Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - 2012 Olympics Track event

Haven't seen a thread about this in here yet. I'm looking forward to watching this, currently working at NY NBC supporting the Olympics and get to watch live the days I work.

Looking forward to seeing Shane Perkins in the match sprints and the Keirin, which Chris Hoy will also be competing.

So, let's discuss, who are your favorites? What are you looking forward to seeing?

Another thing is that the Velodrome is gorgeous...
http://www.gizmag.com/london-2012-olympic-velodrome-completed/18538/picture/133751/
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Looking forward to seeing Chris Hoy in the keirin. Jason Kenny and Gregory Bauge in the sprint. When the team pursuit is competitive it's really exciting to watch. Unfortunate that the individual pursuit won't be raced.

That BBC doco on Victoria Pendelton put together quite the back story for that competition...

That velodrome is a work of art really. I was watching a program about how everything was built and how both the swimming arena and main stadium can have the grand stands removed at the end of the games to lower the maintenance costs. I think the velodrome is the only facility that is not going to be taken apart (in some way) at the end of the games because of the cycling park it sits on.

And damn the one day I wanted to watch something on the olympics live at work, I forget my head phones! ARG!

shame that V. Pendleton and Jess Varnish were DQ'd in team sprint today.

Rules are rules though... Was a bit of drama today!

Does anyone have video that shows the exchange area and explains it? I've never ridden a team sprint, so I don't know how it works. Seems like it's pretty hard to do since 2 (3?) teams got DQd today.

So you have to give up your lead no sooner than 15m before the lap and no later than 15m after the lap? And you have to be up track and out of the way of the other riders by 1m to be considered no longer leading.

At their speeds that's less than a 2 second window. And it's not marked on the track, so you just have to kind of know where it is. The 10m are marked on the floor, but good luck reading those at 40 mph.

Is there even a need for this rule at all? It seems like they'd change there anyway, even if they didn't have to. 3 riders, 3 laps, it just makes sense. Considering how often the best people in the world get DQ'd for this (worlds, Olympics, etc), it seems like maybe it's a little too hard to do. Maybe it should be 30m, or no rule at all?

So you have to give up your lead no sooner than 15m before the lap and no later than 15m after the lap? And you have to be up track and out of the way of the other riders by 1m to be considered no longer leading.

At their speeds that's less than a 2 second window. And it's not marked on the track, so you just have to kind of know where it is. The 10m are marked on the floor, but good luck reading those at 40 mph.

Is there even a need for this rule at all? It seems like they'd change there anyway, even if they didn't have to. 3 riders, 3 laps, it just makes sense. Considering how often the best people in the world get DQ'd for this (worlds, Olympics, etc), it seems like maybe it's a little too hard to do. Maybe it should be 30m, or no rule at all?

Is that why both the British and Chinese teams were penalized ?

I've been looking everywhere for an explanation of what happened, and your post is the first thing I've read with any details of what happened.

It would be nice if a detailed explanation had been given during the broadcast.

Mike

Is that why both the British and Chinese teams were penalized ?

I've been looking everywhere for an explanation of what happened, and your post is the first thing I've read with any details of what happened.

It would be nice if a detailed explanation had been given during the broadcast.

Mike

In both cases the second rider came through too soon. No complaints as far as the Brits are concerned, Pendleton pretty much accepted afterwards that she had gone too early. The slow-mo on the Chinese is equivocal, though, it was marginal at best. I think they are justified in feeling robbed.

Looking at the form the British team seems to be in, we're in for an interesting few days. How many world records were broken last night? Four? Five?

So you have to give up your lead no sooner than 15m before the lap and no later than 15m after the lap? And you have to be up track and out of the way of the other riders by 1m to be considered no longer leading.

At their speeds that's less than a 2 second window. And it's not marked on the track, so you just have to kind of know where it is. The 10m are marked on the floor, but good luck reading those at 40 mph.

Is there even a need for this rule at all? It seems like they'd change there anyway, even if they didn't have to. 3 riders, 3 laps, it just makes sense. Considering how often the best people in the world get DQ'd for this (worlds, Olympics, etc), it seems like maybe it's a little too hard to do. Maybe it should be 30m, or no rule at all?

No, this isn't the case. That statement is about the lead rider leaving the sprinters lane in the exchange zone.

Basically, there are 2 rules in play here:

1) The lead rider MUST exit the sprinter's lane in the exchange zone, not before and not after. (Varnish did not break this rule)

2) The following rider cannot pass the lead rider until AFTER they pass the pursuit (start/finish) line.

Rule #2 is the rule that was broken.

There is video showing Pendleton (#2 rider) passing the pursuit line before Varnish (#1 rider). It's a fraction of a second before, but it was clear as day on the replay. That's why they didn't contest it. It was a fair call.

Pendleton actually completed lap 1 faster than Varnish.


In both cases the second rider came through too soon. No complaints as far as the Brits are concerned, Pendleton pretty much accepted afterwards that she had gone too early. The slow-mo on the Chinese is equivocal, though, it was marginal at best. I think they are justified in feeling robbed.

Looking at the form the British team seems to be in, we're in for an interesting few days. How many world records were broken last night? Four? Five?

+1

By the way, they were both at fault, as Pendleton states in an interview afterwards.

Basically:
- Varnish should have stayed on the gas till she passed the pursuit line.
- Pendleton should have held back a touch.

Pendleton is probably riding faster than ever. A nice problem to have. Too bad that it caused this infraction.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7gkb4LgUv1rnmloxo1_500.jpg

haha, yikes.

Pendleton is probably riding faster than ever. A nice problem to have. Too bad that it caused this infraction.

Yeah, being too fast is kind of a nice problem to have, if you have to have a problem. With all of that anxiety and adrenaline in your system, it is hard not to let loose sometimes...

Yeah, being too fast is kind of a nice problem to have, if you have to have a problem. With all of that anxiety and adrenaline in your system, it is hard not to let loose sometimes...

I just learned that she won the Keirin in impressive fashion. All of her teammates are tweeting about how she's flying right now.

I'm headed home now to try and find video of it.

I just learned that she won the Keirin in impressive fashion. All of her teammates are tweeting about how she's flying right now.

I'm headed home now to try and find video of it.

She was imperious. As were the mens pursuit team. The GB track squad appear to be in ludicrously good form, I'm amazed. Thought they would struggle to repeat their Beijing performance.

Women's Team Pursuitwow, bested their own world record set only yesterday... phantastic effort and a pure joy to watch. Phenomenal !!!

Women's Team Pursuit

wow, bested their own world record set only yesterday... phantastic effort and a pure joy to watch. Phenomenal !!!

They've broken the world record in every one of their last six competitive races. Astonishing.

She was imperious. As were the mens pursuit team. The GB track squad appear to be in ludicrously good form, I'm amazed. Thought they would struggle to repeat their Beijing performance.

I watched it last night. Wow.

It also seemed like Meares didn't contest it at all. Yeah, she attacked early, but it was a soft attack. She never attacked (or defended) hard later. It was like her job was to set the pace then not contest the sprint. Notice how at the end every woman got out of the saddle to reaccelerate...except Meares.

Carleton, can you post a link to the vid? Having trouble finding anything. And thanks again for last week.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7gkb4LgUv1rnmloxo1_500.jpg

haha, yikes.

Yeah, but that's Ross Edgar up there. Soaking wet with socks stuffed into his pockets he weighs less than one of those plates. :p

Yeah, but that's Ross Edgar up there. Soaking wet with socks stuffed into his pockets he weighs less than one of those plates. :p

According to Hoy, who commented when this pic went viral, the weight was 631 kg and he did five reps. "I could have squeezed out another rep but Ross was laughing at me".

USA Women Silver Medal in Team Pursuit...what a surprise!

USA Women Silver Medal in Team Pursuit...what a surprise!

Lots of credit to Sarah Hammer, taking monster turns and pacing it to keep the team together. Impressive.

Carleton, can you post a link to the vid? Having trouble finding anything. And thanks again for last week.

I watched it on the BBC website. I can't find the link anymore. I'll keep looking and report back when I find it.

If you have cable, you can watch full event replays on the http://www.nbcolympics.com/ website. You have to login with your cable providers information.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/results-schedules/index.html

I too thought Meares rode the Keirin final strangely. She sat up at the end.

If you have cable, you can watch full event replays on the http://www.nbcolympics.com/ website. You have to login with your cable providers information.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/results-schedules/index.html

I too thought Meares rode the Keirin final strangely. She sat up at the end.

That didn't work for me. I logged in successfully, then Comcast tells me that in order to see Olympic coverage on NBC, I need to upgrade from the basic package that I have to the "Digital Starter" package. This is why I hate Comcast...and now NBC.

Yeah, missing the Kenny vs Bouge sprint finals because of the above... and I don't have any provider. Yes I work in TV business, no I don't subscribe to anybody :D

That didn't work for me. I logged in successfully, then Comcast tells me that in order to see Olympic coverage on NBC, I need to upgrade from the basic package that I have to the "Digital Starter" package. This is why I hate Comcast...and now NBC.

Yeah, you and everyone else in the US who doesn't have the required cable package. Its tempting to subscribe to a ghost VPN site just to be able to grab it from another country. I think this site gives you an hour before you have to pay: cyberghostvpn.com

dumb roadie question: why are trackie handlebars so narrow?

thx.

dumb roadie question: why are trackie handlebars so narrow?

thx.

A better question is: Why are roadie bars so wide? :) Seriously.

I ride 40cm on the road bike.

The only thing I've ever heard in regards to bar width on a road bike is you want it the same with as your shoulder width to allow your chest to open up and breathe. I've never seen any scientific evidence of such. I could also assume a wider bar on the road bike would be more comfortable when riding for an extended period of time. But I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express and I know what assumptions are... :)

A better question is: Why are roadie bars so wide? :) Seriously.

I ride 40cm on the road bike.

I agree. I have bars at various widths on my road bikes but the set I like best are 40cm. And I'm a big guy.

I think the answer to the question is aerodynamics. You want to present the narrowest possible front to the wind.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/03/sports/olympics/olympics-cycling-track-sprint-how-to-win.html?smid=tw-nytimes

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/03/sports/olympics/olympics-cycling-track-sprint-how-to-win.html?smid=tw-nytimes

looks like both riders use the apron from time to time.. is that legal in a match sprint?

It would seem the grapes harvested in France this year are very sour;)

It would seem the grapes harvested in France this year are very sour;)

Hahaha!

absolutely loved the Kenny vs Bouge sprint finals, my wife who isn't the biggest
track fan around was screaming at the TV (for Kenny!).
liking the coverage I'm seeing on NBC with Time Warner cable.

Marty

dumb roadie question: why are trackie handlebars so narrow?

Because we sit in each other's laps while we ride. I look at road races and crits and am amazed at the amount of space between riders.

Road bars are wide because it's more comfortable if you're on the road for 5 hours, especially climbing.

looks like both riders use the apron from time to time.. is that legal in a match sprint?

Yes and no. In the image, the green part is the apron. That's out of bounds. What you're seeing is them going onto the Cote d'Azur(e...?), which is the blue/white part. They could ride the whole distance there if they so chose, but it's not as banked as the rest of the track, so they can ride on it and not worry about sliding off.

266212

Yes and no. In the image, the green part is the apron. That's out of bounds. What you're seeing is them going onto the Cote d'Azur(e...?), which is the blue/white part. They could ride the whole distance there if they so chose, but it's not as banked as the rest of the track, so they can ride on it and not worry about sliding off.

266212


Thanks a ton for that! I had no idea that was a legal part of the track to ride on, very cool :)

looks like both riders use the apron from time to time.. is that legal in a match sprint?

In the first stages of a match sprint, the riders are, many times, going too slow to stay on the banking of the track. Olympic standard tracks have a minimum "traction speed" which riders must stay above to avoid sliding off the track. So they use the apron during this phase of the race. Once the sprint is started, it is illegal to use the apron to pass the other rider.

Yes and no. In the image, the green part is the apron. That's out of bounds. What you're seeing is them going onto the Cote d'Azur(e...?), which is the blue/white part. They could ride the whole distance there if they so chose, but it's not as banked as the rest of the track, so they can ride on it and not worry about sliding off.

266212

Sort of. The blue line (cote d'azure) is just a blue strip that denotes the edge of the apron. The apron is a flat, unbanked track running inside the banked track which riders use at the beginning/end of the races to speed up and slow down before moving onto the track. The green part (on the inside of the track) is the infield, which is where the officiating crew is stationed and where riders warm up.

You cannot ride the whole race in the apron. It's not like "out of bounds" like football where you are relegated if you run onto the apron during the sprint, but it is not permissible to ride the apron because you are essentially shortening the track. If you run onto the apron after the sprint has started, you are expected to immediately get back onto the track.

Wider bars are nice for climbing.

If you use torrents: http://cyclingtorrents.nl/browse.php

You can download virtually any cycling event that is televised. You're welcome.

What Brian said is right. It's only legal for a certain amount of time. And for what it's worth, the Cote is sometimes banked on the shorter, steeper tracks. Burnaby is 200m, and the apron is banked. Same with Forest City, where it's 143m.

And for what it's worth, the Cote is sometimes banked on the shorter, steeper tracks. Burnaby is 200m, and the apron is banked. Same with Forest City, where it's 143m.

It's banked to match the straights on most tracks that I've been on, except the ones where it's been removed or modified in resurfacing attempts. It's important that it's slightly banked so riders don't slide out if they get pushed below the racing surface.