Monday, February 21, 2011

One hella sprinter, one hella splinter



From cyclingnews.com:


February 19, Day 2: Men: Keirin, omnium - Women: Sprint, scratch race, omnium
Meares and Hoy lay down markers in Manchester

By: Richard Moore
Published: February 19, 11:12,
Updated: February 20, 09:27

Hoy's win in the men's keirin was spectacular both for the manner of his victory, with the 34-year-old quadruple Olympic gold medallist sitting back and then launching a surge that destroyed his five opponents, and for the chaos that ensued behind.

As Hoy blasted up the home straight, Aziz Awang, the diminutive Malaysian, tried to squeeze through a tiny gap on the final bend, in the process colliding with and bringing down two riders.

In true domino fashion these three riders brought down the remaining two, meaning that Hoy was the only man left on his bike, even if he only realised that as he surveyed the wreckage on his victory lap.

As Hoy celebrated, the stricken riders sprinted in ungainly style for the line, pushing their bikes, to claim the minor placings. Jason Niblett (Jayco-AIS) was first to do so, with Awang somehow managing to remount and ride across the line to claim third, and confirm his overall World Cup win, before being carried out of the arena on a stretcher. The replays showed an enormous splinter entering his calf and coming out the other end.

"I was completely unaware of the crash," said Hoy. "It was only on my victory lap, when I was showboating, and the officials were shouting at me to stay up the track, that I could see the bodies. The noise of the crowd meant that I didn't hear it, but it was a nasty one."


Full story HERE:

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