Stewart to have lasting memories from first Manchester World Cup
BySportsbeat
Published 16/11/2017 at 15:49 GMT
Mark Stewart will look back on the TISSOT UCI Track World Cup in Manchester with mixed emotions - and the physical scars to show for it.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
The opportunity to compete at world-level on home soil is a rare opportunity for British cyclists, but it was one Stewart had been waiting for, for some time.
But his weekend of racing couldn't have got off to a worse start, crashing in the opening scratch race of the men's omnium when set for a top three finish.
But, in true British bulldog style, Stewart got back on his bike and pulled himself back into medal contention, finishing fifth in the tempo and third in the elimination race.
Midway through the final event, the points race, Stewart mounted a remarkable solo effort to pull himself to within a whisker of the medals, but in the end he missed out on the goods.
However, despite his initial despair, Stewart insists he can look back on his efforts with pride.
"After that crash, I was so disappointed. I felt really good in that scratch and I know I would have got a top three.
"But that is bike racing, these things happen, so it was just a case of controlling the emotions and moving onto the next race.
"I'm proud of how I got back into it. To go from 17th to fifth just shows what I can do.
"I think if it had all gone well, I've no doubt I would have been on that podium."
There was no rest for the 22-year-old however as he returned to the boards on Sunday for the Madison, alongside Chris Latham.
The British duo finished sixth and Stewart insists he won't be forgetting his Manchester experience anytime soon.
"We can take a lot of positives from that performance, racing alongside the best guys in the world," he said.
"We went in with not much expectation as such, but we just wanted to be part of the race and if our legs lasted until the end then that would be a bonus.
"I felt that we were in a good place during the early stages. We had a lot of right moves and I don't think we did much wrong.
"We lacked physically, and I think after a whole-day omnium and my crash on Saturday, it took it out of me.
"I have absolutely loved competing in Manchester. I didn't know what to expect but it definitely delivered."
Sportsbeat 2017
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement