On the third day of the Olympics, two sets of medals were decided on the Rio track. The women crowned their Olympic champions in the keirin and the team pursuit.
Experts predicted British gold in both disciplines, but it was clear the rivals had no intention of giving anything away.
In the third heat of the round that decided the finalists of the women’s team pursuit, the United States set a world record of 4:12.282 and raised expectations at the velodrome. But in the very next race the British improved the freshly baked record to 4:12.152 and brought the Americans back down to the boards.
11 August 2016
2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL)
Women Team Pursuit Qualifying
GREAT BRITAIN
ARCHIBALD Katie
TROTT Laura
BARKER Elinor
ROWSELL-SHAND Joanna
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
As a result, the final pairings were:
New Zealand – Canada (bronze final)
USA – Great Britain (gold final)
The Canadians won the bronze final, while the gold final turned out to be tense. The Americans led at first and held their advantage through the first thousand meters, but from the second kilometer the British raised the pace and covered the four racing kilometers 2.218 seconds faster than the Americans.
13 August 2016
2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL)
Women Team Pursuit 1st Round
GREAT BRITAIN, World Record
ARCHIBALD Katie
TROTT Laura
BARKER Elinor
ROWSELL-SHAND Joanna
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
The British time in the final, 4:10.236, was a new world and, of course, Olympic record. It is Britain’s third gold on the Rio track, which shows their great superiority.
13 August 2016
2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL)
Women Team Pursuit Finals
1st : GREAT BRITAIN
ARCHIBALD Katie
TROTT Laura
BARKER Elinor
ROWSELL-SHAND Joanna
2nd : USA
HAMMER Sarah
CATLIN Kelly
DYGERT Chloe
VALENTE Jennifer
3rd : CANADA
BEVERIDGE Allison
GLAESSER Jasmin
LAY Kirsti
SIMMERLING Georgia
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
After the brilliant contest for the first set of medals, it was the turn of the women’s keirin final.
The race drew great interest: the final featured the legendary Australian Anna Meares, two-time Olympic and 11-time world champion. With her, the great German Kristina Vogel, London Olympic champion and seven-time world champion. And finally, Britain’s rising star, two-time world champion Rebecca (Becky) James.
Based on earlier results, Becky was given a slight edge. The race was chaotic. Because of the draw, Becky had to start from a back position. She clearly launched her sprint for gold too late; she picked up speed, but had to go around a wide arc. Had the finish been a few meters further on, Rebecca would clearly have won, but, as I said, the late start of the decisive sprint left her with only silver.
13 August 2016
2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL)
Women Keirin Finals
1st : LIGTLEE Elis (NED)
2nd : JAMES Rebecca (GBR)
3rd : MEARES Anna (AUS)
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
The other favorites didn’t show the necessary craft either, and to everyone’s surprise the Olympic champion was Dutchwoman Elis Ligtlee, while Anna Meares added a third Olympic bronze to her rich collection. The result came as quite a surprise even to the winner herself, but Elis’s name has been written forever in golden letters in the history of world cycling.
13 August 2016
2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL)
Women Keirin Finals
1st : LIGTLEE Elis (NED)
2nd : JAMES Rebecca (GBR)
3rd : MEARES Anna (AUS)
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
Featured image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com
Inside post thumbnail image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com
Special thanks to the Japanese photographer Yuzuru SUNADA for permission to use his works in our publications.
Translated from Georgian with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), reviewed by the Velorbola editors.
In history, only three riders have won all five Monuments: [...]
April 15, 2019
