CYCLING: Just over two weeks out from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women’s team pursuit finals, two of the leading contenders got an up close and personal look at each other in Los Angeles.
Fine tuning their Rio preparations in adjoining training sessions at the VeloSports Center in Carson was the reigning world champion outfit USA, and 2015 world champions and current world record holders Australia.
The Australian quintet of Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Georgia Baker (TAS), Amy Cure (TAS), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Melissa Hoskins (WA) commenced their team camp’s penultimate track session just moments after the USA completed their team pursuit dress rehearsal.
“It is quite strange because usually we prepare on the other side of the world to every other nation,” said London Olympic omnium bronze medallist Annette Edmondson. “So to have our major lead-in camp at the same place as another team, yes it is quite different but it is actually kind of cool because it makes you switch on and makes it a bit more real.”
The women’s team pursuit competition is predicted to be one of the toughest and deepest competitions in Rio, with at least five teams in contention for the title.
The USA stormed to their maiden world title in London last March, winning ahead of Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand.
However Australia, who bolted to the 2015 world title in world record time, carried an interrupted preparation to their title defense and finished fifth overall.
Melissa Hoskins (WA) was struck down with pneumonia in December, while Annette Edmondson (SA) collided with a car while riding at over 50km/hour just two weeks before March’s World Championships.
A fit and raring Edmondson will contest two events in Rio, firstly the team pursuit in which she finished fourth (with Hoskins and Josephine Tomic in 2012) and the omnium where she won bronze.
“It has been a really good, a long process but we are excited to be coming to the pointy end,” said Edmondson from her team’s training camp in Los Angeles where she has been based since July 6. Prior to this, the team took part in a month-long camp in Rockhampton, Queensland.
“Everyone is very excited to move on to the next step, we have done the hard work and now it is about finishing the job off.
“We are on a mission, and we mean business. We are there to get the job done, rather than just take in the experience.”
Edmondson’s teammate at the London Games Hoskins is confident Australia has the team to get the job done in Rio.
“Everyone says it, they are going there to win, it only comes around every four years, we want to make it count.” said Hoskins, who finished fourth in the team pursuit at the 2012 Games outfit with Edmondson and Josephine Tomic. Internationally, the women’s team pursuit moved to a four-rider competition in 2014, with the 2016 Games the second time the pursuit will be held and first time with four riders.
“We still hold the world record, and we are hoping to do that again and walk away with a gold medal.
“We know we can ride fast when we are feeling good, we have shown that.
“The team we have is a team picked for a good performance. Four of us have broken the world record and Georgia, I feel like she is a real game changer.”
The women's team pursuit will be held on day three of the track competition on August 13. Tune in on Channel 7 from midnight Saturday August 13, with the finals on from 550am Sunday 14 morning.
CYCLING AUSTRALIA
