Music: {allcanada} Race to London Games is on

Friday, March 2, 2012

{allcanada} Race to London Games is on

Qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics is no short affair in track cycling. Cyclists have had since 2010 to rack up qualification points with their finishes in official UCI Track Cycling events held around the globe.

Now, just over one month ahead of the qualification deadline, the race is on.

Two UCI point-earning opportunities remain ahead of the Games, beginning with this weekend's 2012 UCI Pan-American Championships in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. Venezuela and Canada's sprinters are nose-and-nose in the qualification battle, with Olympic dreams on the line.

"I would like to be more secure. I'm not secure at the moment," Monique Sullivan said of her qualification hopes. The Calgary, Alta., native will compete in the women's sprint and keirin events in Argentina. "There are lots of points available there and they're very important, because the qualification works by continent. So we're very focused on getting good points there."

In the women's sprint, Canada sits 40 points ahead of Venezuela in the race for the final national Olympic berth. Heather Moyse of Summerside, PEI, the reigning Olympic champion in women's bobsleigh, will join Sullivan in the weekend's quest for qualifying points.

In women's keirin, the Venezuelans hold the edge. Sullivan remains one position out from Canadian qualification, but off the back of an 11th-place finish at last month's London World Cup, she remains optimistic of her chances.

"[London] was good," she said. "I'm showing that I do have good form and I'll be able to race in the coming races and hopefully earn my spot."

In the men's team sprint, Canada chases Venezuela once more, but this time with a 120-point deficit in 12th place. Only the top 10 nations will compete at the Olympic Games, but with Europe having one more country in the top 10 than their quota allows, Venezuela falls in 10th spot with Canada next behind.

Travis Smith of Calgary, Alta., Joseph Veloce of Fonthill, Ont., and Hugo Barrette of Cap-Aux-Meules, Que., will attempt to bridge the gap.

"This event is really important for many reasons," explained Canada's national track cycling coach, Richard Wooles, in a release. "As per UCI Olympic qualifications standards, qualifying a spot in the men's team sprint would allow us to put a rider in both the keirin and the individual sprint. We have worked hard on the sprint side and are looking good for spots in 2012 and winning medals come 2016."

In the men's individual sprint, Venezuela is well ahead in the rankings, but just 30 points separate Canada and the United States. These neighbouring nations will compete for the final Olympic berth in the category.

Circumstances are more comfortable in the men's keirin, where Canada sits in seventh place in the UCI Rankings. Smith and Veloce will race for Canada in both the sprint and keirin events in Argentina.

Canada is well within qualifying range in both the men's and women's omnium, where World silver medallist Zach Bell and two-time World champion Tara Whitten remain in fourth and first place, respectively.

Canada's women's pursuit team is also in a strong position in seventh, fresh off a silver medal at the World Cup in London. A different team will compete in Argentina, with Laura Brown of Vancouver, B.C., Stephanie Roorda of Vancouver, B.C. and Allison Beveridge of Calgary, Alta., all scheduled to participate in the event.