Men's Points Race
Courtesy of British Cycling and Larry Hickmott

Silver for Chris Newton

After a top placing in Sydney, Chris Newton celebrated the birth of his daughter recently with an awesome ride in the Points race where he won the Silver medal. Newton started the race with a winning sprint, scoring five points in the first sprint of the 30 kilometre race. He was then part of a move that gained a lap and didn't score any more points until sprint number 7 where he gained a solitary point. He then scored eight more points in the next five sprints as well as gaining a second lap to finish the race with 54 points to the 60 of World champion Llaneras who was at Manchester recently for a Revolution track open. Britain's other two riders, Rob Hayles and Ben Swift finished well down the order.

Final
1. Juan Llaneras (Spa) 60 pts
2. Chris Newton (GBr) 54
3. Cameron Meyer (Aus) 53
4. Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) 49

Qualifying

Chris Newton made a return to the Points race in Beijing in the colours of Recycling.co.uk, his trade team for the UK. In a race won by Gent six winner, Iljo Keisse, Newton was very consistent, scoring two points in no less than five sprints and another point in the final one to finish fourth in his qualifying heat. In the second qualifying heat, Rotherham's Ben Swift was the winner riding for 100% ME, ensuring his place in the final as he finished ahead of former World Champion Peter Schep.

In the final qualifying heat, GB's Rob Hayles showed he's on form by clinching the final place on offer in the final when he was eight in his race. With six other riders having taken a lap, it was vital to have the points on board to ensure a place in the final and this he did right at the death of the race in the final sprint, winning it and going through by the skin of his teeth!

Qualifying
Heat 1
1. Iljo Keisse (Bel) 12 pts
2. Greg Henderson (NZl) 10
3. Makoto Iljima (Jpn) 9
4. Chris Newton

Heat 2
1. Ben Swift (GBr) 10 pts
2. Peter Schep (Ned) 9
3. Michael Morkov (Den) 8

Heat 3
1 Cameron Meyer (Aus)
2 Vasili Kiryenka (Blr)
3 Mehdi Sorabi (Iri)
8. Rob Hayles