Mel Pemble earned Canada’s first gold medal at the 2022 Para Cycling track world championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France on Friday. Pemble’s win came in a dramatic sprint finish of the Women’s C3 Scratch race. It’s the 22-year-old’s first world championship title.
“This is so surreal,” Pemble said after receiving her rainbow jersey. “This is a goal I had maybe in two years’ time, maybe next year. For it to happen at my first World Championships, made it quite the day. I was really nervous today, so I’m glad it paid off.”
Pemble waited until the last moments of the scratch race to take victory. Starting the final lap, she sad third behind Aniek van den Aarssen of the Netherlands and the U.S.A.’s Clara Brown. Pemble timed her attack perfectly, passing the Dutch rider as they exited the final corner before the finish line. van der Aarssen held on for second with Brown finishing third.
WOWOWOW! Congratulations to Mel Pemble who just won 🥇 at the 2022 Para Cycling Track World Championships in the WC3 scratch race 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉@CyclingCanada @Canadian Tire Sports Analytics @cbcsports pic.twitter.com/MAsU45A52Y
— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) October 21, 2022
The win builds off of momentum Pemble started building on Thurday. The B.C. rider set a new world record in the 200-metre Sprint, the first event in the women’s C3 Omnium. She will now try defend her lead in that race over the next two days of events.
Aleandre Hayward was also in action for Canada on Friday. Hailing from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, and racing in his first-ever world championships, Hayward set a personal best time of 1:14.908 in the Men’s C3 Individual Pursuit to take fifth place.
Alexandre Hayward made his Para Cycling Track World Championship debut having only first started this event last month. Listen to him track side here: @CyclingCanada #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/0fg7cUHeiK
— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) October 21, 2022
Two days of competition remain at the 2022 para cycling track world championships. Racing in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France concludes on Sunday, Oct. 23. Full results and a live stream of racing are available through for both remaining race days.
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