In advance of a decision expected to be announced tomorrow, Olympic pursuit medallists Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins have expressed differing views about the planned reforms to the track events.
Both previously stated their dissatisfaction when it was reported that the UCI was considering dropping the individual pursuit from the Olympic programme, as part of its plans to achieve gender parity for London 2010.
The Madison and the points race are also expected to be slashed from the programme.
Romero continues to blast the rumoured changes, which are currently being studied by the IOC prior to an official announcement as to which events will go.
“The proposed changes are ludicrous,” said an angry Romero to Sky News. “They are too radical and it’s a massive overhaul of the whole Olympic track programme.
“I was shocked and surprised, and initially really angry and disappointed [to hear the news]. I won’t have the option to go and defend my individual title.”
Wiggins is less irate, now appearing resigned to the change. Part of the reason for his more laid-back approach is perhaps due to the increased priority road racing has taken in his career.
He finished fourth in the Tour de France last year and plans to focus on that event for the next few seasons.
However netting more gold medals in the Olympics in London 2012 is also important to him, and he said he’d adapt and change disciplines.
“Come 2012, whatever event is there, I will go for gold in it,” he told Sky News at last weekend’s Revolution track event in Manchester. “I am not going to stress my head off worrying off which event it is. The same thing happened to Chris Hoy and he just got on with it.”
Hoy previously specialised in the kilo, winning the title in Athens 2004. It was subsequently dropped from the programme and so he focussed on the sprint, team sprint and keirin in Beijing. He won gold medals in each.
Romero is also a previous medallist in Athens, netting silver in rowing’s quad sculls. She changed to cycling after that and showed her class by winning world and Olympic titles. Now she’s facing yet another change of direction.
“I am still interested and really keen to push myself in an individual event,” she said, confirming that she’ll stay in cycling. “The option now is open for me to do the time trial on the road.”