Kirkland (WA) cyclist advances with women’s pursuit team at Olympics

The USA Team Pursuit women passed through the qualifying round at the London Olympics on Friday, setting a world record in the process.

Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch & Jennie Reed

That record was soon surpassed by Great Britain’s team, however, as 8 teams advanced to the first round and finals scheduled Saturday at the Olympic Velodrome.

The US team of Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.), Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif.) and Jennie Reed (Kirkland) will compete against the Australian women’s pursuit team in the first round on Saturday.

If they survive that round, they’ll compete in the finals. After the qualifying round on Friday, the USA sat second overall.

Apparently Hammer put their efforts in jeopardy when she took her turn at the front and briefly dropped the others.

Of the three, much as has been written about Reed. She unintentionally entered the Olympic spotlight in Beijing four years ago when she and Hammer showed up at the airport wearing masks to filter the Chinese city’s notorious dirty air. The photo hacked off the Chinese, and the Americans signed an apology.

Reed was cycling in individual competitions at the 2008 Olympics and retired at the end of the year, devoting her time to college, coaching and married life.

Then Hammer called her in advance of the 2012 Olympics and asked her to join the women’s pursuit team, reports the Seattle Times in “Jennie Reed returns to Olympic track in pursuit of medal.”

Reed, 34, agreed, although it presented a challenge in changing riding styles. Her individual racers required fast-twitch sprinting, compared to the 3-kilometer team pursuit which is considered endurance. The women’s pursuit team has had success with Reed, winning a silver medal at the 2011 worlds last year. Great Britain won gold.

Meanwhile, the men’s Team Pursuit gold medal was won by Great Britain; Australia finished with silver and New Zealand captured bronze. The team, Edward Clancy, Steven Burke, Peter Kennaugh and Geraint Thomas, earned Great Britain’s second gold medal at the Velodrome.