Night 1 of the track cycling schedule at the 2018 Commonwealth Games will see six gold medals up for grabs, with Australia a strong chance of success in all events. Join The Roar for live coverage from 7pm (AEST).
A mixture of sprint and endurance events hit the track tonight, with the team sprints and pursuits for both the men and women being the focus of the evening.
However, first up on the night’s agenda are two para-cycling events, the Women’s Sprint and the Men’s 1000-metre time trial.
In the Women’s para-sprint, Australia’s Jessica Gallagher is the favourite, being the current world record holder; however, Sophie Thornhill is the Commonwealth Record holder, so it should be a close affair.
In the Men’s 1000-metre para time trial, Neil Fachie of Scotland is both the current world record and Commonwealth Games record holder, so he should be an odds-on favourite to come away with gold.
The final four events of the evening consist of both the men’s and women’s team pursuits, and team sprints.
One of the key differences between the World Chamionships and Olympics Games compared to the Commonwealth Games is the fact Great Britain is separated into its individual countries.
Great Britain are especially strong at track cycling, so having to now separate the talent between their riders home countries stretches the resources of the British nations, thus giving Australia a more likely chance of success.
Australia will be favourites in the women’s team pursuit, however in the Men’s, it’s a little more of an open field. Australia, New Zealand and England have been at the top of the tree in previous world championships and will be battling it out again tonight.
In the team sprints, Australia is hot favourites to take out the title in the women’s event, with the experienced double act of Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton finishing second at the 2017 world’s.
In the men’s event, it will once again be a tight tussle for England, Australia and New Zealand. Both England and New Zealand took teams to the world’s recently, with them finishing fourth and fifth respectively. On the other hand, Australia opted not to participate in the event, as they have been looking ahead to these Games.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Night 1 from the Anna Meares Velodrome from 7pm (AEST).
Scott Pryde
Expert
Super night for the Aussies!
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
That's a wrap of Night 1 from the Veledrome. Join me tomorrow from 7pm AEST for Night 2 of action.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Men's Team Sprint Finals 1 - New Zealand 2 - England 3 - Australia 4 - Canada
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
NZ take Gold. Super ride.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Perfect start from NZ.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Men's Team Sprint Finals - Gold Last event tonight. New Zealand v England. The experienced Kiwi's should take this.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Australia take the bronze by a second.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Canada are all over the place.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Men's Team Sprint Finals - Bronze No Glatzer for Australia. Interesting. Aus v Canada.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Games record that they lowered this morning for the Australian's. 0.4 outside the world record.. Super from Morton and McCulloch.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Aus up after lap 1.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Australia looking for their third gold tonight. Here we go.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Few problems with the start gate for McCulloch.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Women's Team Sprint Finals - Gold Australia v New Zealand. McCulloch and Morton favourites here. Just under a second faster than New Zealand in the qualifying.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
England take bronze after a slightly poor start. Far too far apart after lap 1, but the English had the horsepower to take the Bronze at the end.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Women's Sprint - Bronze Medal Wales v England
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Men's 4000m Team Pursuit Finals 1 - Australia 2 - England 3 - Canada 4 - Wales
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
0.4 seconds quicker than the world record.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
3:49:804. NEW WR
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Aus down to 3 with 1 lap to go.