Olympic Games Points Race (Athens)
25-Aug-2004
The "Radcliffe" effect Going for Great Britain in this was Chris Newton but it wasn't to be his race . The former world champion retired with 69 laps to go after making a number of efforts to try and get away but finding he wasn't able to dominate the race as he has in the past such as 2002 when he was World Champion or 2003 when he was fourth after leading for much of the race. Newton's national coach, GB's Endurance coach Simon Jones was interviewed by Jill Douglas with Jones saying that Newton didn't know what was wrong, calling it the 'Radcliffe effect'. "I'm very dissapointed for Chris" he said, "there was no indication at all over the last couple of days since the Team Pursuit that he would perform like that. he just said that there was nothing in his legs. Two days ago he was in the Team Pursuit team that did 3.59 and he looked very good and strong in that, and was really looking forward to this. To come out and feel the way he did and perform like that in front of his family will have been a hard thing for him to do". Speaking to the BBC, Newton said "I haven't got any explanation for how I felt out there. Things just went from bad to horrendous. I couldn't handle not being able to compete and I couldn't understand why I wasn't able to close the gap and why I wasn't sprinting well. I just didn't want to finish last or 10th. I wanted to be in the medals" added the rider in explanation for pulling out. I couldn't face it any more. I wasn't riding like I know I can ride and like I expect to ride. Before the race I was totally relaxed and ready for the job. The top half was ready but the bottom half just didn't want to ride. It was an awful feeling and I feel for everyone who has helped me get this far." The early pace setter was Milton Wynants who took a number of laps along with the Russian but as the race unfolded, the pressure finally told on the well known six day rider Wynants and Mikhail Ignatyev ran out the winner. The key move was when Colby Pearce went for a lap and the 19 year old joined him. The two proceeded to lap the field but Llaneras kept plugging away, gaining points and almost missing a late move when Ignatyev, Henderson, Fulst and others got away with the Russian gaining his fourth lap and Llaneras also gaining a lap the hard way to move into the silver position. The final sprint could have seen a change of places between defending Olympic champion Llaneras and Fulst but the German was unable to win the final sprint and had to be content with the bronze. It was a great race but a dissapointing one for Chris Newton and Great Britain. I am sure he'll be back as he's a born winner as he has proved many many times. Results 1. M. Ignatyev RUS 93 DNF C. Newton GBR |