2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
First World Cup Meda for Plowman Craven
10th December 2007
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles celebrated the first World Track Cup Medal won by one of their current riders when Craig MacLean took bronze in the men’s team sprint in Beijing (7 December). The three man team of MacLean, Jason Queally and Chris Hoy beat Australia to finish third behind winners the Netherlands and second-placed France.
The trio’s Bronze contributed to a successful medal haul for Great Britain and helped the Team secure crucial Olympic qualifying points. A total of three Golds, four Silvers and a Bronze meant Beijing was another accomplished performance for what is fast becoming one of the most successful track squads ever seen, and means that they are closing fast on an Olympic berth.
Photo: Craig MacLeanThe opening round of the World Track Cup in Sydney produced three Golds for Great Britain, including one for the SiS team. With many of the medals won in Olympic events, the World Track Cup series so far promises much for the Beijing Olympics next year.
Although both MacLean and Plowman Craven team mate Tony Gibb (who was not in Beijing) have won World Track Cup medals before as GB riders, MacLean's Beijing Bronze is the first achieved by a rider while signed to Plowman Craven.
The World Track Cup kicked off in November in Sydney, and after Beijing the event travels to Los Angeles in January before finishing in Ballerup, Denmark in February. The Series is an important part of the Olympic selection process, and the Beijing event also offered the chance to race on the velodrome to be used for the 2008 Olympics.
Olympic qualification is decided by national rankings after the four World Track Cups and next March’s World Track Championships. The Beijing round had particular significance as certain key members of the squad, like Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, may not be available for the remaining rounds due to road racing commitments.
The GB team sprint line-up in Beijing was the same as won Silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, but only Hoy remained from the team who rode the World Cup event there last month. Then, Hoy, accompanied by Jason Kenny and Mat Crampton, had qualified for the final in fourth but lost Bronze to the French Cofidis squad. In Beijing they moved up a place, qualifying in third to meet – and beat - the Australian Toshiba squad in the final for Bronze.
MacLean went on to take 7th place in the Men's Sprint event on the final day of competition in Beijing. Simon Barnes, team founder and boss of Hertfordshire based Geomatics company Plowman Craven was delighted with Craig's medal:
"This is a fantastic result for the GB squad and for Craig. We signed Craig last summer and are proud to have played a small part in his preparation for this event and for the Olympics next summer.
"As this World Track Cup is demonstrating, trade teams have a part to play alongside the publically funded national squads. Over the years we've often seen members of European national teams compete in trade colours, and now we’re seeing the same with Great Britain. It's great to see SiS competing as a team, as well as riders like Bradley Wiggins in T.Mobile's colours and Craig, who rides for us. Together with the fantastic results Great Britain is achieving, it shows just how far we’ve come as a cycling nation."
Although pleased with his Bronze, MacLean was under no illusions about the road to Beijing:
"Britain is currently blessed with multiple world class sprinters and I will have to work hard to secure an Olympic team place. The qualification process began in Sydney and will run all the way to the World Championships in Manchester in March next year," commented the 36-year-old Scot.
"All of your results will count towards your individual ranking and qualification. Then there are the issues with team selection where we have seven sprinters going for three places. It is going to be a tough year."
Tough it may well be, but for MacLean it's been a pretty good start.
More information from Jonathan O’Neil: +44 (0) 7956250837 or click here
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