04.07.12 - TARA WHITTEN ONLY THREE POINTS SHORT OF MEDAL AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Whitten off the podium as she attempted to defend back-to-back titles

(Melbourne, AUS – April 7, 2012) Tara Whitten of Edmonton, Alberta cycled to the fourth place of the women’s omnium at the 2012 UCI Track World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Whitten cumulated a total of 39 points in the six-discipline event – only three shy of the bronze medal.

Yesterday, Whitten ended the day in sixth place of the overall standings, after finishing fourth of the flying lap, eleventh of the points race and seventh in the elimination race.

Today, the task to close the gap to grab a medal was anticipated to be difficult for Whitten. With two races as individual timed events –an area in which Whitten excels–, everything was still possible for the two-time World Champion in the omnium.

Whitten opened the day with a win in the individual pursuit to get right back in the game. Then, in the mass-start scratch race, Whitten crossed the line in eleventh place. In the final race, the time trial, Whitten had to win in order have chances to step on the podium. Unfortunately, she went on to finish in sixth place.

Although this fourth place is the first time Whitten is off the podium, yet alone win the World title in women’s omnium at World Championships, Whitten had made it very clear on Wednesday after the Team Pursuit that these World Championships were not a priority, and that this is part of the overall training plan for the 2012 Olympic Games.

In the women’s keirin, Calgary’s Monique Sullivan took part in the women’s keirin. Sullivan went on the finish fourth of her opening heat, and 13th overall.

Tomorrow, on the last day of competition, Whitten will take part in the Individual pursuit, the event she won during the omnium race.

Full results and live timing of the event can be found at www.tissottiming.com or by visiting www.uci.ch.