Guillemette elimination race runner-up in third round of the track Champions League

For the first time in the 2022 UCI Track Champions League, Canadians didn’t win a race. But in Saturday’s third round in St-Quentin-En-Yvelines, France, Mathias Guillemette was runner up in the elimination race, and Kelsey Mitchell–celebrating her 29th birthday–and Maggie Coles-Lyster both took third places. Sarah van Dam had a tough day, crashing out of the scratch.

Going into the third round in St-Quentin-En-Yvelines Kelsey Mitchell was second in the women’s sprint competition after winning the keirin last week in Berlin. Mathias Guillemette led the men’s endurance category. Sarah van Dam sat fourth and Maggie Coles-Lyster sixth in the women’s endurance.

The first Canadian on the boards was Kelsey Mitchell following the derny in the women’s keirin first round. Mitchell won Heat 2 to head to the finals.

WOmen’s Keirin Semi-finals Heat 2 : Kelsey Mitchell 🇨🇦 and Shanne Braspennincx 🇳🇱 are qualified! Happy birthday Kelsey!🎂#UCITCL #UCITrack pic.twitter.com/YrHISOaDSQ

— UCI Track Champions League (@UCITCL) November 26, 2022

In the women’s keirin final, Mitchell had some tough competition, including three Dutch riders, but she didn’t have to worry about sprint category leader Martha Bayona. Mitchell took Position 2 behind the derny. They all went hard as soon as the derny dropped off. It was Steffie van der Peet who raised her hand in victory, with Mitchell third.

Van Dam and Maggie Coles-Lyster were ready for the women’s scratch race, where Coles-Lyster placed fifth and van Dam came 11th last week in Berlin. Twenty laps awaited the 17 riders. The first attack from an American and an Italian was brought back. Brit Sophie Lewis lit out for glory at the midpoint of the race. Van Dam came together with Rachele Barbieri and crashed with three laps remaining. Coles-Lyster was fourth.

Dylan Bibic, who crashed out of Berlin’s scratch before winning the elimination, was with Guillemette in the men’s scratch. Bibic was clad in his scratch rainbow jersey. The Canadians attacked on the first lap but were brought to heel. The Spaniard Sebastian Mora attacked and held his lead until the end. Bibic came eighth and Guillemette lost his category lead by placing 14th.

Mitchell gathered herself for the women’s sprint first round. She was…