Australia make flying start to world track cycling championships

Melbourne: Cameron Meyer won the men`s points race for the second year running as Australia got off to a flying start at the world track cycling championships on Wednesday.

His compatriot Anna Meares earlier won the women`s 500 metres time trial, the first medal of the five-day championships. Germany won the men`s team sprint, ending France`s four-year domination of the event, while Britain failed to reach the final in a major upset and had to be content with bronze. Sarah Hammer of the United States won the women`s individual pursuit in the day`s other final, beating Britain`s Wendy Houvenaghel. Meyer, 22, destroyed the field as he won the 160-lap points race with 70 points, followed by Peter Schep of Netherlands with 33 and Milan Kadlec of Czech Republic with 27. The event features 24 riders and points are awarded during the race for the winners of 16 intermediate sprints and also if a rider laps the main field. Meares won the time trial for the third time to add to the titles she won in Melbourne in 2004 and Palma three years ago. Titleholder Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania, racing last, finished second and Olga Panarina of Belarus was third. Britain, firm favourites to win the men`s team sprint, could manage only the third fastest time in qualifying, although they easily beat China for the bronze medal. Chris Hoy was in the British team, returning to the Ballerup track where he suffered a serious crash 13 months ago which forced him to miss the last world championships. Germany beat France in the final to win the gold for the first time since Stuttgart in 2003. Bureau Report