Thursday, September 21, 2000
Cycling News Online

Hayles's world comes tumbling down - again

Great Britain’s attempt to win a fifth cycling medal in the closing session of the track programme at the Dunc Gray velodrome ended in disaster today when Rob Hayles came down in a three-man crash on the penultimate of the 240 laps of the madison final. Britain, in third place at the time, had to settle for fourth.

For Hayles it completed a miserable five days. On Sunday, he narrowly missed a medal in the individual pursuit then, on Tuesday, was dropped for the third-place final of the team pursuit. With Australia having secured victory tonight, Hayles went down with an Austrian and Spanish rider in the frenetic chase for minor medals. Belgium took the silver, Italy the bronze.

Britain, with Bradley Wiggins partnering Hayles last night, had led the early stages and, at halfway, were level with Australia. However, Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory delivered Australia’s first track cycling gold medal for 16 years.

The longest track event on the programme, covering 60km, the madison was staged in an Olympics for the first time here. Points are scored in a series of sprints every 20 laps. The winning team either scores the most points or laps the field.

David Powell
The Times