Australia?s rough and tumble sprinter Graeme Brown has tried to psych out the British team pursuit squad before the expected head to head race in the Sydney World Cup.
Speaking to Rupert Guinness of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, Brown is convinced that Australia will give Great Britain a lesson in team pursuiting at the Beijing Olympic Games. Brown won gold in the team pursuit and Madison in the Athens Olympics in 2004.
"I would be very happy if the Poms came here [to Sydney] and beat us by a long way because it would make them get a little confident, then we knock 'em down. It's like the [cricket] Ashes in '05, then we came back and kick their arse in '06. Give them a year [as winners]," Brown said.
"Shit yeah ? it's what Australians are put on this Earth for ? to kick the Poms' arses. Ain't that what it is about?" he said.
Brown will team up with Luke Roberts, Matt Hayman and Mark Renshaw in the team pursuit. He is (just about) modest enough not to expect a great result due to a short preparation but claims Australia's young riders will give the Ausises strength in depth ready for Beijing.
"We had six good guys in 2004 and I would say now we could have 13 going for four positions. I said it to a few of the Great Britain guys but they think I'm taking the piss out of them. The real competition will be in the Olympics."
"At the moment, I've got a bit of a niggling injury in my leg which I hope will be cleared up. It's a combination of the hamstring and one of the muscles up above my knee,? McEwen said.
" I've been having treatment for some old scar-tissue injuries and trying to get that all 100 per cent. It's a bit of a niggle but it should be OK."
McEwen is expected to line up alongside Matt Wilson, Baden Cooke, Matt White and Henk Vogels at in Brisbane for the first Grand Prix race. The Brisbane leg is also the Australian Open Criterium Championship and the second stage of the series will be held at Surfers Paradise on December 9. McEwen is defending national men's champion but was reluctant to make any predictions despite winning a criterium last week.
"I've been riding for a week so I'm not going to predict any big things. I don't have too much expectation for the next couple of weeks because I'm only just back on the bike and I've got this niggling injury at the moment. I won't be pushing myself to the absolute limit."
CW'S TRACK WORLD CUP COVERAGE
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