The fifth and final day of the 2012 UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Melbourne has arrived, with four anticipated events saved until last. We’ll have live updates throughout the afternoon.
Last night three Australians won gold medals at Hisense Arena, shooting Australia past Great Britain to number one on the medal tally.
Anna Meares retained her world champion’s stripes in the women’s keirin, comfortably recording the fastest time in the finals ahead of Russian Ekaterina Gnidenko and German Kristina Vogel. It was Meares’ ninth world title.
In the all-Australian race for gold in the men’s individual pursuit, Michael Hepburn upset world record holder Jack Bobridge by half a second. Another Australian, Rohan Dennis, took fourth place.
West Australian Cameron Meyer produced perhaps the most impressive performance by winning his third consecutive title in a hard-fought men’s points race.
Annette Edmondson almost made in four gold medals for the green and gold, but was edged out by Great Britain’s Laura Trott in the women’s omnium.
Today’s schedule includes the finals for the men’s keirin, the men’s Madison, the women’s individual pursuit and the women’s 500m time trial.
The large men’s keirin field features three Australians: Shane Perkins, Matthew Glaetzer and Scott Sunderland – all a show for the finals.
Leigh Howard and Cameron Meyer are Australia’s men to watch in the unique Madison event. Meyer’s experience and endurance on the road is sure to help him through the race after last night’s gruelling points event.
Ashlee Ankudinoff and Amy Cure will fly the flag the women’s individual pursuit and Meares and Kaarle McCulloch are back again for the women’s 500m time trial.
If the Cyclones manage to hold top position on the medal table it will send a strong message ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
That concludes the afternoon session on the fifth and final day of the 2012 UCI World Track Cycling Championships. It's good afternoon from me - enjoy the Gold Coast Vs. St Kilda AFL coverage!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
So the extra qualifiers for the men's keirin second round after the repechage are: M Bourgain (FRA), Canelon (COL), S Van Velthooven (NZL), M Crampton (GBR), J Kenny (GBR) and M Levy (GER).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Max Levy (GER) takes out the heat ahead of Dawkins (NZL), Pervis (FRA), Zhang (CHN) and Haak (NED). An amazing average speed of 72.115 km/h for the German! Wow!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Now the sixth and final heat of the men's keirin repechage and the last race for the afternoon session: M Zhang (CHN), F Pervis (FRA), M Levy (GER), H Haak (NED) and E Dawkins (NZL)!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Jason Kenny (GBR) wins in amazing finish to the race. That looked as though the Aussies had it covered! Disappointment for the home crowd, but that's track cycling! Kenny led home Glaetzer (AUS), Perkins (AUS), Eilers (GER) and Md Yunos (MAS).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Now here are the Aussies Perkins and Glaetzer in heat five, unfortunately only one of them can through - but only if they win the heat! J Kenny (GBR), J Eilers (GER) and M Md Yunos (MAS) round out the start list.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Crampton (GBR) wins the heat ahead of Ceci (ITA), Mulder (NED), Vynokurov (KAZ) and Borisov (RUS).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Here we go in heat five: M Crampton (GBR), F Ceci (ITA), T Mulder (NED), S Borisov (RUS) and A Vynokurov (KAZ).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Van Velthooven wins heat three of the men's keirin repechage! He goes through to compete later tonight in the second round. The New Zealander finished ahead of Marin (COL), Kuczynski (POL) and Quincy (TRI).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Heat three: J Marin (COL), S Van Velthooven (NZL), K Kuczynski (POL) and A Quincy (TRI).
Katrina
Guest
Great, well- written and concise post on the championships! Thank you also for the live blogging, I actually feel like I can follow what is going on. Keep it up!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Canelon (VEN) takes it out ahead of Volikakis (GRE), Spicka (CZE) and Peralta (ESP)!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Heat two: D Spicka (CZE), J Peralta (ESP), C Volikakis (GRE) and H Canelon (VEN). And they're off!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Bourgain (FRA) goes through to the second round ahead of Fabian (COL), Ng Onn Lam (MAS) and M Archibald (NZL).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Heat one of the men's keirin repechage: P Fabian (COL), M Bourgain (FRA), J Ng Onn Lam (MAS) and M Archibald (NZL).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Now it's time for the repechage of the men's keirin - the top finisher in each of six heats qualifies for tonight's second round. The rest are eliminated.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
That heat concludes proceedings in the qualifying for the women's individual. Racing for the gold medal tonight will be A Shanks (NZL) and W Houvenaghel (GBR). Racing for broze will be the two Australians Amy Cure and Ashlee Ankudinoff.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
And everything is coming up Shanks! Shanks (NZL) sets a new best time for the afternoon (3:27.268).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Time now for the last two riders in qualifying for the women's individual pursuit. It's A Shanks (NZL) and V Sereikaite (LTU), the European champion.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Eighth fastest time for Nielsen (NZL) and an exhausted M Mejias Garcia (CUB) trundles over the line with the 16th best time after completing an enormous program at this world championships.