World Track Cycyling Championships Omnium - Michael Freiberg

Australian track cyclist Michael Freiberg wins Omnium World Championships at 2011 UCI Track World Championships in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn.

Considered one of the most gruelling track events spread across two days and spanning six different disciplines, the Omnium will make its debut at the London Olympics next year.

As the only Australian in the field, on Day 1 Freiberg placed in the flying 250m lap and fifth in both the points and elimination races.

On Day 2 he again placed fifth in the individual pursuit before winning a scorching scratch race that moved him in to first overall with one event remaining.

Freiberg's main challenger for gold was New Zealand's Shane Archbold who set the fastest time, a sizzling 1:03.879 in the kilometre time trial, to move to the top of the rankings ,with only Freiberg and Spaniard Eloy Teruel Rovira left to race.

Freiberg knew he needed to finish at least four places ahead of Rovira and no more than eight behind Archbold to win the gold medal.

Despite being 13th fastest and under pressure at the halfway mark, Freiberg dug deep and as Rovira faded, Freiberg fired, grimacing in pain and wobbling over the final fifty metres to cross the line with the sixth fastest kilometre (1:04:729), taking the World Title four points clear of Archbold.

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• cycling
• omnium