Lovely bubbly awaits Clancy

Ed Clancy was anticipating one heck of a party after winning bronze in the maiden Olympic omnium track cycling competition in London on Sunday.

He's had to put the champagne on ice, literally, for a couple of days after starring in the British men's pursuit team that retained the gold medal they won four years ago in Beijing with a world record time on Friday.

One of the four-man gold medal-winning pursuit team, Geraint Thomas, is something of a champagne connossieur, according to Clancy.

"We made a bet. Geraint Thomas was going to get a bottle of Cristal (champagne) for every tenth we took off the world record," Clancy said following his individual bronze.

"I think he's got the best part of 15 bottles of Cristal to buy the lads. Hopefully, we can make a start on that tonight (Sunday). Actally, they've already made a start.

"The first day was bad. I think they had a rest day last (Saturday) night so they will be ready to go again tomorrow (Monday)."

Clancy had to put his celebrations on hold as the 27-year-old from Barnsley in Yorkshire, northern England, took part in the six-event omnium, cycling's answer to athletics' decathlon and heptathlon.

In the concluding 1 km time trial, Clancy produced a stunning time of 1min 00.981sec, only two tenths off the Olympic record set by Chris Hoy in Athens eight years ago.

After those 2004 Games, the 'kilo' was dropped from the Olympic programme but there has been talk of bringing it back for Rio 2016.

Clancy said he'd love to take part if it did return to the Games schedule.

"That was a really good kilo for an omnium, after four hard days of racing. Should the kilo come back for 2016, -- you can just imagine what guys like (France's) Gregory Bauge or (Britain's) Jason Kenny could do should they turn to their sights to it.

"I'd give it a go, to be honest, If the kilo came back, I guess I'd drop everything and go for that."

Meanwhile, reflecting on the omnium, Clancy said he'd no regrets.

"I did the ride of my life there, that was awesome (the kilo) but it was the same old in the bunch races and I got a good kicking."

Clancy added: "I gave everything I had in the scratch race, I was in a world of pain. I thought let's just smash the kilo and see what happens.

"I wouldn't change a thing. I went on that journey with three of my best mates in the team pursuit and those memories will stay with me forever. The fact I've got a bronze medal in the omnium, I'm very happy."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lovely-bubbly-awaits-clancy-195921759--oly.html

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