American Taylor Phinney held his head high as he rolled off the wooden track at Beijing’s Laoshan velodrome. The American’s quest for an Olympic medal had just fizzled in the semi finals of the men’s Individual Pursuit, as Phinney fell to New Zealander Hayden Roulston. Above the American, his parents — cycling greats Connie Carpenter and Davis Phinney — chanted “We love you buddy!” as Phinney stepped off his bike to end his whirlwind 2007-08 season.

After a warm down and a costume change, Phinney was ready to meet the press. As he has done throughout the season, the 18-year-old maintained he found optimism in defeat.

“I’m just stoked to be here at the Olympics — I thought I’d be watching them at home on TV,” Phinney said. “This year has been such a total blur — let's try this, let's try that. I just now feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it. By the time 2012 rolls around, I’m going to have everything dialed.”

Indeed Phinney’s dream season began just 10 months ago at the 2007 USA Cycling track national championships in Carson, California, where he won his first-ever pursuit to take the title. With his world-class genetics, strong work ethic and affinity for cycling, Phinney enjoyed a rocket-like progression. In just 10 short months he tasted World Cup gold, competed in the world championships and asserted himself as the United States’ best junior rider in any discipline.

Beijing Olympic Track: Taylor Phinney on Saturday.

Photo: Graham Watson

And he did so in the Pursuit, an event that rewards a monastic commitment to training and preparation, savvy racing tactics and an iron will.

“[World Record Holder] Chris Boardman says if you get halfway through a pursuit and you feel like you can go faster, you’ve started out too slow,” Phinney said philosophically. “If you feel like you’re going to die, you’ve started too fast. If you feel like you can maybe hold on, it’s perfect.”

The dream season brought Phinney to the Olympics, and nearly advanced him to the medal rounds. Phinney qualified seventh in Friday’s opening round, meaning he’d face second-fastest qualifier Roulston, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong on the Discovery Channel team.

Phinney started strong in his qualifying race, matching Roulston for the first 1000 meters of the 4km race. But the American lost between two and three seconds each 1000 meters, finishing a distant 4:26.644 to the Kiwi’s 4:19.232. After his ride, Phinney appeared completely drained.

“At the halfway point I was wishing I only had 1000 meters to go,” Phinney said. “It hurt. I’ve been training for 3km pursuits a lot this year and just four extra laps makes such a difference. Even yesterday I blew up in the last 1k and it cost me time.”

After the finish, USA cycling’s performance director Pat McDonough said Phinney’s finish surpassed all expectations. Although he didn’t bring home a medal, the Olympic ride provided the youngster a first taste of the competition that may some day come to define his career.

“His goal was to make the second round, and he did,” McDonough said. “It’s a great Cinderella story, but the reality is that there were a bunch of pros lined up who weren’t interested in making that story happen. But with Taylor, we have time.”

Shortly after Phinney’s ride, the United States saw its chances at a medal in the women’s pursuit tumble as well, as Sarah Hammer lost her second-round heat to Alison Shanks of New Zealand. Hammer led the Kiwi for the opening 1000 meters of the 3km race. But in the final eight laps, the American appeared to lose her pedal stroke and form, and began bouncing on the seat. The Kiwi put .8 seconds on Hammer on the second 1000 meters, and nearly 1.5 seconds in the final four laps.

“[The bouncing] is what happens when your body just starts dying — she wasn’t wanting to ride like that, trust me,” said Hammer’s coach Andy Sparks. “As soon as she got out of the start her body was dumping lactic acid. If the body isn’t there, not much you can do.”

The loss came as a blow to Hammer, long regarded as the United States’ best shot at bringing home an Olympic medal. As the world champion in 2006 and 2007, Hammer had her sights set on gold. She also had the most pressure on her shoulders, as Hammer was a regular in the mainstream media in the lead up to the games.

“I’ll probably shed a couple of tears tonight — but I need to let it go and move forward,” Hammer said. “It wasn’t for a lack of trying, I can guarantee that. It just wasn’t my day.”

Hammer’s Olympics are not over — she still has Monday’s Points Race in her sights. In that event Hammer will have to square off against Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, who will be looking to grab a medal after being shutout in both the women’s road race and time trial road events. Hammer said she’s not ready to throw in the towel on Beijing just yet.

“I’m going to take some time for enjoyment. That’s been lacking,” Hammer said. “I haven’t really been having fun so far. Every time I’ve done well I’ve taken time to enjoy the moment.”

Race Notes

• American Bobby Lea started strong in the men’s Points Race. The Pennsylvanian sprung from the pack to take the opening five-point sprint, and then lapped the field to spring to an advantage of 25 points. But Lea paid for his early efforts shortly thereafter, and was dropped by the pack. After being lapped twice, Lea abandoned.
• American Giddeon Massie competed in the men’s Keirin, finishing fourth in the first round Repechage.
• McDonough said the day was far from a total disaster for the U.S. track team.
  “We’ll be fine. Track is an individual sport and our riders are back at the ranch doing what they need to do to be ready,” McDonough said. “Sarah will rebound. She’s done it before. And with Taylor we have a rider who represents the future.”