Harrison scores World Cup omnium gold at first attempt

Eighteen-year-old Welshman Sam Harrison won the men's ominium at the Track World Cup in Beijing, China, on Saturday (January 22).

Harrison consistently placed highly in all six events in the two-day omnium competition and finished in top spot at his first ever World Cup. His gold joins Ed Clancy's omnium gold won at the previous round in Cali, Colombia.

Harrison beat second-placed Zachary Bell (Canada) by two points and third place Roger Kluge of Germany by four points. He placed within the top ten of the six disciplines - flying lap (fifth), points race (sixth), elimination race (third), individual pursuit (second), scratch race (tenth) and kilo time trial (second).

The British coaches have known about Harrison's ability for some time now - he came up through the Olympic Development Programme - and his results may see him jump up in to training with senior squad sooner than planned. He won an Omnium silver at the junior world championships this summer and was part of the new Olympic Academy intake this winter.

The gold medal is another feather in the cap for Chris Newton who only took over as Academy coach in September, one month after winning the Premier Calendar and retiring from racing.

Britain's Lizzie Armitstead started her campaign in the women's omnium event in Beijing strongly, placing fourth after the three of her six disciplines. The final three events take place tomorrow (Sunday).

In the women's sprint, Britain's Becky James finished in ninth spot behind winner Lyubov Shulika (Ukraine). James will contest the women's sprint on Sunday.

Briton David Daniell placed eighth in the men's keirin having missed out on a ride in the final six. Next up, Daniell joins Peter Mitchell in contesting the men's individual sprint.

Olympic Academy Programme rider Jonathan Mould is also in action for Great Britain in the men's points race.

On Friday, Britain's young team pursuit quartet scored a bronze medal, setting a new Olympic Academy record in the process.

The Beijing round of the 2010/11 UCI Track World Cup in Beijing concludes tomorrow (Sunday, January 23).

Results

Men's omnium

1. Sam Harrison (Great Britain) 28 points

2. Zachary Bell (Canada) 30 points

3. Roger Kluge (Germany) 32 points

Women's omnium after three rounds, three rounds remaining

1. Tara Whitten (Canada)

2. Pascale Jeuland (France)

3. Kirsten Wild (Ned)

...

4. Lizze Armitstead (Great Britain)

Women's sprint

1. Lyubov Shulika (Ukraine)

2. Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania)

3. Lin Junhong (China)

...

9. Becky James (Great Britain)

Men's keirin

1. Simon Van Velthooven (New Zealand)

2. Scott Sunderland (Australia)

3. Kota Asai (Japan)

...

8. David Daniell (Great Britain)

Related links

British team pursuiters tune up in Majorca

Track World Cup, Beijing, day one: Young team pursuiters score bronze in Beijing