GB knocked out

Teenager shines - but Sweden and Poland make final

Last updated: 17th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

GB knocked out

Woffinden: nine-point haul

World Cup race-off:
Sweden 53 points
Poland 50
Great Britain 36
Russia 17

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Great Britain have been knocked out of the World Cup after coming third in Thursday's race-off in Vojens, Denmark.

Sweden and Poland will therefore join Australia and the host nation in Saturday's final, the former taking the win on the evening with 53 points to 50.

Great Britain finished third with 36 points, ahead of Russia on 17.

The Poles had the edge early on, but Sweden came back into it as the 25-heat marathon progressed - with both nations pulling steadily clear of Great Britain.

Team manager Jim Lynch played Great Britain's joker in heat 15 but, much like in round two on Monday evening, the move backfired when Scott Nicholls could only finish third.

With a seven-point deficit to second place existing with seven heats remaining, Great Britain needed heat wins and fast if they were to claw their way back.

Desperate situation

However, Edward Kennett went pointless in heat 19 and, although Nicholls finished second next time out, the situation was becoming increasingly desperate.

Heat 21 saw Lee Richardson taken out by Grigory Laguta - the Russian being excluded. However, despite taking the re-start, Richardson could only finish a distant third behind Fredrik Lindgren and Wieslaw Jagus.

Having briefly led heat 22, teenager Tai Woffinden eventually finished second behind Daniel Nermark but ahead of Poland's Denis Gizatullin to pull two points back.

But, still seven points behind with three heats left - and with Poland playing their joker in heat 23 - it was by now too late.

In spite of their failure to win a heat, Great Britain's performance was still arguably better than that given in Coventry at the start of the week.

Woffinden in particular was impressive, the 17-year-old bringing home nine points from five rides on his World Cup debut.

He later told Sky Sports: "It was great for my first time...maybe next year if I get in it'll be even better."

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