The French held on to their slender lead in the overall medals table after 2009 Day 2 of the European Track Championships in Manchester. Their haul of three Golds on the day was matched by Great Britain, who remain second – just one medal back from the competition leaders. Germany and Denmark both doubled their totals to two each.
A great day of racing saw one World Record, two European records and some fantastic match sprinting.
Sprint
Mens 70+
Moving up an age group from last year, Peter Tranberg took advantage of the difference as he triumphed in taking 1959 Tour de France rider – and fastest qualifier – Otto Altweck of Germany in two straight rides.
Britain’s Brian Dacey, the 2008 Champion, had to settle for Bronze against Derek Thurrell, who he beat, again without the need for a decider.
GOLD Peter TRANBERG DEN
SILVER Otto ALTWECK GER
BRONZE Brian DACEY GBR
Mens 65-69
Roland Rolleau of France and Great Britain’s Peter Smith started and evening of exciting and, sometimes contentious sprinting in the Bronze medal ride off, with both warned in the first heat. Ultimately, though, it was Rolleau who took the Bronze.
The Gold by comparision was a more straight forward affair as Geoff Cooke of Great Britain – who broke the World 200m record for the age group in qualifying – took the title against the 2008 winner Guido Lupo of Italy.
GOLD Geoff COOKE GBR
SILVER Guido LUPO ITA
BRONZE Roland ROLLEAU FRA
Mens 60–64
Graziano Pantosti of Ita
ly had to settle for Silver for the second year running as Gerard Louis Robert of France continued his Gold medal haul when he took the Italian in two heats.
Great Britain’s Sandy Wallace won a close competition against fellow countryman Geoff Brandt to secure the Bronze.
GOLD Gerard Louis ROBERT FRA
SILVER Graziano PANTOSTI ITA
BRONZE Sandy WALLACE GBR
Mens 45-49
2008 Champion Pillippe Vernet’s tussle with Great Britain’s Jim Varnish was one of the highlights of the day. Only 4 hundredths of a second separated them in qualifying but some close tactical racing – including one head restarted for a track stand in the first half lap – resulted in another Gold for the French rider after two very close, but ultimately decisive finishes.
The Bronze competition was also a close run affair. Martin Stephens won heat one, only for Reid take the second. Stephens eventually got the better of the Scotsman in the third heat to take the medal.
GOLD Phillippe VERNET FRA
SILVER Jim VARNISH GBR
BRONZE Martin STEPHENS GBR
Mens 40-44
Riders in the European Masters might nominally be competing for their countries, but the fact that it’s primarily an individual competition was never in doubt when Achen Aggar and Jean-Paul Benvenuto of France lined up for the Mens 40-44 Sprint Final. Aggarwas first across the line in all three rides, after some fiercely contested matches – but the second heat saw him relegated, securing the Gold two to one and retaining his 2008 title.
The all Great Britain Bronze medal heats saw Andrew Tranter triumph against David Jack in two.
GOLD Achen AGGAR FRA
SILVER Jean-Paul BENVENUTO FRA
BRONZE Andrew TRANTER GBR
500m Time Trial
Women 50+
Germany’s Petra Kluender stormed to victory in the Womens 50+ Time Trial with a new European record for this event of 41.552. Christine Higgs of Great Britain and Arja Scarsbrook of Finland took the Sliver and Bronze with 43.718 and 43.951 respectively.
GOLD Petra KLUENDER GER
SILVER Christine HIGGS GBR
BRONZE Arja SCARSBROOK FIN
Women 40-49
Janet Birkmyre continued her 100% record in European events when her 38.134 for the 500mm Womens TT was over 3 seconds too quick for fellow Brit Jeanette Baxter with 41.388. A resurgent Cheryl Owens took her first European medal when she narrowly missed out on Silver by just over 2 tenths of a second, taking the Bronze.
GOLD Janet BIRKMYRE GBR
SILVER Jeanette BAXTER GBR
BRONZE Cheryl OWENS GBR
Womens Time Trial 30-39
Alison Chisholm retained her 2008 title as she again beat last year Silver medalist Siobhan Mullan with 37.904 to reduce the European Record. Mullan’s 39.431 was enough to see France’s Christelle Ribault who required paramedic treatment after he point race win the previous evening into Bronze with 40.553
GOLD Alison CHISHOLM GBR
SILVER Sibohan MULLAN GBR
BRONZE Christelle RIBAULT FRA
