All quiet here............

BeaconRuth

............ nothing much going on in the track world at the moment is there?

Where's EddyS these days? He could be relied on for some common sense when it came to the track. Maybe he's actually in Beijing?

Ruth

ps. makes me feel much better about being trounced by Houvenaghel in TTs, seeing her qualify fastest in that little contest going on at the moment.

richa

Ruth,

I'll bite.

Who's it gonna be for Gold...Houvenaghel, Romero or A.N.Other

BeaconRuth

Weeelllll..................I think we can discount A.N.Other! None of the others were anywhere near, including Hammer, 2007 World Champ, and Mactier (who rather embarrassed Houvenaghel by catching her in the Commonwealth Games IIRC). Incidentally, I can't believe Hammer gets away with riding like that. Surely surely SURELY she would go better if she sat still on that bike?!

Yeah, so, Houvenaghel or Romero............ geez............... We don't know how much Romero was saving herself, simply on a schedule to get her up there for the next round. Would you go full-blast if you knew you were comfortably going to qualify second behind your own team-mate? On the other hand, I should think she wouldn't have minded getting that British record back, but then again, I wouldn't be thinking about the British record if I had my eye on Olympic gold in 2 days time. Jill Douglas was giving away some warning hints about Romero not being completely 100% recently - that's an interesting thing from a PR point of view.

Yep, I know who I'd go for............... then again, I think I'll sit firmly on the fence.

Ruth

Eddy S

BeaconRuth wrote:

Where's EddyS these days? He could be relied on for some common sense when it came to the track. Maybe he's actually in Beijing?

Hi Ruth. Me? In Beijing? Oh, how I wish I was there!

I'm still here - just been busy plus kind of keeping a bit of low profile. I tend not to get too involved in the pre event speculation which is why I’ve not commented before. Without wishing to sound unpatriotic, I just wish for great competition, whoever wins.

The qualifying rides by the British ladies were measured so you’re left wondering just how much faster they can go!

And are any of the other top 8 riders keeping some in reserve for tomorrow? 1st round ride-off are going to be fascinating!

Am I brave enough to make a prediction? Well yeah, but I’m keeping it to myself!

Eddy

BeaconRuth

Good to hear from you Eddy!

No other women under 3.30, Mactier not looking half the rider she's been in the past, Hammer ditto.................. those two are making it look so easy, but they're exchanging British records like nobody's business!

I wonder if they're room mates in the Olympic village?! :shock:

Ruth

Eddy S

BeaconRuth wrote:

I wonder if they're room mates in the Olympic village?! :shock:

Rebecca was asked this question by Jill Douglas today and the answer was no.

NervexProf

BeaconRuth wrote:

............ nothing much going on in the track world at the moment is there?

Where's EddyS these days? He could be relied on for some common sense when it came to the track. Maybe he's actually in Beijing?

Ruth

ps. makes me feel much better about being trounced by Houvenaghel in TTs, seeing her qualify fastest in that little contest going on at the moment.

Ruth - I lick my lips at the prospect of a 'ride off' between Wendy and Rebecca for Gold and Silver - there is but a thin sheet of paper between them in their times in getting to the final; unlike Eddy S I am putting my 5p on Rebecca Romero (only coz I have a daugher named Rebecca)

Whilst all that is up for resolution we have the women's team pursuit to look forward to I believe?

-and musing on, where the girls are concerned, Shanaze Reed in the BMX I am sure will not want to be left out of the celebrations!

oldwelshman

I would like to see Wendy win as it looks like she has worked really hard after dissapointments this year and looks in good form. Also Romero seems to have had all the publicity and Wendy seems to have been forgotten really as all focu has been on Romero getting 2 golds in different disciplines.
It's good they are bith there and I can see it being a good and tight race though.

BeaconRuth

Eddy S wrote:

BeaconRuth wrote:

I wonder if they're room mates in the Olympic village?! :shock:

Rebecca was asked this question by Jill Douglas today and the answer was no.

Yes, I saw that just after making my post. Full marks to Jill Douglas for asking the question I wanted the answer to. She must be doing her job right!

NervexProf - there's no women's team pursuit. This only appeared for the first time at the Worlds this year. Not sure when gender equality will make it to the Olympics. Porter was wondering why the women's pursuit is over 3 days while the men's was over two and I guess the reason is that there aren't many women's events on the track so the female pursuiters haven't got to rush on to the women's team pursuit as the blokes do.

I imagine that both Pendleton and Reade are chomping at the bit......... imagine having to sit and watch all this and............. just.................. wait. :shock: Just now I reckon Cooke, Pooley and Laws must be having a ball!

As far as who will win the pursuit tomorrow goes, I'm afraid to say that I think Romero winning will get greater press coverage. It would be such a dream story to miss gold in Athens in one sport and take gold in Beijing in another one (She didn't get gold in Athens, OWM, that's why she's supposed to be so hungry for it this time.) I'd be really pleased to see Wendy win, though too. Wonder what their coach Dan Hunt is saying to each of them tonight - an interesting situation to have to handle as a coach!

Ruth

SteveR_100Milers

FWIW I think Romero will win, but I'd love to see Wendy win.

andyp

oldwelshman wrote:

I would like to see Wendy win as it looks like she has worked really hard after dissapointments this year and looks in good form. Also Romero seems to have had all the publicity and Wendy seems to have been forgotten really as all focu has been on Romero getting 2 golds in different disciplines.
It's good they are bith there and I can see it being a good and tight race though.

Romero won silver in the quadruple sculls in Athens, not gold. Which is why I think she'll win tomorrow as she knows what it is like to come second in an Olympic final and won't want to go through that again. Houvenaghel has done very well, probably better than expected, and that contentment may mean she isn't quite as hungry.

We'll see tomorrow.

Added: Doh! Should read all the thread first before commenting as I note I've rehashed what Ruth said. Not the first time I've been beaten by Ruth mind, and probably not the last.

Tim Farr

And what about the womens points race? How is Romero likely to go in that. Has she ridden it in the World Cup? And how did she get on? Any form?

ermintrude

I've just got a feeling Wendy might sneak this. Totally agree about Hammer on the bike she is all over the place !! Saw her at Manchester and she was just the same why would she not have addressed this ?

oldwelshman

Tim Farr wrote:

And what about the womens points race? How is Romero likely to go in that. Has she ridden it in the World Cup? And how did she get on? Any form?

She must have a decent turn of speed to be able to start a pursuit with 1:07 kilometer and the coaches will abviously have tried her out in training sessions. She obviously will have the strength to lap the field

BeaconRuth

Tim Farr wrote:

And what about the womens points race? How is Romero likely to go in that. Has she ridden it in the World Cup? And how did she get on? Any form?

I believe she has ridden it at one or maybe two World Cups, but I don't think she's reckoned to be a strong medal hope. Bunch riding skills on the track are very specialist and Romero is not GB's best female bunch-race rider. The limit on the number of female riders for the track events was three, so given that we qualified the places in the IP and Sprint, that's obviously why the places went to Pendleton, Romero and Houvenaghel. With a place also qualified to ride the women's points race, it has to be one of those three if any Brit is to ride. No country in their right mind would send a Points specialist in place of one of those very confident medal hopes because the Points race is such a tough event to call................... I hesitate to say it's a complete lottery because, of course, Vos is riding it. You'd be brave to bet against her winning, especially after she missed the break in the road race.

Ruth