Action at Day 3’s UCI Track World Championships was hotter than the 30 degree inside temperature at the Chris Hoy Velodrome. The day highlighted the world’s best track athletes with Canada competing in both the men’s and women’s team Pursuit, men B 1 km time trial and the women’s scratch race.
The women’s team pursuit qualifier started the day off with Canada’s Erin Attwell, Maggie Coles-Lyster, Ariane Bonhomme and Sarah van Dam entering the day looking to better last year’s 7th place qualifying result and put in a sub 4:15 time. Right from the start, the squad struggled to get up to speed and had to settle for 8th place, in a time of 4:19:208. They squeaked into the next round and will get another crack at bettering their time and to move up the standings Saturday.
The men’s team Pursuit entered Friday’s first round in sixth place, one place higher than expected after Great Britain got a DNF after a crash in the last 40 m of Friday’s qualifier. It was a big improvement over last year’s world championships ride where they placed 11th and did not qualify through to the first round.
For Friday’s ride, the team added first year elite Carson Mattern to the line-up joining Derek Gee, Michael Foley and Mathias Guillemettte. The foursome rode a solid, disciplined race to beat their German opponents and solidified their sixth place. This result will help Canada qualify for the Paris Olympics as these world championships is one of the qualifying events.
Another unique aspect of this year’s Track World Championships is that it is mandatory for National Federations to have at least one rider compete in the clothing and equipment they will be using at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This is the first time the Track World Championships have combined para with thee elite races and by the enthusiasm shown by the near sell-out crowd for the para races, it has been a huge success. The addition of so many athletes has presented many logistical challenges for the organizing committee forcing changes like multiple warm-up areas and podiums being done outside of the infield in a separate location. Canada’s Lowell Taylor and Ed Veal placed a respectable 16th in the men B 1 km TT qualifier but did not move through to the finals.
Maggie Coles-Lyster was Canada’s final rider of the day taking the start in the scratch race. The former junior world champion was in a good position at the end but had to settle for eighth.. Olympic omnium…
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