After the three days of racing in Berlin, the host nation, Germany, led by sprinter Jens Fiedler and women's pursuiter Judith Arndt, won the country classification ahead of France and Australia.

Cheered on by several hundred fans, as rain poured down outside, Germany won five of the 12 disciplines. Thanks to the points gained here, Germany now leads the race for the World Cup, ahead of 1997 World Cup winners France, and the USA and Australian teams.

SUNDAY'S RACING - SUMMARY

Judith Arndt had the crowd cheering when she won the women's 20km points race ahead of Antonella Bellutti of Italy and Lucy Tyler-Sharman of Australia. In the men's madison, Italians Silvio Martinello and Andrea Collinelli won ahead of the Belgian and German teams, and the fancied duo of Betschart and Risi of Switzerland.

In the men's short distance events, Jens Fiedler of Germany won a breathtaking Kierin ahead of Darren Hill of Australia, and Germany won the Olympic Sprint just a few hundredths seconds faster than France.

GERMANY LEAD WORLD CUP CLASSIFICATION

After three days of racing and twelve different disciplines, Germany won the nations classification at Berlin. The host nation scored 120 points. Second was France with 91 points and third was Australia with 67 points.

In the overall World Cup Classification after three of the four meetings, Germany now leads with 285 points, ahead of 1997 winners France, with 242 points and the USA with 193 points.

FINAL ROUND NEXT WEEK IN HYERES, FRANCE

EVENT REPORTS

After dominating the Women's Sprint competition on Friday and Saturday, Felicia Ballenger of France also won the 500m time trial on Sunday.

Covering two laps of the 250m track from a standing start, Ballanger set a time of 35.081 seconds, an average of over 50km/h. Second was Katerine Frietag of Germany with a time of 35.943, and third was Cuihua Giang of China with 36.171.

For Ballanger the time was almost a second slower than her world record of 34.017, set at altitude in Bogotà, Colombia in 1995. But she was still clearly stronger than any of her rivals.

Result:

1. Felicia Ballanger (Fra) 35.081
2. Katerine Frietag (Ger) 35.943
3. Cuihua Giang (Cna) 36.171

Judith Arndt made up for her disappointing third place in the individual pursuit on Saturday, when she won the women's 20km points race.

In a close race decided by the sprints every ten laps, Arndt scored 22 points, just five ahead of Antonella Bellutti of Italy, who scored 17 points, and niine points ahead of Lucy Tyler-Sharman of Australia, who socred 14 points. Fourth was Karen Dunne of the USA with 10 points.

Result:

1. Judith Arndt (Ger) 22 points
2. Antonella Bellutti (Ita) 17 points
3. Lucy Tyler-Sharman (Aus) 14 points
4. Karen Dunne (USA) 10 points

The Germany team pulled off a surprise in the Men's Olympic Sprint, when they beat current World Champions France.

For the three lap race, where each rider leads for a lap before pulling off, Germany set a time of 45.535, just beating France who set 45.662. Third was Poland with 46.258.

The German team of Jens Fiedler, Eyk Pokorney and Soren Lausberg displayed a combination of power, speed and great riding skills. They held a tight formation one behind the other, and so gained those decisive hundredths of a second which made the difference between first and second.

Result:

1. Germany 45.535

• Jens Fiedler
• Soren Lausberg
• Eyk Pokorney

2. France 45.662

• Frederic Magnè
• Florian Rousseau
• Arnaud Tourant

• Marcin Mientki
• Grezgorz Krenjener
• Grezgorz Trebski

With Olympic champion Silvio Martinello and his new partner Andrea Collinelli -the Olympic individual pursuit champion, Italy won the Men's 40km Madison event. This duo overwhelmed the Belgian pairing of Etienne De Wilde and Matthew Gilmore, and Germans Guido Furst and Stefan Steinweg. Fourth was the Swiss pair Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart.

Result:

1. Italy -Silvio Martinello and Andrea Collinelli
2. Belgium -Etienne De Wilde and Matthew Gilmore
3. Germany -Guido Furst and Stefan Steinweg
4. Switzerland -Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart

In the last event of the Berlin meet, Jens Fiedler of Germany won his second discipline, when he out-sprinted Australian Darren Hill and John Gonzalez of Colombia in the keirin. After being led out by the derney motorcycle for the opening laps, Fiedler was clearly the fastest in the six rider final and managed to hold-off Hill and Gonzalez at the line.

Result:

1. Jens Fiedler (Ger)
2. Darren Hill (Aus)
3. John Gonzalez (Col)

1. Germany 120
2. France 91
3. Australia 67
4. Italy 56
5. Russia 46
6. Britain 33
7. Poland 31
8. Ukraine 29
9. USA 23
10. Japan 19

1. Germany 285 points
2. France 242
3. USA 193
4. Australia 190
5. Russia 152
6. Spain 113
7. Britain 107
8. Italy 100
9. Poland 90
10. N.Zealand 73

In the men's team pursuit and the women's individual pursuit, times were close to world record speed, and in the men's points race an audacious but winning attack produced a great race and a surprise winner.

Lucy Tyler-Sharman of Australia caused the biggest news of the day. She dominated the 3000m women's individual pursuit after setting the fastest time of the year (3:31.670) in the qualifiying ride in the morning. In the final she calmly defeated Natalia Karimova of Russia by a formidable six seconds.

In the men's 4000m team pursuit, the young German team lead by Robert Bartko were the fastest, dazzling double world champions Italy with a winning time of 4:05.664.

Micheal Sandstod of Denmark was the surprise of the day, when he won the men's points race with a late attack. The talented, but wily Stanstod had been hiding in the middle of the pack all race, but when the end drew near he attacked with awesome speed and took a decisive lap advantage over the rest of the field.

The men's and women's match sprints produced fewer surprises, but some great racing took place as current world champions Florian Rousseau and Felicia Ballanger of France showed just why they wear their rainbow jerseys.

France now lead the nations classification ahead of Germany and Australia, after winning three of the six finals so far contested. Germany is second with two wins, followed by Australia.

RACE REPORTS

Lucy Tyler Sharman of Australia dominated the Women's 3000m Individual Pursuit competition, winning the final against Natalia Karimova of Russia. Yet the Australian's qualification ride was the great ride of the day. In setting a time of 3:31:670, the great Australian rider was more than five seconds faster than her rivals, Germany's Judith Arndt and Karimova. By the final, Sharaman had gone off the boil, but although not quite as fast as in the qualifying rounds she still won easily in a time of 3:35.069, six seconds faster than Karimova's 3:41.552.

In the ride-off for third and fourth place, Arndt beat Olympic Champion Antonella Bellutti of Italy. Arndt recorded 3:36.002 compared to Bellutti's 3:40.374.

1. Lucy Tyler-Sharman (Aus) 3:35:069
beat
2. Natalia Karimova (Rus) 3:41:522

3. Judith Arndt (Ger) 3:36:002
beat
4. Antonella Bellutti (Ita) 3:40:374

Men's 4000m Team Pursuit

Cheered on by the home crowd, Germany won the Men's 4000m Team Pursuit, beating the Ukraine team in the final ride-off. The four German riders: Guido Fulst, Daniel Becke; Christian Ladamann and Robert Bartko set a time of 4:05.664., while the Ukraine replied with 4:08.227.

In the ride-off for third and fourth place, Russia beat 1996 and 1997 World Champions Italy whose time was 4:08.299

For Robert Bartko of the German team it was his second win in two days in pursuit races in Berlin. Yesterday he triumphed in the 4000m Individual Pursuit.

1. Germany 4:05.664
beat
2. Ukraine 4:08.227

3. Russia 4:07.185
beat
4. Italy 4:08.299

Men's Sprint

It was an all French final in the men's sprint, with 1997 World Champion Florian Rousseau out sprinting keirin World Champion Frederic Magnè.

The fact that it was an all French final only added to the magnitude of the achievement of the finalists. To make it through to the finals, Rousseau and Magnè had beaten Germany's Jens Fiedler and Australia's Darren Hill. Although no finals times are yet available from race organisers, on the fast 250m wooden indoor track the qualification times were close to breaking the ten second barrier.

Final

1. Florian Rousseau (Fra)
beat
2. Fredric Magnè (Fra)

Women's Sprint

After missing the two previous rounds of the UCI Track World Cup, Felicia Ballanger showed that she is still the fastest women in track racing when she won the women's sprint competition defeating Michelle Ferris of Australia in the final.

1997 World Champion Ballanger had set the fastest qualifiying time during Friday's qualification 200m time trial (11.260 seconds for a flying 200m) and in the sprints she used her superior speed to beat Ferris. Olga Grichina of Russia won the sprint-off for third place.

Final

1. Felicia Ballanger (Fra)
beat
Michelle Ferris (Aus)

Men's 30km Points Race

Pursuiter Micheal Sanstod of Denmark pulled of a surprise win in the men's points race late on Saturday night, winning ahead of Britain's Rob Hayles and Philip Ermanault of France.

Sandstod's audacious win came after a ferocious attack in the final laps of the 30km -120 lap- race. The cunning Dane broke clear alone and managed to gain a decisive one-lap advantage on the rest of the field. He had failed to score any points in the sprints and so a late attack was his only chance of success. It was a risk, but thanks to his pursuiting skills Sandstod was able to zip around the track, hold off the chase by Hayles and Ermanault and gain the race winning advantage.

1. Micheal Sandstod (Den) 0 points
2. Rob Hayles (GB) -1lap 26 points
3. Philip Ermanault (Fra) -1lap 12 points
4. Stefan Steineg (Ger) -1lap 6 points

These events will decide the nations classification for both theBerlin World Cup meet and the overall World Cup classification before next weekend's final round of the World Cup in Hyeres, France.

Source: Stephen Farrand

Robert Bartko of Germany was the first winner of the evening. He won the Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit pursuit ahead of Sergej Matvejev of the Ukraine.

In the other final, the Men's Kilometer Time Trial, Arnaud Tournant of France was fastest with a time of 1:02.990, one of the fastest times seen this year.

In the Men's and Women's Sprint qualifications, there was some great racing as the riders battled to go through to the finals tomorrow. All the favourites qualified, with Florian Roussseau of France the fastest of the men with a time of 10.252 for the flying 200m qualification round. Second was Jens Fielder of Germany with Australian Darren Hill third.

For the women, world champion Felicia Ballanger of France celebrated her birthday with the fastest qualification time. She set 11.260. Second was Michelle Ferris of Australia with Magali Faure also of France third.

After the two finals of Friday, Germany is leading the country classification after a first and second place with 22 points.

Event Reports

Home rider Robert Bartko got Germany off to a great start when he won the first final of the weekend, the Men's 4000m Individiual Pursuit. In a close race, Bartko beat Sergej Matvejev of the Ukraine by just two seconds, setting a time of 4:25:180 compared to Matvejev's 4:27.221.

In the race for third/fourth place, Antonio Taul of Spain beat Eduard Gritsun of Russia. Taul set a time of 4:26:635 compared to Gritsun's 4:28:642. Taul actually went faster than second placed Matvejev, but the finals for the pursuit are direct ride-offs with the finalists decided in the qualification rides.

Compared to the times set in the second round of the UCI World Cup in Victoria, Canada, two weeks ago, the times in the pursuit are approximately twelve seconds faster. The difference is due to the track. The Berlin track is 250m and is indoors, while the Victoria track is cement and is outdoors.

Result:

1. Robert Bartko (Ger) 4:25:180
2. Sergej Matvejev (Ukr) 4:27:221
3. Antonio Taul (Esp) 4:26: 635
4. Eduard Gritsun (Rus) 4:28:642

The "kilo" time trial is one of the closest races on the track. In just over a minute of time a rider has to squeeze out as much power and explosive energy as possible and when they stop the clock, the difference between first and second place can be just a few hundredths of a second.

In Berlin , where the riders had to cover 4 laps of the 250m track, Arnaud Tournant of France squeezed out the fastest time late on Friday night. The French man set 1:02.990. Second was Zuran Lausberg of Germany in 1:03.343 with Poland's Grzgorz Krenjener third with 1:04.082.

For Tournant the Kilo was his third success in this year's UCI World Cup. In Cali, Colombia he won the Men's Sprint competition and was part of the French Men's Olympic Sprint team. He will be another fast French to watch out for at the world championships in Bordeaux at the end of August.

Result:

1. Arnaud Tournant (Fra) 1:02.990
2. Zuran Lausberg (Ger) 1:03.343
3. Grzgorz Krenjener (Pol) 1:04.082

By Stephen Farrand