The
60-km Question
After
a less than golden start for the home team, an Australian
duo passes the madison test in style
By MICHAEL FITZGERALD
Any
olympic campaign has troughs and peaks, but cycling's have
been deeper and higher than most. At Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome
last week, French star Arnaud Tournant wept after missing
out on gold in the time trial, the Germans cracked the hallowed
4-min. mark in the 4-km team pursuit, and an empty spectator
bus skidded out of control and into the front yard of a nearby
house.
Until Thursday night, it seemed the much-vaunted Australian
team would also crash. Disappointed supporters criticized
retiring head coach Charlie Walsh after stars Shane Kelly
and Michelle Ferris failed to produce their best form, and
competitor Gary Neiwand called for "a fresh approach." Then,
in the second-last event, Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory broke
Australia's 16-year drought of Olympic track gold, winning
the madison, a 60-km relay being held at the Games for the
first time.
Aitken, 29, and McGrory, 30, almost didn't make it to Sydney.
At last year's world championships in Berlin, Aitken was knocked
unconscious after being clipped by a French rider, forcing
McGrory to ride out the last 10 km alone. The team finished
13th, only just managing to qualify for the Games. In a 240-lap
race punctuated by point-scoring sprints and interchanging
"handslings," avoiding accidents is key. On Thursday night,
the pair dodged a pile-up with British, Spanish and Austrian
riders, and fought back a late surge by the Swiss. McGrory's
road-racing endurance and Aitken's bursts of speed did the
rest, taking Australia to a four-point victory over Belgium.
The win was powered as much by emotion as by impeccable technique.
"We were spurred on by our families," Aitken said. This year,
his two-year-old daughter Ashli was diagnosed with a neurological
disorder; in June, McGrory's baby son Alexander died of a
heart ailment. "I had the happiest day of my life this year
when my fiancée Donna gave birth to our son," said McGrory.
"Then, only three months later, we had the worst day of our
lives."
Rallying from disaster has become a hallmark for the Australian
cycling team. Despite having broken his collarbone only three
weeks before, Brad McGee won bronze in the individual pursuit,
cheered on by a home crowd he said he "rode like a wave."
Then there was Neiwand's spirited comeback after 18 months
away from the circuit: he missed out on gold in the keirin
by just a few spokes. But for sheer guts, little could top
the efforts of Aitken and McGrory. Under great pressure, the
Australian pair showed winning grace.
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October 2, 2000
| NO. 39
C
O V E R
T H E OLYMPIC GAMES
SWIMMING:
Putsch in the Pool
Heroes of Olympics past clear the lanes-and the winners' dais-for a new
generation of brilliant young swimmers
The 1,500 m: Australia's favorites fight it out for gold
COVER:
The Tao of Steve
Britain's Redgrave makes it a perfect fifth in the coxless fours
TRACK:
The Fastest Pair on Earth
Jones and Greene perform incredible feats of athleticism
EQUESTRIAN:
Tally Ho!
The three-day event falls to Australia's horsey foursome
CYCLING:
Pedal Power
Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory conquer all in the madison
ARCHERY:
Golden Arrows
Simon Fairweather empties his quiver into a bullseye
Shooting: Ups and downs in the double trap
WATER
POLO: No. 1 in Two Seconds
A stunning goal rockets the Australian women to victory
OLYMPIC
SCENE
U
S A
CAMPAIGN
2000:
The Gore-Bush Oil War
What's the right way to deal with the petroleum price hikes?
A
R T S
MUSIC:
Jimi is still jamming
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