Cycling: Noumean denies Aussie place in history books

STUTTGART - Noumea's Laurent Gane won the men's keirin title at the world track championships yesterday, denying Australian Jobie Dajka a historic double.

Earlier, Natallia Tsylinskaya, of Belarus, successfully defended her title in the women's time trial, edging out 2001 winner Nancy Contreras Reyes, of Mexico.

"I've been chasing another world title for a long time," said Gane, whose last individual gold dates back to the 1999 worlds in the sprint, and whose last team title was at the 2001 worlds in the team sprint.

"I felt in the semifinal I was the strongest. I understood I'd be able to win the final.

"Usually the keirin final is pretty open. It's a tight race that anyone can win.

"But today it wasn't so. I beat them all pretty convincingly."

Gane, a Frenchman, narrowly edged Dajka, who had been hoping to defend his title from last year, a feat never yet accomplished.

"It's a little disappointing, but Laurent was just too fast today," Dajka said. "I can accept that. I put out my best, but it wasn't good enough. It's back to the drawing board."

Barry Forde, of Barbados, lifted the bronze after a long day that included two repechage heats on top of first and second round heats.

The keirin is the Japanese version of the traditional sprint event. Eight riders compete over 2000m.

Still riding at high speed, Tsylinskaya jabbed her right fist into the air as she saw her winning time of 34.078s light up the scoreboard.

The Belarus rider was 0.438s faster than Contreras Reyes over the 500m course, with China's Jiang Cuihua lifting the bronze in 34.746s.

Bradley Wiggins won the men's 4km individual pursuit to capture Britain's first gold medal at the championships.

Wiggins set a time of 4min 18.576s to finish almost one second faster than Australia's Luke Roberts, who stopped the clock in 4min 19.306s.

"After messing it up last year, it's great to get it right," Wiggins said after pulling on the special rainbow jersey awarded to world champions.

New Zealand's Sarah Ulmer finished with the fourth best time to qualify in the top eight of her individual pursuit race.

Ulmer clocked 3m 34.818s to qualify for today's elimination race for the medals round.

As expected, the Netherlands' Leontien Zijlaard Vanmoorsel recorded the best time of 3m 32.002s, with Australian Katie Mactier next in 3m 32.464s, followed by Russian Olga Slusareva, who stopped the clock in 3m 34.600s.

Ulmer raced against Erin Mirabella yesterday, the American finishing with the 13th best time of 3min 44.870s, and will be up against Lithuanian Diana Ziliute, who finished fifth in 3min 37.417s.

Ulmer skipped Thursday's points' race to concentrate on the individual pursuit.

- AGENCIES