Team CSC-Saxo Bank rider Brad McGee (Australia) fell short in his bid to qualify in the men’s individual pursuit in Friday’s qualifying rounds at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. McGee is a three-time medalist in the four-kilometer event, but had never won Gold. He qualified ninth, just two seconds short of finishing among the top-eight to move onto the next phase of competition.
“That wasn’t the Brad McGee that I expected to see,“ he said afterward. “I came in with a good mindset but I just couldn’t make it. At 32, I thought I had good preparation, but maybe it just doesn’t work out anymore.“
McGee will still have a shot at a medal as he takes part in the men’s Team Pursuit competition beginning on Sunday. Four-man teams ride off against each other in qualifying rounds to make it into the final-four slots for a medal. If McGee medals in Beijing, he will become just the third track cyclist in Olympic Games history to win medals in four different Olympic Games.

Team CSC Saxo Bank scored a coup when it signed British prospect Jonathan Bellis to join the team for the upcoming Tour of Britain. Bellis, 20, is currently competing in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. “We’ve had our eye on Jonathan for ages. He’s already had several interesting results before winning bronze in the under 23 World Championships, at the tender age of 19,“ said sport director Scott Sunderland. “During the training camp we got to know him a bit better and we’re positive he’ll fit right in with the other members of the team.“

Carlos Sastre received the honor of the No. 1 start bib for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana, which begins Aug. 30 in Granada with the team time trial. Sastre raced to second overall in last year’s Vuelta and receives the top start number because defending Vuelta champion Denis Menchov isn’t starting. Sastre, who won last month’s Tour de France, will lead a strong Team CSC-Saxo Bank squad in the three-week Spanish tour.

Alexsandr Kolobnev fine-tuned his Olympic Games preparation with a fine second place in Saturday’s Clásica San Sebastián in Spain. The Team CSC-Saxo Bank rider was out-sprinted by Alejandro Valverde in the one-day classic while Davide Rebellin took third. Kolobnev, who took silver in last year’s world road cycling championships, will use the good form as he heads to competition in China this week for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Matti Breschel will stay in a Team CSC-Saxo Bank uniform for two more years. The 23-year-old Danish sprinter, who’s currently ripping up the Tour of Denmark, has signed a contract extension through the 2010 season with CSC-Saxo Bank. Breschel, who’s currently leading the Danish tour, has scored four victories during this season.