China team manager breaks hand in anger after team sprint relegation
The team thought they'd won the gold medal, but were disqualified for an illegal change
Chinese track sprinters Jinjie Gong and Tianshi Zhong looked to have successfully defended their title at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London, but were relegated to the silver medal position for an 'illegal change'.
The team's French coach Benoit Vetu was so angered by the ruling that he hit a table and is thought to have broken his hand.
Vetu told AFP: “It is the rules, but the rules are bad." He went on to say that the disqualification was a result of a very slight violation.
"It was a millimetre too early, that is all. One millimetre.”
The Chinese team was relegated from gold to silver at London 2012 for a similar, slight infringement in the changeover zone.
The relegation of the Chinese team meant that the Russia pairing of Daria Shmeleva and Anastasiia Voinova, who had been resolutely beaten, were bumped up to the top step of the podium.
Whilst Vetu was reacting to his riders being dropped a place but still remaining in the medals, recriminations were starting in the British team after they failed to gain qualification to the Olympics.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant finished fifth in qualifying but needed to end the day two places above the French team. The French pair came in seventh, ending Team GB's hopes of an Olympic spot.
The riders vented their frustration at the team management, to which Shane Sutton responded by saying the riders had not been good enough.
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.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Just words on a piece of paper' - Matthew Richardson responds to Australia ban and sanctions
Track sprinter who switched nationality to GB hopes fallout can be 'put to bed'
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Olympian Matthew Richardson banned for life by Australia
Track sprinter swapped nationality following Paris Olympics, and now competes for Great Britain
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Six-day events no longer have to last six days, UCI rules
Regulation update gives track racing organisers more freedom over duration
By Tom Davidson Published
-
90-year-old cyclist sets sights on four world records
Three-time Masters world champion Walter Fowler is far from ready to slow down yet
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I will hopefully not be forgotten': How Jeffrey Hoogland broke track sprinting's oldest record
Last October, Jeffrey Hoogland roared to a new kilometre time trial world record. Tom Davidson spoke to the Dutchman and his team to find out what it took
By Tom Davidson Published
-
London 3 Day live stream: Watch Sunday's action on Cycling Weekly's YouTube channel
Watch live as track cycling stars go head-to-head at the Lee Valley Velodrome
By Tom Davidson Published
-
London 3 Day live stream: Watch Saturday's action on Cycling Weekly's YouTube channel
Watch live as track cycling stars go head-to-head at the Lee Valley Velodrome
By Tom Davidson Published
-
London 3 Day live stream: Watch Friday's action on Cycling Weekly's YouTube channel
Watch live as track cycling stars go head-to-head at the Lee Valley Velodrome
By Tom Davidson Published