Axing of individual pursuit from Olympics not end of the world says Roulston

Following is an official statement from Hayden Roulston about the axing of the individual pursuit from the track cycling programme of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The axing of individual pursuit from the track cycling programme of the 2012 Olympic Games in London has disappointed double Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston, but he says it is “not the end of the world.”

Roulston, who won silver in the individual pursuit and bronze in the team’s pursuit at last year’s Olympics says the loss of the individual pursuit is “a much bigger loss than many people realise.”

“At the end of the day the decision has been made, I have to respect that decision and get on with it.”

Roulston says his focus will now be on one event – the teams pursuit – rather than two. He also remains committed to riding on the road with new Team, Columbia HTC.

I'd be more attentive to those who could use the Olympic Individual Pursuit as a luanching pad for their future rather than those who have already used it to launch theirs.

Such as Taylor Phinney and Alison Shanks. With great respect to the other women who did their bit to win gold at the recent Melbourne world cup, truth be known, Alison did way more work by doing the first part of the race in front and the last part in front as well as doing way bigger laps. Alison must be gutted.

Then there's Jesse Sergent. He must be gutted.



I too, struggle with bikenz saying that the changes are good for them when really all that's happening is that a huge chance at gold for Alison and Jesse Sergent in the Individual Pursuit is being REPLACED with a chance at gold for the nz womens Teams Pursuit.

I'd rather they and all the other track cycling countries kicked up than shrugging their shoulders and simply appeasing the Olympic committee like they seem to be doing.

Sarah Ulmer's thoughts at 7pm on TV3.

Cheers for that Fergie.

Meh, so long as beach volleyball is still in the Olympics, that's what really matters.

Had womens beach volleyball on Sky last night

So I'm told

One of my riding partners plays beach volleyball .... I always am riding when she is playing though

Fergie wrote:Sarah Ulmer's thoughts at 7pm on TV3.

And Ali's. Man, feel the heart break much? Feel so bad for her. Was one of 2 things she had left to achieve in the event - and following Sarah's legacy somehow makes it that much more special...

wgtngrl wrote:

Fergie wrote:Sarah Ulmer's thoughts at 7pm on TV3.

And Ali's. Man, feel the heart break much? Feel so bad for her. Was one of 2 things she had left to achieve in the event - and following Sarah's legacy somehow makes it that much more special...

A true champion deals with this stuff and just moves on to the next opportunity which to me Ali sounded like she was going to do.

Keep things in perspective, there was no guarantee that Ali would have got the gold medal or broken Sarah record, 2012 is still along time away.

And about time they evened up the number of events for females to be the same as the males.

And with those fast Under 19's sprint girls coming along, NZ may have some new cycling superstars by 2012!

Why is a track cyclist a track cyclist? At the top level I mean. For individual glory of course. To be the best in the world at their chosen discipline. It's an individual sport so people like Alison deserve a shot at the Olympics at the very event that she has chosen and concentrated on for so long.

You seen the youtube video of last month's team pursuit Gemz? Alison did 6 laps in front, the other two did 3 laps each. That's not fair on her and I feel for bikenz to be happy that she'll be towing the others around the track for glory, is a bit tough. She caught up and passed the second place getter, the second best in NZ in the IP at the NZ champs recently.

Of course it's good to have equal events for men and women but why not add them rather than replace events? There doesn't seem to have been much of a kick up by bikenz and other strong track cycling countries including Britain.

They talk about time and space for events, the Omnium would take alot longer to run than the IP. Also for tv viewing thing, Will we get the opportunity to watch the whole of the Omnium? Will we see any of it? I doubt it.

Yeah but had they missed out on the gold medal because the other three weren't good or strong enough, Wiggans still had his gold from the IP to fall back on, being the best in the world and all.

Fancy that. Not being rewarded for being the best Pursuiter on the planet at the Olympics?

Actually what if his team missed out on gold and there was no IP? Wiggans wouldn't be what he is now. Roulston wouldn't be what he is now either. Yeah they've got the world champs but it's not a global television event is it?

Could the top Track cycling countries in the world not point out the contradictions in this statement to the Olympic and UCI committees?

What about number 1,the technical heritage and history of the Individual Pursuit? No?

and number 2. They won't even get tv air time for the omnium with most countries let alone get everyone to understand it to develop it.


" Based on this conviction, the UCI therefore drew up a proposal to modify the track events programme at the London Olympic Games taking into account both its desire to:

1) •preserve the technical heritage and history of the different specialties;
2)•develop the discipline on an international scale using the visibility and popularity gained at the Olympics.


As a result of this reflection, the UCI Management Committee – the body responsible for taking such decisions – unanimously accepted the following solution to be proposed to the IOC to consider for the 2012 Olympic Games:



Track Programme (men – women)

•individual sprint
•keirin
•team sprint
•team pursuit
•omnium

Ah well build a bridge and get over it. Lets all get in behind Hash and his quest for Olympic Gold.

The Devil gets added, Pursuit, Scratch and Points get made up to full distance and the flying 200m is now a 250m flying TT.

Now makes it a full on endurance event.

http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/TrackTalk/ ... -2012.html

pursuitfan wrote:Fancy that. Not being rewarded for being the best Pursuiter on the planet at the Olympics?

Imagine not being rewarded for being the best Downhiller on the planet at the Olympics?
Or not being rewarded for being the best rower in the commonwealth at the Comm games?

Adding sports is a ridiculous arguement. Yay, lets just have every sport at the Olympics which now runs for four years...