Obree takes Team TT
Graeme Obree and team-mate Billy MacFarlane recorded a win for the host club, Fullarton Wheelers, in yesterday’s two-man Ice Breaker event at Drybridge, Scotland.
The pair clocked 37min 38sec for the 18-mile event, giving them a 42-second margin over Jim Cusick and Ian Simm of Glasgow Couriers, with Kenny Girvan and Neil Campbell (Ayrodynamic) third. Could this be a comeback season from the Hour legend?

World Cup success
An inexperienced Great Britain team ended the World Cup in Sydney with three medals. Nineteen-year-old Ed Clancy was the top performer, taking silver in the individual pursuit on Day 1. The following day Clancy teamed up with Matt Brammier, Matthew Cavendish and Tom White to land another silver in the team pursuit behind New Zealand. Cavendish and White also won bronze in the Madison. A remarkable performance from the young squad against many experienced southern hemisphere riders who are coming off a winter of racing down under.

Thomas in a nasty spill

The success on the track was overshadowed by a horrific training accident that led to world junior scratch race champion Geraint Thomas needing an operation to remove his spleen. It appears that he was struck with an object hanging off a truck, this broke his forks and he fell heavily on his handlebars. He is now recovering in a Sydney hospital. The latest news from British Cycling as follows:

News from the team is that Geraint has been operated on to have his spleen removed and GB are flying his parents and brother to be with him as he recovers in hospital. After the operation Geraint was apparently okay, sitting up in bed and pleased the injury won’t keep him off the bike for a long time.

Prior to the operation, not only had Geraint been quite ill because of the internal bleeding, it had also been thought before they removed his Spleen that he would be off the bike for along time to give the Spleen time to heal. As it happened, the decision was made by the doctors to remove the Spleen due to the internal bleeding and not only did Geraint feel better afterwards, its said he was sitting up in bed pleased that it shouldn’t be too long before he will be back in action. A bike rider through and through is our Geraint and our best wishes go to him and his family who have been flown out to be with him.

We wish Geraint all the best with his recovery.

Pendleton goes for kilo
The speed levels will be taken up a gear at Revolution 8 on February 26th as British sprint star Victoria Pendleton will attempt to beat the women’s Kilo world record. Pendleton is clearly on form following her two silver medals at the Manchester World Cup, in the Sprint and 500m TT, and a gold medal in the Keirin at the LA World Cup. Making the step up will be difficult for Pendleton but she has been training hard over 500m and hopes that she will have the speed and power to last the Kilo,

“I’ve been training over 500m and Craig MacLean has been helping me to improve my power. I haven’t actually done a Kilo so it is going to be interesting!”

The current record was set by Sally Boyden at the Manchester Velodrome back on the 5th September 1995. Pendleton hopes to shave a couple of seconds off Boyden’s time of 1m 14.180secs but realises it won’t be easy,

“I am going to aim to go about 2 seconds faster than the record so I’m hoping for about a 1.12.  It’s going to be tough but it will be great going for it at Revolution. There should be a big crowd so hopefully they will get behind me and spur me on.”

Pendleton’s record attempt will fit into an action packed programme including a Great Britain versus Germany Team Sprint and all star Revolution Madison. Unfortunately, one absentee from the Madison will be Olympic medallist Bradley Wiggins. Due to Brad’s extensive road race programme he will be unable to ride at Revolution 8 as previously announced and will be riding Het Volk instead.

Details

When?: 26th February 2005
Where?: Manchester Velodrome
What time?: Doors open at 5.30pm – racing starts 7pm

For all the news and latest announcements, take a look at www.cyclingrevolution.com.

As ever tickets are available to purchase in advance from www.cyclingrevolution.com or by calling 0700 594 2579. Tickets will also be available on the door.