AA Drink-Leontien.nl rider wins the chance to represent the Netherlands at the World Championships
Kisten Wild (AA Drink) has beaten Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) in a two-way ride off to decide which of the two Dutchwomen will represent the Netherlands at the upcoming World Track Championships. With the championships being held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands next month, both riders wanted to ride the Omnium for their country at home, but the Netherlands only has one allocated place.
"I am very happy with it. Beforehand I kept in mind that it would be very close between us,” Wild told the press conference afterwards. "I’m looking forward to riding the Omnium at the World Championships, which will be something special. In Beijing last month I won a silver medal in the World Cup was beyond my expectations.
“People are inclined to think of such a feat as the standard for the next races,” she said. “I will do everything possible in Apeldoorn, but that does not mean that I am assured of a medal”
Although Vos is the Olympic points race champion she has rarely ridden on the track since the Beijing Games in 2008, preferring to concentrate on road racing and cyclocross. She has returned to the boards once more with the intention of qualifying for the London Olympics in 2012 but, because the points race has been removed from the programme, she elected to try for the Omnium.
Wild cited her track ambitions as a big reason for returning to the AA Drink-Leontien.nl team this year, and has benefited from the coaching of former six-days star Robert Slippens.
Both riders have competed in World Cup events this winter; Vos in Melbourne, Australia and Wild in Beijing, China.
The two riders were pitted against one another at the vélodrome in Alkmaar, Netherlands in three events: a flying 250m, the 3000m individual pursuit and a 500m time trial. The results would then be compared to the average performances at the World Cup events in Melbourne and Beijing, with he best rider overall declared the winner.
Wild won the flying 250m with a time of 14.770 – breaking the track record in the process – compared to Vos’ 15.117, then also took the pursuit in a time of 3:41.332, with Vos finishing in 3:44.551. Vos ten responded with a victory in the 500m, with a time of 37.742, compared with Wild’s time of 38.172.
When compared to the averages of Melbourne and Beijing, Wild’s times would have been good enough for two 4th places and a 15th, whereas Vos’ would have been 13th, 9th and 12th. In an Omnium contest the riders’ positions in the various events are added together with the lowest number winning; Wild was therefore declared the winner with 23 points to Vos’ 34.
Wild will now represent the Netherlands in the World Championships, as well as the World Cup event in Manchester this month.