THE fighting spirit of Tasmanian cyclist Amy Cure was on display on Saturday as she and Alex Manly overcame two crashes to capture bronze in the women’s Madison at the UCI track world championships in Hong Kong.
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The 120-lap final, the first time the event had been staged at a championships, featured a litany of attacks and some crashes as the field tussled for positioning.
Three teams – Belgium, Great Britain and Australia – emerged as leading the contenders across the first half.
However, Australia’s two crashes put them out of contention for the top step of the podium with Belgium pulling away from Great Britain in the final stages to win a memorable rainbow jersey.
“It was a really tough race, we were unlucky to have two crashes, but we fought pretty hard to bring it back, and never gave up,” Cure said.
“After the second crash, I did think for a minute that we would be out of the medals.
“But we just kept at it, and we were still in it with a couple of sprints remaining, and I was happy we were able to hold on for that medal.
“I couldn’t be happier to finish on the podium.”
It was the third medal for the 24-year-old from West Pine at these titles, following silver in the team pursuit and bronze in the omnium.
Cure now has 16 world championship medals in her career (both at senior and under 19 level), six of them in a team event.
Her Madison teammate was full of praise for the Tasmanian.
“Amy was so strong out there and we were able to hold for the bronze medal,’’Manly said.
“To be able to be on the podium at the first ever women’s Madison is really special, so to make it with Amy, it is really nice.”
The South Australian was also part of Cure’s squad in the team pursuit on Thursday.
“I think I went into shock after the race,” said Manly, who required medical attention after her two crashes.
“At first I was disappointed with the bronze, but now it has sunk in, I am really happy and proud of our effort.”
Cure will attempt to win her fourth medal of the meet in Sunday night’s points race, an event she won in 2015.
“I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I will give it another crack,” Cure said pre-race.