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Olympic Cycling-Track Recaps: 26 July (Day 7)

Men's Cycling Team Pursuit/Qualification Round/Quarterfinals

Russian Federation Sets Olympic Record in Cycling Team Pursuit

In the men's team pursuit quarterfinals Friday afternoon, the Russian Federation set an Olympic record against Ukraine, clocking a time of 4:08.785. In other action, Australia easily triumphed over the American team, Italy stopped Spain's dream of the gold, and France flew past New Zealand to secure places in Saturday's semifinals. Teams from Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Argentina, Korea, Chile and Columbia were knocked out of competition in the team pursuit qualification round Friday morning. The French team clocked the top time of 4:09.570 followed closely by Italy and Australia, the current world recordholder.

Best Times: RUS, 4:08.785; FRA, 4:08.965; ITA, 4:09.215; AUS, 4:09.650.


Women's Cycling Sprint/Quarterfinals/Semifinals

FERRIS and BALLANGER Go for the Gold Medal on Saturday

The 1995 World Champion in sprint, BALLANGER, topped the clock in the semifinals with the quickest time (12.046) against Annette NEUMANN. Young dynamo, FERRIS placed her bid for the gold with her time of 12.078 over Ingid HARINGA. Erika SALUMAE (EST) and Yan WANG (CHN), the two winners of the repechage on Thursday joined Felicia BALLANGER (FRA), Michelle FERRIS (AUS) Oskana GRISHINA (RUS), Ingrid HARINGA (NED), Tanya DUBINCOFF (CAN), and Annett NEUMANN (GER) in friendly competition for the quarterfinals match Friday. Unfortunately, neither SALUME or WANG qualified for the semifinals. BALLANGER and FERRIS will battle to determine the silver and gold medal while HARINGA and NEUMANN will battle for the bronze on Saturday.

Best Times: BALLANGER, 12.046, HARINGA, 12.049; NEUMANN, 12.060, FERRIS, 12.080.


Men's Cycling Sprint/One Eighth-Finals/Repechage

Australia, France and Germany to Battle in Quarterfinals

Australian cyclists in the competition are Olympic sprint record holder, Gary NEIWAND and Darryn HILL, while the French send 1996 Games gold medalist in 1km, Florian ROUSSEAU and Frederic MAGNE and Germany adds the defending Olympic match sprint champion, Jens Fielder and Eyk POKORNY. An even bigger battle may be found with the remaining two cyclists, Curt HARNETT (CAN) and 1994 World Champion Marty NOTHSTEIN (USA). HARNETT clocked the best time followed by FIELDER, ROUSSEAU, HILL, NOTHSTEIN, and NEIWAND, respectively. MAGNE and POKORNY qualified for the quarterfinals in the repechange with respectable times of 10.975 and 10.982, respectively.

Best times: HARNETT, 10.793; FIELDER, 10.808, ROUSSEAU, 10.828; HILL, 11.008.

"Everyone is so close, said NEIWAND. "You could draw names and pick a winner. That's the kind of field it is."


Women's Cycling Individual Pursuit/Quarterfinals

United States favorite Rebecca TWIGGS knocked out of Competition

In heat one, Rebecca TWIGGS (USA) was eliminated by Judith ARNDT (GER). Gaining her spot by placing in the repechage Thursday, Yvonne McGREGOR (GBR) rode past Sarah ULMER (NZL) in heat two while Marion CLIGNET (FRA) breezed past Rasa MAZEIKYTE (LTU) in heat three. Antonella BELLUTTI broke her own Olympic record with a time of 3.32.371 as she overtook Kathryn WATT (AUS) in lap 10 of heat four. Women's individual pursuit semifinals will commence on Saturday, 27 July with finals on Sunday, 28 July.

Best Times: BELLUTTI, 3:32.371; CLIGNET, 3:36.446; ARNDT, 3:38.898.


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