World Track Cycling Championships: Day 3 preview

The stage is set for an action-packed day three of the 2012 UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Melbourne, with several big name events scheduled.

Last night, the velodrome at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena was set alight by the women’s sprint quarterfinals and women’s team pursuit finals.

Today’s schedule includes the women’s sprint semifinals and finals, the men’s sprint, the women’s scratch race, two men’s omnium events – the individual pursuit and scratch race, and two women’s omnium events – the flying lap and points race.

Australian Anna Meares, the reigning women’s sprint world champion, has the chance to win a second consecutive world title in the event after she displayed dominance yesterday.

The men’s sprint features Australians Matthew Glaetzer, Scott Sunderland and Shane Kelly. The Aussies will have to be at the top of their game if they are to beat Great Britain’s Chris Hoy.

Regardless of the result, one thing is certain – the home crowd will be getting right behind our boys, particularly after Australia’s gold medal winning performance in the men’s team sprint on opening night.

The men’s and women’s omnium events put on show some of the sport’s best all-round athletes, including Australians Glenn O’Shea and Annette Edmondson.

With many Australians in realistic medal-winning positions, day three is set to be a tremendous day of board-burning competition.