– It was chaotic. I completely lost track of who was in front and behind, who took and lost laps, says Anita Stenberg to news. Before the last and decisive part of the omnium competition, the Norwegian track cyclist was number six in the summary. However, she had the opportunity to fight for a medal with a perfect points race. There, points were awarded to the first four who passed the sprint line every ten laps. In addition, it was possible to catch up in the points summary by catching up with the field by a full lap. And that’s exactly what happened early in the points race. Anita Stenberg was close to a medal place in the Olympic competition, but was caught at the end. Photo: NTB Then Irish Lara Gillespie moved from the main field. Stenberg reacted lightning fast and lunged, and the two got a big gap. It gave double payoff. First, Stenberg got five points for being first to pass with 50 laps to go. Then the two breakaways managed to catch up to the main field, which gave another 20 points. Suddenly Stenberg was in the medal position. – Now I got chills, said Max’s expert commentator Pernille Feldmann. FOUR EXERCISES: Anita Yvonne Stenberg has a medal from the EC in omnium earlier this year. Photo: NTB At this point, Stenberg thought she had a chance to win the medal. – I had watched many previous points races, and if you get more than 20 points, you tend to climb high and not far down, says Stenberg. Because the drama wasn’t over. Soon after, a new group of riders broke free and reclaimed the main field with one lap. They got so many points that Stenberg was once again pushed out of the medal place. Anita Yvonne Stenberg Norwegian track cyclist participating in the Paris Olympics 2024. Born: 28 August 1991 Club: IK Hero Merits: European Championship gold Omnium 2024, WC bronze points race 2024, 5th place Olympic Omnium in 2021 Source: anitastenberg.com In the last part of the race, several of Stenberg’s competitors managed to secure the points required to pass. The 31-year-old did not have the strength to make another move in the last, rich rounds. And finally Stenberg fell to 8th place in the summary. She admits that it was quite chaotic to ride the last of the 80 laps. – I didn’t have a chance to look at the board or get my bearings. There was so much going on with the ups and downs. Then you have to follow what’s happening in front of you, so you don’t overlap any wheels, he says. HAPPY: American Jennifer Valente avoided an accident and secured her second Olympic gold in the omnium. Photo: AFP Jennifer Valente from the USA defended the gold from the Tokyo Olympics and won. Little brother: – Very cool! EXCITED: Andreas and Per Stenberg followed Anita from the stands in Paris. Stenberg’s family sat in the stands. They didn’t get to watch when she took fifth place in the pandemic games in Tokyo, and really appreciated being present this time. – It was very cool to see her cycling. I hope she is satisfied with her own efforts and has done her best. Then there is not much more than can be done, says younger brother Andreas to news. First exercise: Was locked in Sunday started with the scratch exercise, a joint start over 30 laps. Stenberg took an early lead, but then had a relatively calm journey where she was able to conserve energy along the way. With three laps to go, Stenberg moved to the front. The speed increased, but in the intense final seconds several athletes came up the side and passed the Norwegian woman. As a result, she was partly blocked in the last round. – I think she took that front a little too early and was swallowed up. But eighth place is not a crisis. She is still involved, said Max’s expert commentator Pernille Feldmann. GREAT SPEED: Anita Stenberg cycles four competitions during the day in the multi-sport omnium. Photo: NTB Second exercise: Irish outsider moved In the second exercise, the time trial, things didn’t quite go Stenberg’s way either. Here, one point was awarded to whoever was first each time the riders crossed the finish line. There were also 20 points to be gained from catching up to the main field with one lap. Irish Lara Gillespie from Ireland managed just this. She moved early, leading the field by one lap and securing the points that saw her win the event. Stenberg never got into any of the decisive blows, and was poorly paid for the powers she used along the way. She came twelfth in the exercise. – She looked very tired at the end there, unfortunately, summed up Max’s expert commentator Pernille Feldmann. Third exercise: Succeeded with millimeter tactics – Either she’s freezing cold, or she’s not in top form. She scares us every round, said news commentator Ole Stoltenberg during the elimination race. In this exercise, a large field starts, but every other lap the rearmost rider is picked out of the competition. Along the way, Anita Stenberg was at the back of the field the entire race. But time after time she avoided being eliminated by sneaking past one of the competitors just before the finish line. Stenberg’s tactics worked until five riders remained. Then she couldn’t get past any of the other four women and ran out. Fifth place was her best of the day. Published 11.08.2024, at 11.18 Updated 11.08.2024, at 15.09
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Anita Yvonne Stenberg in omnium in track cycling – Olympics Paris 2024
