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Bayley, Brown lead Australia domination
Track sensation Ryan Bayley added the Keirin title to his sprint gold medal, and Australia's Madison team also took the Olympic title to highlight the nation's dominance of cycling.
Track sensation Ryan Bayley added the Keirin title to his sprint gold medal on Wednesday, and Australia's Madison team also took the Olympic title to highlight the nation's overwhelming dominance of cycling at the Athens games. Bayley left the track tournament as the only double individual gold medallist, while teammate Graeme Brown won gold in both the team pursuit and Wednesday's Madison.
Brown teamed up with Stuart O'Grady for the Madison and the veteran earned his first gold in a four-medal spree spanning four games.
Russian veteran Olga Slyusareva controlled the women's points race from start to finish and finally added an Olympic gold to her impressive list of titles at 35.
Bayley, 22, reigned supreme over the Keirin and picked his moment to accelerate almost at will. Then, with an another awesome display of power biking, he sped off and was already easing up at the line, certain of gold.
"I found a spot where I was comfortable, hit the gas, and it just went 'boom.' I was gone. I didn't look up till I crossed that line."
He won ahead of Jose Escuredo of Spain and Rene Wolff, the German who was later disqualified. Australia's Shane Kelly was awarded bronze.
German Jens Fiedler was eliminated in the semifinal, ending his quest for a unique fourth gold medal in men's Olympic cycling. In the Madison, Australia was already in front at the halfway stage and gradually extended its lead, scoring points on most of the sprints. O'Grady and Brown also made sure no other challengers could get ahead again.
