March 18, 2006 (Melbourne, Australia) — Canada’s Travis Smith added a bronze medal in the men’s 200m sprint to his medal haul at the Multi-Purpose Venue in Melbourne on Saturday. Smith won Keirin silver on the track the night before.

He had said he was “hopeful of producing a result,” and that’s exactly what he did, beating English national champion Matt Crampton 2-0 in the best-of-three heats bronze medal ride-off.

Crampton, while showing a good turn of speed, was not strong enough to match the big Canadian who had qualified earlier in the day with the fifth fastest time of 10.452sec.

Ryan Bayley (Australia) won the event out-sprinting Scotsman Ross Edgar, also by a 2-0 margin, and picking up his second gold of the Games in the process. The first heat between the two was only won by millimetres, but in round two Bayley tactically out-manoeuvred his opponent, winning by a clear two bike lengths.

“That was pretty good,” Bayley somewhat understated later. “I’m really happy with the quality of racing tonight, the boys put up a really good fight. Everyone got behind me again and there’s no crowd like an Australian crowd.”

Smith had raced against Edgar during the semi-final stage and came close to making the final. After Edgar had edged out the Canadian national Kilo champion in the first heat, Smith was leading the second with just 25m to go when Edgar barged into his right leg.

Smith was forced onto the blue cote d’azur at the bottom of the track but crossed the line first and was awarded the victory. Bizarrely, commissaries warned both riders of their conduct.

The decider was a thrilling drag race, with the two neck and neck coming into the home straight, but it was Edgar who just edged ahead to book his date with Bayley.

In the women’s sprint, England’s Victoria Pendleton spoilt the great Australian fairytale by beating Anna Meares in a riveting final.

Meares, who was the toast of Melbourne after winning the 500m time-trial on the Games’first day, took the gold medal round to a deciding heat. The vociferous crowd were on the edge of their seats as the two entered the home straight side-by-side as if in a drag race.

But it was the English champion who prevailed, crossing the line just millimetres ahead of Meares. Sister Kerrie Meares picked up the bronze medal easily beating New Zealand’s Liz Williams.

A mistake by New Zealand in qualifying cost them an opportunity to ride off for a gold medal in the men’s team pursuit. As it turned out England, who had qualified fastest in 4:5.248, improved to beat Australia in the final.

England won in a time of 4:2.699, ahead of the young Australian squad who finished with 4:5.494. New Zealand had to settle for bronze, catching Malaysia who were competing in the event for the first time.

“We came here to win,” said Paul Manning, who had won the individual pursuit two nights prior. “I think we did a good job.”

The final night of competition on the velodrome on Sunday will culminate in the men’s scratch race and team sprint events.

Race Notes

Scotland may not have won a cycling gold yet, but they are certainly leading in the fashion stakes. While their support crew insist on wearing kilts, sprinter Ross Edgar’s helmet is nothing short of peculiar. Looking like a shiny pudding bowl with ski goggles stuck on, it is the oddest piece of kit to be found at the track.