With victories in the women's sprint, the women's 500m time trial, the men's sprint and the olympic sprint, the home nation won with 91 points. Second was Italy with 66 points, followed by Germany in third with also with 66 points. 

In the final overall standings, Germany won with 351 points compared to 333 by France and 234 by the USA. Australia was fourth with 220 points and Russia was fifth with 214 points. 

A total of 41 different countries took part in the world cup, including riders from Armenia, Trinidad and Tobago, Eritrea and Chile. See below for a list of world cup standings.

 Germany won the Track World Cup because of their overall quality of riding. In both the short distance sprinting events and the longer endurance events, they always scored points. Riders such as Jens Lehmann, Judith Arndt and Eyk Pokorny, led the team race after race. The German nation is the deserving champion. 

Now that the UCI World Cup has been contested and won, track riders turn their attention first national and continental championships during the next few weeks, then travel to Bordeaux, France from August 26th - 30th for the UCI World Championships. 

The rides and points scored during the world cup sereis have decided which countries will qualify for which events. Full listings of qualifying countries will be available next week here on the UCI web page after the results of Hyeres have been analysed. 

1999 UCI World Cup

 The 1999 world cup will be more important than ever before. As well as offering great racing, they will be vital for world championships qualification which in turn will decide qualification for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia. 

See you next year! 

1. France - 91 points 
2. Italy - 66 
3. Germany - 66 
4. Russia - 62 
5. Britain - 53 
6. USA - 41 
7. Japan - 34 
8. Australia - 30 
9. Ukraine - 29 
10. Denmark - 24 

1. Germany - 351 points 
2. France - 333 
3. USA - 234 
4. Australia - 220 
5. Russia - 214 
6. Italy - 166 
7. Britain - 160 
8. Spain - 134 
9. Poland - 90 
10. Denmark - 80 

 Felicia Ballanger of France made it another double victory weekend of racing in Hyeres on Sunday, winning the women's 500m time trial to go with the sprints competition she won on Saturday. 

Just as in Berlin last weekend, the three times world champion was by far the fastest for the 500m blast against the clock. For the two laps of the outdoor wooden track, she set a time of 34.603, a second and a half faster than her rivals and only six tenths of a second off her world record of 34.017 which was set at altitude in Colombia in 1995.

 Joining Ballanger on the podium were Jiang Cuihua of China and Iryna Yanovych of the Ukraine. Cuihua set a time of 36.022, while Yanovtch was just a little slower with 36.234. 

Result: 

1. Felicia Ballanger (Fra) 34.603 
2. Jiang Cuihua (Cna) 36.022 
3. Iryna Yanovych (Ukr) 36.234 
4. Oksana Grichina (Rus) 36.235 
5. Lori Ann Muenzer (Can) 36.461 

for the three lap blast around the track (750m), where one rider leads for one lap before pulling off, France set a time of 45.935, beating the Greece in the final who set 46.854. 

With Kilo winner Hervè Thuet and sprint winner Laurent Gane in the team, France were the fastest on the track and posted split times of 18.27 seconds, 31.95 seconds and then a final time of 45.935.

 In the ride off for third and fourth place Britain won with a time of 46.860 to show that they too are improving, while the Czech Republic finished fourth with 47.312. 

Result: 1. France 45.935

• Hervè Thuet 
• Laurent Gane 
• Vincent Quellec 

 3. Britain 46.860 
beat 
4. Czech Republic 47.312

 Women's 20km points race In a fast and furious race, world champion Natalia Karimova of Russia won the women's points after taking a lap alone mid way through the race. 

Karimova, who was also second in the individual pursuit world championships in Perth, Australia, used her power to go it alone and although the other 21 riders in the race tried to chase, they could do nothing against the Russian's turn of speed and determination to take a lap. Incredibly Karimova did not score any sprint points but used her energy to gain a lap.

 Before Karimova's daring attack, Australian Alayna Burns looked set to win after taking a commanding lead in the sprints. Unfortunately she could had no answer when Karimova jumped away. Third was US rider Karen Dunne, with Britain finishing fourth and fifth with Sally Boyden and Michelle Ward. 

Result: 

1. Natalia Karimova (Rus) 12 points 
2. Alayna Burns (Aus) at -1 lap 27 
3. Karen Dunne (Usa) at -1 lap 21 
4. Sally Boyden (Gbr) at -1 lap 11 
5. Michelle Ward (Gbr) a -1 lap 9 

 Olympic champions Silvio Martinello and Marco Villa of Italy put on a show of skillful riding in evening sun at the Hyeres meet, winning the 40km madison ahead of the fellow six day riders Matthew Gilmore of Belgium and Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart of Switzerland. 

With an average of 51.308km/h on a wind swept track, the Italian pair won with 21 points compared to the Belgian's 19 and Switzerland's 14. These three teams plus the Danish and German teams had broken clear of the pack mid-race and they gained the vital lap lead. They were obviously the strongest teams and so went on to fight out the race in the remaining sprints. Thanks to a great finish, the Italians just clinched it. 

Result: 

1. Italy - Silvio Martinello and Marco Villa 21 points 
2. Belgium - Matthew Gilmore and Etienne De Wilde 19 
3. Switzerland - Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart 14 
4. Denmark - Jens Veggerby and Jimmi Madsen 12 
5. Germany - Jens Lehmann and Mario Vonhof 5 
6. Russia - Nikolai Kouztetsov and Alexei Markov at -1 lap 15 points 

In the six rider sprint, which is paced by a motorbike before the riders take over and sprint for the line, the Italian rode a tactically perfect race on the tight 250m track. 

First he waited as the speed increased and then at the start of the final lap he moved to the front and then kicked hard to lead all the way to the finish line. Experienced German sprinter Eyk Pokorny tried to come over him in the straight but Chiappa cooly held on to win by half a wheel.

 In the ride -off for 7th to 12th place, Big Sean Eadie of Australia won ahead of Josè Villanueva of Spain. 

Results: 

1. Roberto Chiappa (Ita) 
2. Eyk Pokorny (Ger) 
3. Viesturs Berzins (Let) 
4. Christian Arrue (Usa) 
5. Yuichiro Kamiyama (Jap) 
6. Jean Pierre Van Zyl (Rsa) 
7. Sean Eadie (Aus) 

Under a hot sun, with temperatures in the 30s, France won both the men's and women's match sprint and finished fourth in the points race, to strengthen their lead in the nations' World Cup competition over Germany, Russia and Britain. 

In the other three finals of the day, the women's pursuit and the men's team pursuit, Lithuania won the women's event with Rasa Mazeikyte, while world champions Italy had a convincing win in team pursuit. 

In the final race of the day, Micheal Sandstod of Denmark won the men's points race with a last gasp attack that surprised race favourite Silvio Martinello. 

Event Reports

Felicia Ballanger of France showed just why she is three times world champion, when she easily won the sprint competition.

 Riding infront of her home crowd, she won the final 2-0 against Ulrike Weichelt of Germany. In each ride she came past her rival with two hundred metres to go, and powered to the line with several metres' advantage.

 In the first ride Ballanger and Weichelt did a track stand. Ballanger wanted to the German rider to lead out the sprint but after more than a minute of tensed muscles, Ballanger slipped and the ride was cancelled. it was the only sign of weakness from Ballanger, and she soon wiped it out by winning the sprint. On this form she has to be a favourite at the world whampionships in Bordeaux.

 Result: 

1. Felicia Ballanger (FRA) 12.310 and 12.100
beat
2. Ulrike Weichelt (GER) 

3. Olga Grichina (RUS) 12.910 and 12.830
beat
4. Szilvia Szabolcsi (HUN) 

Men's sprint

 After winning the women's sprint, France also dominated the men's sprinting competitions at Hyeres, with Laurent Gane winning the final in two straight rides. 

Gane, cheered on by the partisan and knowledgable French crowd, beat the 120kg Australian giant Sean Eadie. 

In the first ride, Gane was unstoppable and blasted over the top of Eadie to win easily, with a time of 10.720 for the final 200 metres. In the second ride Gane again tried to go over the top of Eadie. The Australian fought hard and matched the Frenchman all the way to the line. A photo finish was called and Gane just got it with a time of 10.700. 

In the ride for third and fourth place, which is important for qualification for the world championships, the expereinced Eyk Pokorny beat Jose Moreno of Spain in two rides. Ota Schinichi of Japan won the ride off for 5th to 8th place. 

Result: 

1 Laurent Gane (FRA) 10.720 and 10.700
beat 
2. Sean Eadie (AUS) 

3. Eyk Pokorny (GER) 10.950 and 11.200
beat
4. Jose Moreno (ESP) 

Women's 3000m individual pursuit 

Rasa Mazeikyte of Lithuania was the surprise winner of the women's pursuit. She was not on the original start list for the pursuit and has not been placed in the other rounds of the world cup. 

Yet here in Hyeres, she was fastest in the qualifiying round in the morning with 3:40.818 and then won the event with a time of 3:43.61. In the final she beat Yvonne McGregor of Britain, whose time was 3:47.600. 

Mazeikya looked smooth and powerful during the whole 3000m and even when McGregor tried to come back in the final kilometre, the young Lithuanian had something more in reserve and upped the pace again. She will be a name to remember for the world championships in August. 

In the ride off for third and fourth place, Leontien Van Morsel of Holland won with a time of 3:42.233. She beat Natalia Karimova of Russia who returned a time of 3:48.480. 

Result: 

1. Rasa Mazeikyte (LTU) 3:43.610
beat 
2. Yvonne Mcgregor (Gbr) 3:47.604

 3. Leontien Van Morsel (Hol) 3:42.330
beat
4. Natalia Karimova (Rus) 3:48.485

 Men's 4000m team pursuit

 Italy showed that they are still the fastest at team pursuiting, when they won the event in a rapid 4:09.330. 

On their carbon aero bikes, the Italians swooshed around the 250 metre track, with the pounding of the hard disk wheels sounding like a jet fighter passing over head. Captain of the flight was, as ever, Olympic champion Andrea Collinelli, whose co-pilots were Mario Benetton, Adler Capelli and Cristiano Citton. 

Second in the final were the Ukraine team. They lacked the high-tech bikes of the Italians, but they possessed the hearts and the legs to ride almost as quickly. Their time of 4:09.775, was just fractionally behind the Italians and the final lap was a crescendo of excitement, with the outcome uncertain right until the end.

 In the ride off for third and fourth place, the Russian team, with a time of 4.13.86 was too fast for Great Britain, who finished with a 4:15.883. 

Result:

 1. Italy 4:09.330
beat 
2. Ukriane 4:09.775

 3. Russia 4:13.861
beat 
4. Britain 4:15.833

 Men's 30km points race

 Micheal Sandstod of Denmark surprised the field with a late attack to win the men's points race on the evening of the second day of racing. 

A pursuiter by nature, Sanstod is able to cover 4000m in under four and a half minutes. He knew he had the legs to out-ride the pack and gain a vital one-lap advantage. Just fifteen laps from the end of the race he made his move. But after powering away in pursuit of the tail of the 25 riders pack, the blonde Dane was made to suffer as the pack fought to stay clear of him. It became a race of attrition: the audacious Sanstod against a star-studded pack led by World Champion, Silvio Martinello. For a while it looked as if Sanstod had run out of steam, but into the final two kilometres of the race he seemed to take heart, and just three laps - 750m - from the finish, the brave Stanstod caught the slipstream of the long line of riders and the race was his.

 Before Sandstod's attack, world points race champion Silvio Martinello had been dominating the race. He had scored 23 points and was in every dangerous move. He and nine other riders had gained a lap early on. But in a lapse of concentration, Martinello missed Sanstod's move and with the pack tired from a fast race (49.091km/h), there was nobody willing to join him in a serious chase.

 Sanstod had read his opponents well, his brilliant win was the stuff of a classic points race.

 Result: 

1. Micheal Sandstod (Den) 11 points 
2. Silvio Martinello (Ita) -1 lap 23 points 
3. Bruno Risi (Sui) -1 lap 18 points 
4. Francis Moreau (Fra) -1 lap 14 points 
5. Koji Yoshi (Jap) -1 lap 9 points 

Sunday's Racing Preview

Source: Stephen Farrand

Germany's Jens Lehmann won the men's individual 4000m pursuit, while Hervè Thuet riding for France won the men's kilometre time trial.

 Thanks to points gained in the kilo and also the pursuit, France now leads the partial world cup standings with 19 points. Second is Germany with 13 points, with Spain and Austria equal third with 11 points. 

Several of the world champions seen in great form last week in Berlin are absent at Hyeres, because they have already qualified for the world championships in August. However there was still some great riding and the competition was as fierce as ever.

 The men's and women's sprint qualifications were thrilling as usual, with fast times for the 200 metre qualifying time trials and then some close sprinting on the tight 250 metre wooden track. 

World champion Felicia Ballanger (FRA) showed she will be favourite for the women's event, while for the men, Sean Eadie of Australia was the fastest in qualification with 10.503 seconds for 200 metres. 

Event Reports

 Jens Lehmann of Germany won the first event of the Hyeres world cup meet, when he took the men's pursuit. Lehmann, amateur world champion in 1991 and third in the open world championship in 1994, easily beat Olympic champion Andrea Collinelli of Italy. 

Lehmann set a time of 4:36.621 compared to Collinelli's 4:38.152. The expereinced German was always leading as the laps counted down and every time the Italian tried to up the pace and reduce the gap, he upped his pace as well, and eventually cruised to victory. 

In the ride -off for third and fourth place, a smooth pedaling Alexei Markov of Russia beat Philippe Ermanault of France. Incredibly Markov set a time of 4:30.681, was much faster than both Lehmann and Collinelli. However Markov only set the third fastest time in qualifying (4:29.451) and so did not ride in the final for first and second place. Ermanault did not push it as hard as Markov and set a time of 4:32.462. 

Result: 

1. Jens Lehmann (Ger) 4:36.621
beat 
2. Andrea Collinelli (Ita) 4:38.152

 3. Alexei Markov (Rus) 4:30.681
beat 
4. Philippe Ermanault (Fra) 4:32.152

 Men's 1 Kilometre Time Trial

 As the sun set over the edge of the track and headed towards the horizon of the Mediterranean, the "Kilo" riders came on the track for the race of power and pain against time. 

Fastest was Frenchman Hervè Thuet with a time of 1:04.048. Thuet had not ridden in the other rounds of the track world cup and is not the best French Kilo rider, but he was still far too fast for his rivals. In fact second placed Narihiro Inamura of Japan was more than a second slower, in 1:05.645, and Craig Mclean of Great Britain was third in 1:05.742. 

Result. 

1. Hervè Thuet (FRA) 1:04.048 
2. Narihiro Inamura (JPN) 1:05.645 
3. Craig Maclean (GBR) 1:05.742 
4. Sky Christopherson (USA) 1:06.008 
5. Christian Meidlinger (AUT) 1:6.283 

In the team pursuit, Italy have the strongest team with their double world champion and world record team of Mario Benetton, Adler Capelli, Cristiano Citton and Andrea Collinelli. France will probably be against them in the final, while Germany, Russia and Great Britain also have a chance. 

Source: Stephen Farrand