CWG,a learning experience for unseeded Indian cyclists

In the six days of cycling competition in the Commonwealth Games,included both track and road races.

The Delhi Commonwealth Games has been an eye opening experience for the unranked Indian cycling team,who came into the event without any expectations but only to learn.

In the six days of cycling competition in the Commonwealth Games which ended yesterday,including both track and road races,Indian cyclists8217; performance is nothing out of ordinary but they have showed grit and determination which has impressed many a foreign cyclists.

Canadian track racing cyclist Tara Alice Whitten,who had won three bronze in the tracks and a gold medal in time trial category of road racing in the Games,said she was impressed with one of the Indian women cyclist who tried to hang in the there till the end.

8220;I was very impressed with one Indian girl in particular in the road race. But I don8217;t know her name. She was hanging in their for quite a long time. I think she was trying to help her team mates as well,8221; said the gold medallist.

Whitten was talking about Indian cyclist Rejani Kumari Vijaya,who was unable to complete the 112 km race staged over eight laps of a 14-km course in the heart of Delhi.

Vijaya completed only five laps and was ranked 40 till that point of the race but none of the Indian women cyclist went on to complete the race.

India8217;s head coach Chayan Chowdhury had said in the beginning of the Games that winning the race is not in the agenda of the team,but improving time was a must.

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The Indian cyclists have said that they gained a lot from the Delhi Games after having got the opportunity to meet world champions from across the globe during the mega-event.

8220;Everybody is here to win but winning is not everything. This is our next step for the next stage,Asian Championships,8221; Indian cyclist Sombir said.

The Indian team had a rare chance of bagging a bronze medal in the team sprint category in women8217;s track event against Canada. But they narrowly missed out on the opportunity and blamed the starting machine for costing them some valuable seconds.

8220;We8217;re not used to the machines. In Patiala where we were practicing we did not have the machine. Someone would hold the rear wheel and release it at the end of the countdown,8221; said team member Vijaya.

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Although,Indian men8217;s cyclists showed great commitment they lacked in race practice and stamina.

In front of racing giants like Australia8217;s Shane Perkins,New Zealand8217;s Jesse Sergent,Indian men looked like newcomers.

Even coach Chaudhury had said if India had not been the host,Indian cycling team would not even have qualified for the Games.

8220;They just need to do more racing and continue training,8221; said Whitten.

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However,all said and done the Delhi Games have given India good finds for future. Mahita Mohan,Sunita Devi,Sombir and Rajender Bishnoi are future prospects.

8220;Mahita has been very good in both the tracks and the road,8221; said the coach.

Above all,the Games have given the Indian team a confidence to race alongside with some of the world8217;s best cyclists but the event also highlighted some areas that they need to improve before next month8217;s Asian Games in Guangzhou,China.

8220;The Games have been an excellent experience. We have asked the federation to give us seven days before setting up a camp for Asian Games training,8221; said Choudhury.

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It was Australia who ruled cycling events in the Games,grabbing 17 medals in track,including 12 gold,three silvers and two bronze.

The Aussies also won four medals on the road race two gold and two bronze.