London 2012: Clancy bags unexpected bronze

Great Britain's Ed Clancy celebrates with his bronze medal on the podium after the men's omnium event. Photo credit: Tim Ireland/PA wire.

Sunday, August 5, 2012
7:52 PM

Olympic cycling: Britain take omnium medal

Ed Clancy claimed bronze in the men’s omnium as Great Britain missed out on Olympic gold for just a second time at the London 2012 velodrome, with Denmark’s Lasse Hansen taking the title.

On a day when Jason Kenny and Victoria Pendleton made serene progress in the men’s and women’s sprint competitions, Olympic team pursuit champion Clancy settled for third, but hailed the crowd after rising from fifth place with one discipline to go in the six-discipline event.

Clancy, the 2010 world omnium champion, won two of the events and finished second in a third, but ultimately fell short of the title due to two disappointing displays in the bunch races.

Hansen of Denmark triumphed with 27 points, Bryan Coquard of France was second on 29 and Clancy finished with 30, while world champion Glenn O’Shea of Australia was fifth on 34.

Clancy said: “I wasn’t expecting a medal (entering the final event, the one-kilometre time-trial).

“All those guys on 25 points (three riders were level entering the final event) have all done good kilos in the past.

“I thought it would be fourth place and a bit of disappointment.

“That’s why I was so happy to get a medal in the end.

“When I think about the big picture, looking back on this, it will be awesome.”