Promotional feature with Six Day
The first night of Six Day Melbourne saw home stars Sam Welsford and Cameron Scott take a substantial lead over their nearest rivals.
Welsford and Cameron broke the 100-point barrier on Thursday evening (February 7), giving them a 29-point buffer over New Zealanders Aaron Gate and Shane Archbold.
In the women’s competition, Annette Edmonson sealed the omnium victory and leads the overall classification heading into the second night.
While the sprint competition is currently headed by James Brister, who took a surprise time trial victory.
>>> Nine reasons to try track cycling this winter
Welsford said: “We’re happy to come out on top – it was really fast out there today, we’re keen to see how we go tomorrow defending that GC.”
Scott added: “The New Zealanders are two very strong riders and it will be hard to keep them at bay, but we’ll do our best.”
Weslford and Scott lead the competition with 102 points, Archbold and Gate on 80, followed by Stephen Bradbury and Jarrad Drizners third on 71.
Anette Edmondson fended off a challenge by Amy Cure to take the omnium title – she leads the general classification with 118 points to Cure’s 110.
Alex Manly sits in second on 94.
Ashlee Ankudinoff put in an aggressive attack to win the 7.5km scratch race, but Edmonson powered to victory in the elimination to take the lead.
She held her advantage by winning the tempo and holding on in the final points race.
Edmondson said: “I thought I had it controlled, and I did until the last 20 laps when Amy Cure really gave it to me.
“I know how much harder it is to be in second because you’ve got to make the moves.
“I feel like she rode the best race I’ve ever seen in second wheel. She made me work for it.”
“Things get tricky in the second half but luckily I had a bit of a buffer going into the final.
“It’s my first omnium win for a while – I had a break, went to the road, came back – and it really does mean a lot to be on top.
In the sprints, James Brister faced off against compatriot Tom Clarke, with the latter taking the victory.
But Brister leads the competition on 47 points, trailed by Russia’s Shane Perkins on 42, and Clarke on 41.
Perkins and Azizulshani Awang dominated in the keirin.
After kicking on early, Perkins just about held off the late charge from Awang and raised his wheel over the line to take victory.
The three-night event continues on Friday (February 8).
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/sixdaymanchester
The Six Day Series is heading to Manchester between 22-24 March 2019. See some of the world’s best riders including Olympic and World Champions.
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
-
-
Tinker Bottom on Quicksie Hill - the search for Britain's funniest road names is over
Here are the 27 of the funniest road names from across the UK. And not all of them are rude
-
Snapped cranks, motorbikes and decade-old handlebars - breaking sprinting's oldest world record
Jeffrey Hoogland is going after the longest-standing record in track cycling
-
'Just don't wreck yourself' - Fred Wright on his GB track gamble and the Olympics
The Bahrain Victorious rider is set to compete at the European Track Championships next week
-
Inside the secret race at the Track Champions League
Cycling Weekly lifts the lid on the private points contests ridden out of the spotlight
-
'Chris Hoy said the British coaches may be kicking themselves’ - Britain’s lost track cycling champion
British-born Australian Matthew Richardson has fast become one of the world's best track sprinters
-
Katie Archibald gets back to winning ways at Track Champions League
The defending endurance champion is up to second after the competition's second round
-
Five Dutch sprinters squeezed in a van: Life behind the glamour of the Track Champions League
Now in its second year, the competition takes riders back to their early racing days
-
Mark Stewart takes the men’s Endurance classification lead in the Track Champions League
Scotsman Stewart wins the Scratch and places third in the Elimination as Katie Archibald takes women’s Scratch victory
-
'This is the essence of track racing' - Chris Hoy on season two of the Track Champions League
Six-time Olympic gold medallist says he wishes he had something like this during his record-breaking track career
-
Ethan Hayter bags second gold for GB on Track World Championships day four
The Brit brought his country's medal tally to seven as he retained his omnium title
