LONDON — China was downgraded from gold to silver for an illegal change in the women’s team sprint at the Track Cycling World Championships Wednesday, handing the title to Russia.
Initially, it looked to be a repeat of last year’s top two at the worlds in Paris, with China and Russia taking gold and silver respectively.
The changeover is meant to happen on a designated part of the track, but a rule infringement meant the Chinese pair of Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi were penalized.
There was no leave to appeal and with the Chinese not able to challenge the decision, the gold went to Daria Shmeleva and Anastasiia Voinova in 32.679 seconds.
China head coach Benoit Vetu was going to hospital with a suspected broken right hand after he angrily hit a table on learning the decision. His hand was subsequently bandaged and packed with ice.
He told the Associated Press: “It was just one millimeter too early. It is the rules but the rules are bad.”
The Russian pair was almost speechless.
“It is like something unbelievable, unforgettable, I cannot say how I feel really because it is like ‘oh wow’,” Voinova said.
Olympic champion Germany was third, beating Australia in the bronze medal race-off.
New Zealand won the men’s team sprint title, beating the Netherlands in the final in 43.257 seconds.
The trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins had finished second to France in last year’s worlds.
Germany was third, ahead of France.
The Olympic track cycling program in Rio de Janeiro starts on Aug. 11, with New Zealand seemingly now the favorites.
Rebecca Wiasak of Australia was the day’s first winner of a rainbow jersey when she made a successful defense of her individual pursuit title.
Wiasak, who set a velodrome record in qualifying, won in 3:34.099. Malgorzata Wojtyra of Poland was second, 7.8 seconds behind. Annie Foreman-Mackey of Canada took bronze.
The individual pursuit is not an Olympic event.
Sebastian Mora won the scratch race, adding the world title to European gold, heading the 21-man field ahead of Ignacio Prado of Mexico and Claudio Imhof of Switzerland.
Britain was the fastest through in the men’s team pursuit qualifiers.
The host, with Bradley Wiggins making his first track worlds appearance since 2008, qualified in 3:55.664 ahead of Australia, defending champion New Zealand and Italy.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Britain faces Italy, while Australia takes on New Zealand to determine which teams will race for the gold medal. — AP
