4:41pm Wednesday 4th November 2009
Steve Burke didn’t expect to make such an important decision so early in his career.
But the 21-year-old Colne star has had the matter taken out of his hands by cycling’s world governing body and the International Olympic Committee.
Proposals under discussion include the scrapping of the men’s 4K and women’s 3K individual pursuits from the current track programme.
That event brought Lancastrian Burke a shock bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games last summer.
In its place would come the omnium, cycling’s answer to track and field’s multi event heptathlon.
Burke is no stranger to the omnium and completed the five discipline race at the 2008 World Championships in Manchester.
He was also entered for this year’s world championship omnium in Poland but withdrew before the start due to food poisoning.
However, it certainly wasn’t expected to take preference over the individual pursuit.
Fortunately for Burke, the team pursuit will be retained.
And that’s some good news after Burke helped the British quartet record record the second fastest time in history when winning gold at last weekend’s UCI World Cup in Manchester.
“If the individual pursuit doesn’t stay an Olympic event, then it’s the omnium really as well as the team pursuit,” he agreed.
“But that’s only if the omnium is after the team pursuit on the schedule.
“The pursuit will always be the first priority really to get the world record and then an Olympic gold.
“However, it’s exciting as I think I’m quite a good omnium rider as well really.”
The omnium is a mixture of sprint and endurance events. It starts with a 200 metres time trial followed by a 5K scratch race.
There’s also a 3K pursuit, 15K points race and a 1K time trial.
“I won the kilo in Manchester 2008 though the rest of the event didn’t go well,” he admitted.
“And I also won the individual kilo at the Nationals last week and was surprised to beat Ed Clancy and Dave Daniell.
“So, I know I’d have a decent chance but it’s not really in my hands.”
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