Hi there, I'm Ross Edgar! I am a British Track Cyclist who rides in the Sprint and Keirin disciplines.
Join me through the highs and lows in the 2008 Track season, which includes two very important events for me, the Track World Championships in Manchester, and of course, the Beijing Olympics.
Nobody expects me to medal, but they would be making a mistake to completely overlook me as it has never been so tight at the top of the Track Cycling tree!
I would say that the Keirin is my strongest discipline, particularly after taking Bronze in the 2007 World Championships at Mallorca when my main role was aiding Chris Hoy to the Gold, which he managed to achieve. You can see me in action during the Semi final of that event here, proving that you should never discount me:
While other people - even professional road cyclists, have been spen ding Christmas and New Year eating and doing little training, I have been hard at work. Living near Manchester Velodrome is great because it really is the best velodrome in the world and so useful to use as a training facility.
My season starts tomorrow at the Revolution #19 event where three Dutchment: Theo Bos, Tim Veldt and Teun Mulder, have come to Manchester to take on the Brits in the Sprint and the Keirin.
And I guess I was just more rusty than I had thought, Veldt was too strong for me. I was unable to get him in front of me in the first leg, I thought I might be able to hold him off but no, he flew past.
I was then looking to catch Veldt out in the 2nd leg, but it turned out pretty bad
Elsewhere, the crowd went mental when Chris Hoy beat Theo Bos in a gripping contest, and I guess it is some consolation that Veldt went on to win the event, beating Jamie Staff in the final.
I will look to avenge my defeat later tonight in the Keirin
In this Revolution Keirin, there are 2 semi finals with 2 rounds in each, the best 3 in each go to the 2 round-final. I was drawn with Theo Bos, Teun Mulder and 3 British youngsters: David Danniell, Josh Hargreaves and Matt Crampton.
I was seen to show the crowd what Ive got in the first leg and really went for it. The risk paid off and I took a comfortable win ahead of Teun Mulder, with Bos in 3rd.
Knowing that I was almost certainly going to be in the final now, I held back a little in the 2nd round. I pushed Theo Bos out wide so he could not halt a great win for David Danniell.
This eliminated Bos as myself, Danniell and Mulder will advance.
Chris Hoy, Geraint Thomas and Tim Veldt will join us in the final.
To remind you of the final line-up, it is Me, Chris Hoy, David Danniell, Geraint Thomas and the 2 Ducthmen, Tim Veldt and Teun Mulder.
Round 1
Geraint Thomas led into the final lap of Round 1 of the Keirin, Ive still got some work to do in 5th place
I got myself back up to 4th at the start of the back straight, alongside Chris Hoy with Veldt moving into the lead.
Now into the final turn I am alongside Veldt!
It was my chance to get my own back on Veldt but at this early stage of the season, my legs are still not quite there and I couldnt get through. David Danniell seems to be in the form of his life as he took 2nd
Round 2
Chris Hoy knows that his form isnt quite there yet and we came up with a plan to try and beat the Dutch - he would lead me out. It looked good, but the Dutch had the same idea with Veldt leading out Mulder.
The Dutch took control and Hoy faded, I had to go around the outside to get past the Dutch
Final turn and it was very close between myself and Mulder
But Mulder had the inside line and that was all he needed
To the great disappointment of the Crowd, the Dutch have really showed some style here as they win the Keirin as well as the Sprint
im looking forward to this!
