Two years ago, the International Cycling Union decided that the individual pursuit would not be run at the 2012 Summer Games. It will instead be included as part of a two-day, six-race compilation known as the omnium. The reasons behind the decision were to give men and women the same number of events and to strike a better balance between sprint and endurance races. But for Hammer, the effect radically changes her approach to the Games.
“My training has changed a lot since four years ago. I got back in the gym a lot heavier than I was before, just to try to build that strength up for the sprint disciplines,” Hammer said. “The one I have to work on the most is the last event, which is the 500-meter time trial. It’s from a standstill, only two laps, 500 meters. And for me getting off the line is something that I really have to work on, because I’ve been more of an endurance rider for so many years.”
Indeed, she’s been America’s top endurance rider since 2006 when she won the first of four world titles in the individual pursuit. Her world record in that event (3 minutes, 22.269 seconds) has stood since 2010. After a successful junior career, she walked away from the sport in 2003, but watching her former teammates and competitors in the 2004 Games renewed her sense of motivation.
Fans describe track cycling as the best of a six-hour road race boiled down to a thrilling few minutes, or seconds, when it comes to the sprint events. The bikes have no brakes or gears and the riders will sail into the 42-degree banked corners of the Olympic Velodrome at speeds of 40 mph. In London, the home team is expected to be one of the top medal contenders in track cycling and the brand-new Olympic venue is one of the fastest tracks in the world. Hammer already has a sense of the track’s speed after winning the omnium in a World Cup race held there in February. The Olympic omnium began today, and Hammer is tied with Great Britain’s Laura Trott for first place after the first day. Hammer already has a medal in hand in London, winning a silver in the women’s team pursuit.
