January 17, 2008 (Los Angeles) – Any pundit predicting that the fields would start to soften up at this year’s round #3 of the Track World Cup in LA were sorely mistaken. With over 400 riders from 40 countries registered for this season’s event it will be the largest ever at the ADT Centre.

The battle for Olympic selections is heating up and with the overall victory in a discipline guaranteeing the winning rider a spot, the top track racers have shown themselves to be more consistent this season to date. The top Canadian in any Olympic discipline is World Cup rookie Tara Whitten who sits 10th overall in the individual pursuit rankings. Zach Bell is currently 11th in the men’s points race standings (being led by Aussie youngster Cameron Meyer in only his second year in the senior ranks).

The Canadian National team will be represented at the LA Track World Cup by Gina Grain, Monique Sullivan (riding her first World Cup), Ryan McKenzie, Zach Bell, Cam MacKinnon and Tara Whitten.

Pedal caught up with rising star Sullivan to ask her about joining the senior ranks. As always Sullivan had a mature and pragmatic approach to the event:

“I am getting very excited about the world cup this weekend. I am an underdog again, and I just want to learn as much as possible. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to come to LA and I think its really important for me to see everyone at their “Olympic year best” – but I need a lot more race experience in order to be properly competitive at these events.”

There had been a lot of discussion track side at the recent Burnaby 6 Day about Canadian strongman Svein Tuft’s exclusion from the event. Apparently Tuft was denied his request to ride the Madison event with Zach Bell (with whom he won his second consecutive Burnaby 6 Day title against a vastly improved field), since he is not in the national team “track pool” despite his performances at both the Commonwealth Games and last year’s LA World Cup.

We contacted CCA Coach Houshang Amiri about this decision and about the process by which athletes would qualify for the “track pool” but we have not heard back from him. It appears that despite Tuft’s recent successes on the track, the CCA appears to remain unconvinced that he’s ready to ride the Madison at the World Cup level. Bell will instead pair with Calgary’s Ryan Mackenzie, who last year rode to an impressive 12th place finish with Martin Gilbert, who is missing this round of the World Cup due to illness.

In addition to the National Team contingent, four Canadians will represent trade teams at the event. Team R.A.C.E. will field Julia Bradley in all three of the scratch, points and pursuit events, while double National Champion Steph Roorda will race the points race, and Jenny Trew will ride the scratch race.

Bradley in particular is in great form, coming off a third place finish in the prestigious Burnie Wheel Race at the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals. The opportunity is a valuable one for the young Roorda who earlier this year was not selected by the CCA to participate in the World Cup trials held at Burnaby despite her two national titles and young age (and despite the fact that other events such as the men’s pursuit trials were open to any male rider).

Travis Smith Interview

The final Canadian competing in LA is double Commonwealth Games medalist Travis Smith, who will enjoy something of a home court advantage, riding on his home track for the team he helped create. Pedal caught up with Smith to ask some questions before the event.

How are you feeling going into LA on essentially home turf? That’s got to be a nice change from the more remote world cups.
Travis Smith: Yes! It actually feels nice going into a world cup with no let lag!! I’m getting excited to race here. All my team’s sponsors (Momentum Cycling) are based out here and are likely going to be around. And at the same time my team mates and I are posting some encouraging times just over a week out from the race. It will be interesting to see what happens. I’m not a huge fan of the keirin having one rider through in heats and reps. It kind of kills it.

Are you excited to be racing the world cup with Momentum? Is this the first Word Cup you guys have done together as a team?
TS: Momentum has had rider presence at both world cups so far – this is the first one I have been on so far. I know I will be riding for Momentum as well in Denmark.

I’m super excited to race for the team that we were able to get going largely with the help of our biggest sponsor, Dr. Howard Marans. This guy is great, and has done everything to help us with our Olympic dreams. So racing here in front of him and the rest of our sponsors is a great honour.

How has the recovery been coming – you seem to be gaining momentum (no pun intended) as the season goes on.
TS: HAHA! I like the pun. Yes, I have that advantage I guess!! I had such a late start to my season and with the recovery still happening even until this day. Each and every time I’m on the bike it’s helping me out. I pretty much ride now with little to no pain. I still have days that aren’t great. But what can you do! I have great team mates and friends here that push me every time I’m on the track or in the weight room – which is my new biggest improvement! I actually have some strength building up, because I can do most weights now!

Any other thoughts or comments?
TS: Just want to thank everyone for cheering us Canadians on. As well as all my supporters down south here. Check out My teams website: www.momentumcycling.com

The racing begins at the ADT Centre at 9 am on Friday, January 18 – stay tuned for more coverage at pedalmag.com.

Friday, January 18

Session 1
– Men – Qualifying: Team Sprint, Individual Pursuit, Points Race
– Women – Qualifying: Individual Pursuit, Scratch, Sprint
Session 2
– Men – Individual Pursuit, Team Sprint, Points Race
– Women – Individual Pursuit, Sprint, Scratch Race

Saturday, January 19

Session 1
– Men – Qualifying: Team Pursuit, Scratch, Keirin
– Women – Qualifying: Team Sprint, Points Race
Session 2
– Men – Keirin, Kilometre TT, Team Pursuit, Scratch Race
– Women – Points Race, 500m TT, Team Sprint

Sunday, January 20

Session 1
– Men – Qualifying: Sprint, Madison
– Women – Qualifying: Team Pursuit, Keirin
Session 2
– Men – Madison, Sprint
– Women – Team Pursuit, Keirin