaiting the time for Great Britain. 43.6

exec has now come up. I think just not getting on the wheel there in

that three might have just cost them at the back of that race. Both of

them got off the mark nicely. The opening lap was absolutely

world-class. According to the rule that they are laid down in front of

us here, that means that Great Britain will not be racing for a

medal and their place, it is the four winners who will race for the

medals. The fastest two ride off for the gold. Disappointing, there. They

got themselves the opportunity, but what a learning experience. They

acquitted themselves well in qualifying. Won't it be frustrating

if their time is quicker than teams that are actually racing pulled, but

we will have to wait and see. Plenty to build on. Great Britain's time,

43.6 -- 40 3.666, but the experience of

the Dutch carrying them home in the end, as France come up towards the

line now. Francois Pervis coming in for this one, who conquered all

before him, swept the board at Columbia in the World Championships

three-year is ago. Wasn't quite the same when he went to Rio last

summer. A good few years, 14 and 15. They had a lot of upsets within the

team, they had some coaching issues. They weren't all getting on terribly

well in the French sprint Quad, were they? At the other side of the

track, Australia. Nathan Hart, Matthew Glaetzer and Patrick

Constable coming in. Oh! The French, terrible start. We will have to have

a restart for France and Australia just ease up as well. This is going

to be interesting. The did anticipate the gate and grabbed his

wheel. The commerce heirs may decide to be lenient here because they had

a litre to Matt mishap for that restart. There was a fall but it was

clearly not an intentional fall, the days are gone when you could do

that, that what the real problem. Did the gatekeeper hold of his

wheel? Well, I think the connoisseurs should be generous

there. We haven't had a problem on the other side of the track. That is

Benjamin Edelin. Well, they will be looking closely at that. Do you

think it's a sticky gate? Well, it could be anticipation or it could be

the gate. We can't tell within hundreds of a second whether the

gate is opening late or whether he went early. I just wonder whether

Chris Hoy back in the studio has got any thoughts on what is happening

out here? Yeah, it looks as though they are potentially going a little

bit early but that has been entered -- been exaggerated by the fact that

the person standing on the gate does not look particularly heavy. A way

to try to stabilise it so if you go fractionally early, it is not going

to an stabilise the rider. Well, there is an incredible amount

of power going through the gate. Thanks for that, Chris. We will go

back to the studio of course once we have concluded this first round in

the men's team sprint, as the Australian rider Nathan Hart just

sort himself out and gets ready to go back out there onto the track.

Nathan Hart, Commonwealth bronze medallist in this event. In the won

team sprint for a few years now. 2012 in Melbourne, a few months

ahead of the London Olympics, that was the last time they ruled the

roost in this particular event. Matthew Glaetzer, who is in their

team today, he was one of their riders five years ago when they won.

Benjamin Edelin, Francois Pervis and Louis Pijourlet for France in this

one. Being doubly sure with the gates to make sure they have got it

right. As soon as the bike is secure, the clock starts to count

down from 50 seconds. Regardless of whether he is strapped in not...

They are so used to doing this repetition of this starting

procedure again and again in their training. They know that 50 seconds

is a long time, actually when it's your day job, so to speak. The

texture of the materials on these suits that the riders are wearing,

it's all about manipulating airflow. Hoping to try to get that bit of

extra speed. Smart new kit for the Australians.

Unveiled for the first time at these World Championships. Away we go,

clean start this time, Benjamin Edelin with no problem at the gate

on the second time of asking. Both teams cleanly away and you would

expect that at this level. Both of them going quick. Australia

significantly faster than France at the moment, three tenths of a second

ahead. Good start by Nathan Hartley. We often see him powering away in

the individual match. Now, what sort of time will he pass over? 34 point

X two. Dutifully tied change over. He got it spot on and gave nothing

away. Constable and Francois Pervis, the two last riders on the track.

Francois Pervis has turned it around for France on the third lap, what a

ride! A remarkable comeback. There were three tenths of a second in

arrears and in an event like this, that is absolutely enormous. A

blistering finish, they just got their nose in front just there.

Well, Francois Pervis looks as if he has got his act back together again,

doesn't he come with a ride like that? Absolutely. Here comes the

handover from man two the man three, Louis Pijourlet. Carrying Francois

Pervis right on the wheel there. You're giving away a length really

if you hit the line early, as long as you don't overlap, as long as you

don't touch that line first you can gain almost a bike length. It takes

some bottle and think at these speeds probably playing it safe and

staying in the slipstream like that is potentially the way to go top

white they kept him under wraps because he didn't ride in the

qualifying race. So impressive stuff from France there.

The strategy paid off. It certainly did as we prepare to watch the World

Champions. New Zealand. Watanabe will be the third man for

Japan, on the far side. 45 seconds to G New Zealand desperate to hold

on to their crown. They were pipped by Great Britain in Rio. But this

trio, two-time World Champions, including last year in London, 13

months ago. They look keyed up for T this must

be the hardest part. -- they looked keyed up for it. This must be the

hardest part the last few seconds knowing you can't make a single

mistake. Well getting out of the gate has been the hard part for a

number of teams but New Zealand's riders coped with it well and

getting a clean start, Ethan Mitchell. It is clean, you can see

the energy going in there, you can't you? Impressive stuff. Well in the

lead. 17.154. Ethan Mitchell. A great ride for him as Sam Webster

takes up the running now. It's all about the time, though, which medal

you are going for. You don't have to win, you have to post the fast time

if you want a gold go for gold. How much speds has Dawkins got in his

legs, he is half bay down the back straight. Up against Watanabe, but

it is about the rider in black as Dawkins crosses the line 43.183.

Fastest so far. I say so far bus we're in the quite sure who is going

to get to ride again or not up to now. Well, remembered that Poland

and China haven't posted a time even though China went around. Poland

weren't at fault when the race was stopped so they are going to

actually get to ride again, just outside of our pictures now they are

going brought to the track. And chain ease riders coming out so

everybody gets another go. The judges are obviously in a benevolent

mood today for the start of these Championships. We watch once again

the defending World Champions powering their way around the track.

You can see why they hold that title. Coming into the back

straight. Again, oh, really pushing it there. Cannot overlap before they

cross that line. So, just think the speed they're travelling, well over

60 kilometres an hour and this kind of judgment, amazing. Well look

forward to Chris Hoy's analysis of their performance and everybody

else's in a few minutes' time but they look impressive from start it

if Iish New Zealand when they get out on the track, the way they ride.

Very clean, sharp and fast. But this was went to be the first heat. It'll

be the final one. Well, I think it's going to be

fascinating to see the time that China post here, Chris because they

actually thought they'd completed their ride the last time. They - for

any viewers who have just joined a little late to our coverage, when it

was stopped and given as a false start a few minutes ago, China's

riders didn't hear the whistle and kept going, so they've used up a

fair amount of their energy and not long to recover. Well there are gaps

in the Polish riders. It is not ideal for the third man. It's pot

and in the lead at the moment by nearly a second, so it hasn't cost

the Chinese that xraf effort, I think. China have ended up doing two

rounds for the price of one here in this first round. They cross the

line 43.834. They were slower than Great Britain but it mattered now

because they beat their opponent on the other side of the track. !

Hopefully in a few moments we will get confirmation of what it all

means but Poland there benefitting from the fact that the Chinese team

certainly had continued to race when the false start was called the first

time around. The Poles are going to get - they might have been a little

bit ragged but they are going to get a shot at a medal here. So it should

be new zae and the Netherlands, shouldn't it. -- New Zealand and the

Netherlands? Yes, that's the way it is going to pan out. New Zealand go

in as the hot favourites here and with 0.4 of a second between them

and their opponents. So the men's team sprint finishing, just a little

later than expected, given the false start in the race. And here is the

confirmation: So new did he will be the favourites

in the final. The French will be the favourites for the bronze.

STUDIO: the frustration is were it on times, Great Britain would be in

the bronze medal position. What could they have done differently?

Well the first lap was a solid pearl'ance from Jack, Ryan Owens in

the first round, the qual figures was exceptionally quick. 12. 5. He

went a couple of tenth slower which was the real difference. Joe Truman

he would've lined to have gone quicker but fatigue there in his

legs, the Dutch had two fresh riders this brought n which was a smart

strategy and looking back now with Calum Skinner watching on the

sidelines, potentially we could have' brought in a fresh pair of

legs for the second rounded or the first round and picked the quickest

team for the final. With hindsight it is easy. The Dutch, the French

and Aussies all changed their line-up but the Kiwis didn't and

they were the quickest. There is not just one way to do but the Dutch

excelled in the second ride and unforetoon ately, although they were

the fourth quickest team, GB are out. It is a harsh position to be

in. You can tell from looking at the guys down there. There is outer

dejection there. On the left that's Joe Truman. I don't think they

should be disappointed. It is frustrating. I think this is, if you

look at it as the first step towards Tokyo they should be proud of the

season they've H two gold medals at the world Cups a silver medal at the

European Championships last year a fantastic breakthrough on to the

international scene at elite level. It is not the medal they wanted but

I don't think they should be overly critical and disappointed by the

performance. They will feel it but you are right, I mean there's lots

of compile and lots of scope and most importantly, lots of depth of

talent and as I heard someone say the other day - I either win or you

learn. Let's look and hear from Jill and sigh on and Chris Boardman out

in Hong Kong about what they expect from these World Championships.

It is the year after the Olympics, often we don't see some of the big

names they take time off but we have four Olympic champions with the

British team, Simon. A young team, average age of 22, 19 riders half of

whom have never been to woorld Championships before. So it is a

great opportunity for young, British talent to begin to make a mark. And

also for one or two of the more established riders to maybe ride

other events. It is a ream opportunity, isn't it, Chris, if you

think back it minutesk the London Olympics we saw Becky James come to

the fore and Sion Yates. -- if you look back to Minsk and we

saw Becky James and Simon Yates come to the fore. They have that depth

Hynd them. Calum Skinner will be interesting to watch the he was Man

of the Match in Rio, the guy who got them the team sprint modesal. Here

people expect the perforance for him. He is riding the sprint. It'll

be interesting to see how he copes with that status. It is interesting,

although the British team has a different strategy coming here w a

lot of new faces, it is not necessarily the face with many of

the other countries in so. Events. For example, in the women's team

pursuit. The United States, led by Sarah Hammer. She's here. They have

bought their A-Team. The men's team sprint. New Zealand, they have their

best team medals here. And we have a rider who won two medals in London

and Vogel, world and Olympic champion. So it'll be a good test.

Not a case of everybody sending young riders here. Who are you

looking forward to seeing, Chris? I think Katie Archibald riding the

individual pursuit. She's known that for a while so she has been

focussing that, out of the team events. A great interview, she is

really articulate and can express what she is' doing, always good fun

to watch. It'll be interesting to see what she can do. That's what I'm

watching. What about the women's Maddison on to the schedule. And

rumours we might get it back into the Olympics? Well it was a good

event in Glasgow a fewp months ago, a great success. Britain have

entered for it. It'll be interesting to see who turns up for the other

countries. I know there is a Belgium rider who is very a,accomplished

road and track rider so some of the top names targeting it. And there is

some discussion as it whether this may appear as an additional event in

Tokyo for men and women. It was a tragic loss from the Olympics. For

me it is the best spectator event in the track. Nightmare as a

commentator to work out what is going on, there is action everywhere

and sometimes it is hard to know where the bunch is but it is great.

It is great there is a woman's one as watch it is still irritating to

me that the women's is 20 k shorter than the men's, but one step at a

tienchts a good Maddison takes some beat, remember 12 months ago in

London, Mark Cavendish and Bradley wiggics brougted the house down,

winning the world title again, it is a fantastic race at its best but

Chris is right, we kept take our eyes off, it is like a tight-rope

workout for us for however long it takes. Do we know the British line

up for this? I believe Elinor Barker with Emily Nelson. A lot of people

suspected it was Katie Archibald but it is the same day in the programme

as individual pursuit which is odd I would put it on the last day and

make sure everyone is free so no Maddison for Katie but she has a

really good chance in her event. It could be a good day. The first medal

has come from Elinor Barker in the scratch race. Her medal ceremony is

happening now. Over to Simon.

COMMENTATOR: The The silver medal about to be presented to Elinor

Barker. So, so close to gold. A fantastic ride. So the silver medal

being presented to Elinor Barker. A hint of disappointment. More than a

hint of it on her face but it was a superb effort from her. She was near

the front for a long time there in that sprint towards the end Hynd

Kirsten Wild and so nearly hung on but there is the woman who managed

to get past her in the final few metres, Barbieri from Italy. Just

23. Second on a stage of the Tour Down Under. Nirted Maddison in Los

Angeles in the World Cup earlier this year. -- third in the Maddison.

She has the jersey placed over her shoulder.

I think she was as surprised as everybody there. She thought Wild

was going to be the one to beat but it was Elinor Barker, the

22-year-old from Cardiff who was the toughest to get past. A good race.

Some big names in it, too, drawn in for the endurance races here at this

World Championship. Some interesting souvenirs to take home as well.

Eleanor marker not riding in the team pursuit earlier today,

concentrating on this one, the women's scratch race, 40 laps of the

track which soar nearly yielded a gold medal for Great Britain and for

her. The crowd now stand for the Italian National Anthem.

APPLAUSE As the Italians celebrate. Eleanor

break had her on the edge of our seat. Out of our Saturdays. --

Elinor Barker. Out of our seats. But it wasn't her today but Great

Britain on the board on the very first day of the World Track Chipts

thanks to Elinor Barker in the women's scratch race.

STUDIO: Tears for the woman who got the rainbow jersey in Germany.

I love that National Anthem. It is great. In the event of a great

Briton not winning, I don't mind that. Jo, the Canadian team crashed

out in qualifying for this next event. You know some of these guys

Yes, so qualification for team pursuit used to happen on your own,

you were the only team on the track but now to save time they do two at

the same time. New Zealand were quicker than Canada, caught them,

passed them and a New Zealander caught front wheel of a rider here

to brings them all down and race over for them. New Zealand did an

incredible time so well done for them but for the Canadian guys they

didn't qualify for Rio. They haven't been up oven the world stage until

this season until they got bronze at the World Cup in Glasgow and won the

World Cup in November so they were hoping for a good performance today

but that was all ended in just in seconds there by that crash and

personally, I don't think you should have two teams on the track at the

same time for qualification, because, it's difficult to rank the

teams, especially if people have new names coming in, like we did. It can

make it unfair, it can affect your race if you have to overtake

somebody t can slow you down and similarly you can be slowed down if

people are overtaking you and it used to be purely on your own, on

the track, set your qualification time, now to save time they've done

this, which resulted in an accident which is a real shame. I think the

GB guys may have been slowed down slightly. They weren't able it fan

out for the finish because they had been overtaken and they sat up and

finished racing but we had half a lap to go. A reaction from Chris

Boardman out in Hong Kong. Ye, I watched the qualification earlier

today and Ian Dyer and I the British coach had a good look at the footage

of that earlier today. We are not convinced they got it ride because

the New Zealand fourth man, in his absolute desperation to stay on the

wheel, actually touched the Canadians shoulder and caused the

inability to caused him to bounce into the wheel. At first you think

it was insult and injury. I totally agree with Jo, by putting two teams

on the track you are kind of asking for dhivend trouble. So the event is

almost designed to cause a problem but it was that unusual touch that

caused the instability. One thing that interested me and maybe Jo will

have a word on this, Australia were close to the World Record with their

time. Did this stop them from breaking the World Record

potentially? I think really all that comes into the mix, about

qualification times, when you get catches like, that I don't think

we'll see that again. They knew they were going after t really, weren't

they? They knew it was an opportunity for them. For gnaws that

qualification, as well, normally the qualification times are slower than

final times because you are there on the track, if you don't have the

circulating air for another team for circulating air for the same power

output you go faster, that lends itself to now, faster times in

qualifying but Australia would've got a big game for chasing GB but

having to get over them that would've slowed them down, yes they

were close to the World Record but I don't think they would've been that

close if they were on their own, so a slight advantage for them but

overall I think it is a bad idea personally.

Well what you gain with one hand, you lose with the other It made for

interesting viewers It certainly was spectacular. We are now in the

second round. They were stacked up on the track all four of them. Here

we are with Russia and Belgium. W this should be the closest of

matches, between these two. A full second between them with Russia

getting the advantage in the previous round on time. They've

moved into the needs now. The slenderest of leads. The width of a

Thai. That's as small as it gets, I remember Chris Hoy winning a

Championship by that margin, may have been the Commonwealth Games.

Well one of his big titles was by 1,000th of a second but it doesn't

matter if it is by 10 m or 1,000th of a second you still get the med A

Russia increasing their lead. They are very consistent, Russia.

Slightly slower than their previous round in this opening kilometre. But

they might be cautious. Both teams technically riding very, very well.

It took them a while to get into their stride but they both look neat

at the moment. Often this event is decided by the

people who make the least mistakes. You see a change where a rider goes

up and comes down late and has to drive to get back into the

slipstream. Or comes down earlier as we have seen with Russia and that

energy they expend readjusting their speed, recalibrating into the team,

that can really hurt you later on and they are down to three already.

It's really early for the Russians to be down to three riders. Yes,

they have a long, long way to go. It'll feel a whole lot longer as W

Both teams made late changes to their line-ups ahead of this. Not

quite as the start sheet is suggesting here. But Russia down to

their core group of three. These three have to stick together. It

looks like they are finding it tough Being stretched. When you change to

three it alters the change completely. You have to be sharper,

shallower and those small ditcheses can really make a dimplts they are

going well, though. They have a good buffer. -- make a difference.

They have 1.6 seconds. Going away. Belgium still look organised. We are

seeing a lot of Russian trio but Belgium doing well About a minute of

racing left. A So with pretty much even pacing now

but Russia did the work early now and they can sniff the finish line

now. They are pushing away. A big turn on the front. Well they got it

wrong, they finished on the wrong lap. All of them just straightened

up with a lap to go and have had to get back on to the bottom of the

track. You don't see that very often. Now they are coming up and

sprinting for the line. And Belgium, crossing the line in 4. -- 4.017223.

Well we'll wait for confirmation. It is such a shame. The Russians

actually finished a lap early. I hope we get this in replay. On board

camera showing you what it is like to be in the seat at these speeds as

they lead into the 45 degree banking. They all came around with a

lap to go and were convinced it was the finish line and just blew their

advantage and they were so lucky to have that buffer to play with,

weren't they? Russia hanging in there, despite the fact they lost

one rider fairly early on. Ye, and the mishap. They made a mistake but

they quickly got back on the game there. Great Britain coming up on to

the track. Andy Tennant there, nearest the camera. They've made a

couple of changes. Steven Burke and Kian Emadi dropped out from the

qualifying round. Chris Latham coming in. Latham won a silver medal

in the World Cup earlier last winter. Mark Stewart, the Scotsman

coming in as W Andy Tennant, remember the World Champion a few

years ago in 2012. Ollie Woods who races for the Wiggins' team is the

other rider makingp the quartet for Great Britain. They were the fifth

fastest qualifiers earlier today: It'll be interesting to see what

this change is going to mavenlingt changing two men is quite unusual.

Away they go. Andy Tennant will lead off for the first lap or so for

Great Britain A very different look to the Great Britain team to what

which we saw in the Olympic Games last year. It is a tough job to get

this team going. Steven Burke has historically been man 1 in the team

pursuit. Well that really falling to Andy Tennant. The winners

of heat three and four, this is heat 2, they will go for gold and silver.

The remaining 16, which includes Great Britain, will be ranked by

their time in the first round and will be paired as follow. The two

fastest teams will ride for the bronze. So unlike the other event.

It is all to play for here Yes the time all important. All these

produced so that they produce strategic riding making sure they

have to fight for every step of the way. That's what the British team

are doing now. The very, very successful coach of the British team

in the track centre now indicating they are slightly away of schedule.

They are happy with the way this is going. Here we are with the on board

camera taking you into the thick of the racing. All of the teams have to

agree to carry these cameras. So it is an aerodynamic disadvantage but

it is evenly spread amongst the teams. And it certainly gives you be

an insight into what this racing is all about. Nine laps to go as they

cross the line this time. Riding on the front is Ollie Wood. Great

Britain team pursuit winners in the Glasgow round of the World Cup last

winter. He was one of the riders in that. It was a big turn. Yes, a big

turn as you say from Ollie Wood, the 21-year-old. Still very much on

schedule here. Going through two kilometres in two minutes. Slightly

slower than they were this morning. But good enough to put them

one-and-a-half seconds in front of the Swiss but the time, so, so

important in this one. I think they are measuring their effort W they're

being shown that they are bang on schedule now. And still hurting

around the bottom of the track, at the front mark, Stewart. He peels

away. A high change There the benefit of going that high up the

track is even if you do come down a little bit late, you can carry that

extra bit of speed down and close up quickly, which is exactly what he

did. Chris Latham there, just joining on the back Hynd Stewart.

And be-Hynd Stewart. Andy Tennant has dropped off the

back for Great Britain. He put the effort in to get them under way.

They are two and a third seconds ahead now. It is' really starting to

hurt now but all it play for, for Great Britain. They can see the

Swiss ahead of them at the other end of the straight as they move into

the last few seconds. Mark Stewart leading the way for Great Britain

now. ' Probably peel off as they GP around the banking next time. He

does that. Indeed now. Chris Latham takes up the running and he has

Ollie Wood right on his wheel. They'll take the bell as they cross

the line, this time just 250 m to G it is all about the time. Well, they

are riding well and finishing very strongly. That steady and middle

section I think is paying dividends now, driving for the line. Here come

the British trio over the line. 3. 56. 796, quicker than the qualifying

round earlier. A much smoother performance from them. A really good

use of efforts. Long and short-term getting the best out of the team,

rather than everybody trying to do even two seconds faster. They are

going to have to be pleased with that. It is a world class time and a

World Championship. Andy Tennant, a different effort to what we have

seen in the team sprint so far. Once you get this started, you've got

nearly four minutes of riding you have to contend with afterwards and

of course, Andy Tennant when he's done that start, he has to get on to

the back and into shelter, having had that effort, whilst the team is

still trying to accelerate. It is a tough job. Certainly a decent ride

from Great Britain in that first round. Well, many World

Championships have been won with times slower than that. The real

difference here is the way that nations like Australia were riding

when we saw them a little while ago in that qualifying ride. We'll see

them out on the track again. It will 's be interesting to see how they

back up that first performance where they very nearly broke the World

Record. We talked about them getting a catch, didn't we? They had the

benefit of the slipstreaming but then had to go around the traffic

for extra distance now they are going so quick it is possible they

could get another catch or a close catch, your absolute ideal, you

don't quite meet the team in front, they just carry you through that

last kilometre. I will be surprised if they don't try to do the same

thing again but probably assuming they will go all the way through

they'll be saving that for the final.

Just to remind you, the winners of this heat coming up and the next