I had finished second in this race last year so was hoping for a good result. The field this year was twice the size (twenty-two riders) and a lot stronger, so it was always going to be a tough day out. Andrew Patten and Robbie Reid were racing and given that both riders had won medals in the Masters World Track Championships previously, I was expecting them to be a handful.
I was not sure about my form as I had had a disrupted run in. Three days off the bike with a head cold three weeks out and then another three days off with a stomach bug two weeks out. The stomach bug had me especially worried as I just 'didn't feel right' afterwards.
The event was held on the brand new indoors Anne Meares Velodrome, which is an absolutely impressive facility and a very, very, fast track. The Omnium was raced in the brand new four race format (as opposed to the older six race format):
Scratch Race
Very early on I saw an opportunity to attack and I took it. I quickly gained half a lap and from that point on was totally committed. I managed to take a lap on the field and won the race.
Tempo Ronde
This is a brand new event where there is a five lap tempo session and then fifteen laps where the first rider across the line each lap earns a point. It plays out kind of like an 'intense points race'. I took points early and managed to come second. Craig O'Conell from The University of Queensland Cycling Club won that race. He had finished second in the earlier scratch race so at that point we were tied for the lead.
Elimination
A field of twenty-two meant a forty-four lap elimination which was always going to be hard work. I rode really aggressively on the front and managed to again come second. Craig took the win and the overall lead by two points.
Points Race
I 'only' finished fourth overall in the points race, but I wasn't really concerned about that. I had a job to do; follow Craig around and take points off him. Fortunately, this is exactly what I managed to do. A point here, a couple there and a very timely fourth in the double-points final sprint of the day, gave me the overall win and the Queensland Title by three points. Peter Nowill (who finished third) has come across to cycling in the last few years from running and actually represented Australia at the 2004 Olympics in steeplechase.
I was absolutely stoked with this result. My last six straight Masters State Titles results have been 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th - so to finally crack a 1st was just a little bit awesome!
I am honestly not sure what to make of the new Omnium format. I think at Masters level some of the events are too short to be 'true' endurance events. I also miss not having the Individual Pursuit in there. Given the result here though, probably best to say that the new format suits me!
Looking forward to more track events in the new year...
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