Elia Viviani wins omnium elimination race as mistake costs Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish could not capitalise on errors by his rivals but holds the bronze medal position at the midway point of the six-discipline event
Elia Viviani (Italy) won the third round of the omnium at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as he came out on top in the elimination race.
Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) had been riding well but was pulled out of the race by the commissaires after he was judged to have undertaken off the track to stay in contention. His frustration was evident as he passed up the chance to progress up the standings.
Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark) tumbled down the standings after he was the first to be knocked out in the elimination race. The Dane was leading the overall after winning both the scratch race and individual pursuit earlier in the session, but now tumbles to sixth.
The men's omnium kicked off with the 60-lap (15km) scratch race, which was won by Hansen and saw Cavendish finish sixth.
Next up was the 4km individual pursuit. Cavendish set a blistering time that looked like it would be the fastest, but Hansen set a new Olympic record on his way to winning the event.
Cavendish's ride in the pursuit raised him from sixth to third ahead of the elimination race, and after those above him in the standings went out early he would have benefited from staying in the elimination much longer than he did.
However, boxed in as the bunch approached the line, he darted inside and burst past the pack. Dropping to the inside of the track is not allowed, however, and he was eliminated from the race.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Up to that point, Cavendish had looked relatively untroubled. Despite a promising first day for the Manxman, he will be perturbed that three biggest names in the omnium – Viviani, Fernando Gaviria and Thomas Boudat – were the three battling it out for the most points in the elimination race.
More from the Olympics
Mark Cavendish takes sixth in scratch race to start omnium campaign
Mark Cavendish produces outstanding ride to place second in omnium individual pursuit
Becky James and Katy Marchant progress to 1/8 final of track sprint
Jason Kenny beats Callum Skinner to take Olympic sprint title
Wondering how the omnium works?
The men's omnium at this Olympics concludes on Monday August 15. The remaining races are the kilometre time trial (first session), the flying lap and the 40km points race (both in the second session).
Result
Men’s omnium: Elimination race
1. Elia Viviani (ITA)
2. Thomas Boudat (FRA)
3. Fernando Gaviria (COL)
4. Kazushige Kuboki (JPN)
5. Artyom Zakharov (KAZ)
6. Gideoni Monteiro (BRA)
7. Mark Cavendish (GBR)
8. Gael Suter (SUI)
9. Ignacio Prado (MEX)
10. Glenn O’Shea (AUS)
11. Bobby Lea (USA)
12. Roger Kluge (GER)
13. Leung Chun Wing (HKG)
14. Park Sanghoon (KOR)
15. Jasper De Buyst (BEL)
16. Tim Veldt (NED)
17. Dylan Kennett (NZL)
18. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN)
Men’s omnium: Top ten after three disciplines
1. Thomas Boudat (FRA) 106
2. Elia Viviani (ITA) 104
3. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 96
4. Roger Kluge (GER) 90
5. Fernando Gaviria (COL) 90
6. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) 86
7. Glenn O’Shea (AUS) 76
8. Gideoni Monteiro (BRA) 66
9. Artyom Zakharov (KAZ) 62
10. Dylan Kennett (NZL) 60
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online.
-
Five things to look out for ahead of the Tour of Flanders
Lidl-Trek's impressive form and Mathieu van der Poel's explosive start to the Classics season could make for quite the contest this weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A bikepacking trip is the perfect way to see the last viewable solar eclipse in the U.S. for 20 years - here's how
Following a 115-mile-wide path, the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse will last just under four-and-a-half minutes and can be viewed from multiple U.S. midwest and east coast bike routes
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
'My legs are screaming' - 17-year-old stuns with two gold medals at the British Track Championships
Sam Fisher enjoyed a dream day with victories in the team pursuit and scratch race
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I'm in shock' - 16-year-old school student wins medal at British Track Championships
A-Level student Henry Hobbs rode a blistering kilometre time trial to earn a spot on the podium
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Olympic hopeful Will Perrett dazzles at British Track Championships
27-year-old gains three laps to win points race in style, on a night when para-cycling national records tumbled
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I was expecting to be 7th or 8th’ - retired pro takes shock victory at British Track Championships
Pete Mitchell soared to a national title on his racing comeback
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Astana go all in on Cavendish in his final season, but will the confidence pay off?
The Kazakh team have bet big on the 38-year-old sprinter. Both they and Cavendish need 2024 to work
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mark Cavendish wins his first race in final season after perfect leadout in Tour Colombia
The Briton fended off the challenge of home rider Fernando Gaviria on stage four of the Tour Colombia
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Mark Cavendish forced to settle for third in 2024 season opener in Colombia
Astana Qazaqstan rider says Tour Colombia stage one result ‘best debut race for a few years’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish seeking aerobic gains at altitude before focusing on high intensity work ahead of new season
Astana head coach Vasilis Anastopoulos: ‘Cavendish is currently doing lots of hours in the saddle and only short sessions of more intensive work’
By Tom Thewlis Published