April 04, 2012   (Melbourne, Australia) – The 2012 Track World Championships got underway today with fireworks and controversy in the last major international meet before this summer’s Olympic Games in London.

The Canadian men’s Team Sprint squad consisting of Travis Smith, Joe Veloce, and Hugo Barrette was in a final do-or-die uphill battle for Olympic qualification but finished 12^th behind Venezuala in 8^th that will see them left out in the cold in their battle for the final America’s spot.

“We were planning to come here and get a top 10. I felt like I had a pretty bad last lap,” said Travis Smith in a CCA release. “This year we were dealing with a lot of new guys, and I had an injury in August where I was in the intensive care unit for a week. The race here wasn’t horrible. We have room to improve.”

Rival USA was disqualified for irregularities in their exchanges, along with top two seeded teams Germany and Great Britain – an unusual number of disqualifications for an event of this calibre. Australia seized the home court advantage to upset top qualifier France to win the gold medal final, with New Zealand taking home the bronze.

The rivalry between Great Britain and Australia for supremacy in men’s team pursuit raged for much of the last decade with neither team showing a clear advantage. If today was any indicator this trend should hit a crescendo at this summer’s Games.  Today’s gold medal final was the fastest team pursuit race ever held with both teams averaging just shy of 62kph. Great Britain survived a last kilo rally by Australia to set a new world record time of 4:54.29 a mere tenth ahead of the Aussies. The Kiwis added to their bronze medal collection by defeating Russia with a 3:57.

Germany won the women’s Team Sprint ahead of Australia, with China upsetting a heavily favoured Great Britain Team anchored by Victoria Pendleton in the bronze medal ride.

In the coming days, Canadians have much to cheer on as Monique Sullivan is on the home stretch of her quest for Olympic qualification in the Sprint and Keirin, while the women’s team pursuiters will be looking to match or better their performance at the London World Cup as they attempt to solidify their position as medal contenders in London.

Perennial medal  favourites Zach Bell and Tara Whitten will also be chasing after the rainbow jersey in their signature event, the Omnium.

Results and more photos HERE.