01.22.11 - CYCLIST ZACH BELL WINS OMNIUM SILVER AT WORLD CUP IN BEIJING, TAKES THE OVERALL WORLD CUP LEAD

Tara Whitten temporarily first midway through Women’s omnium event

(Beijing, CHN – January 22, 2011) Canadian cyclist Zach Bell of North Vancouver, BC, won the silver medal in the omnium event at the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Beijing, China, and in doing so is taking over the lead in the season’s overall World Cup standings.

After a successful day on the track yesterday for the first three races of the omnium event, Bell started his second day with sixth place in the individual pursuit. He went on to finish ninth in the scratch race. In the last race of the omnium, the 1 kilometre time trial race, Bell went on to finish fourth to secure the silver medal.

Bell will finish the event with 30 points, only two points shy of the winner, Samuel Harrison of Great Britain.

Bell has won medals in the omnium events at each of the three UCI World Cup stop, grabbing twice the silver medal.

In the women’s omnium, Tara Whitten of Edmonton, AB opened the event with a third place in the flying lap. She finished second in both the Points race and the Elimination race to sit alone in the first place of the standing as the first day came to an end.

Whitten is currently the overall World Cup leader in the discipline.

In the Women’s sprint, Monique Sullivan of Calgary, AB is showing great consistency this season, finishing 11th position.

The 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Beijing ends Sunday with the points race for both men and women, the women’s keirin, the women’s individual pursuit, as well as men sprints.

For full results and live timing, please visit the UCI timing website at: http://www.tissottiming.com