September 2/15 12:01 pm - Pan Am Track Championships: Day 1

Posted by Editoress on 09/2/15
 

Canada had a stellar opening day on Wednesday in Chile, at the 2015 UCI Pan-American Championships, an important Olympic qualifier. The team won four medals: three silver medals and one bronze medal.

The Canadian Men's Team Pursuit squad, comprised of Remi Pelletier-Roy, Ed Veal, Sean MacKinnon and Aidan Caves, qualified with the second fastest time in the morning session (4:06.198), behind Colombia (4:04.860). In the evening medal session, racing for the gold medal against Colombia, Canada posted a time of 4:04.029, lowering the Canadian record in the process.

After the race, veteran Ed Veal was thrilled with the team and the result: "Insanely proud moment here in Chile. It takes total trust and commitment to do what we did out there on the boards tonight. I love these guys!! That ride was insane!!"

Veal went on to add: "Thank you to everyone who has helped along the way. Thank you to all the wonderful Team Canada coaches and staff. This men's track endurance program has come so far in such a short period, and I'm so thankful to be a part of it."

The previous Men Team Pursuit record was 4:05.503, set at the UCI Track World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2014.

In the women's 10km Scratch Race, Allison Beveridge took the silver medal in a nail-biting finish. Canada had Beveridge and Steph Roorda in the race. Argentina attacked immediately, gaining half a lap before Cuba, USA, and Canada, working together, chased it down. There was a flurry of small attacks from all teams, but it seemed everyone was happy to keep it together for a sprint.

However, Argentina went on the attack again with ten laps to go, gaining almost half a lap with five laps remaining before Steph Roorda, with Allison Beveridge in tow, went after her. The Argentina rider was caught by Roorda with two laps to go as USA's Jennifer Valente made her move over the top to take the front.  Beveridge managed to maneuver her way onto Valente's wheel, but the American hung on for the win by half a bike length.

In Sprint competition, Canada had teams competing in both the men and women's Team Sprint events. The men qualified with a time of 44.305s and raced for the gold medal against Venezuela. The team, represented by Hugo Barrette, Joe Veloce and Evan Carey, ultimately ended with the silver medal.

In the women's Team Sprint, the Pan Am Games champions Monique Sullivan and Kate O'Brien lined up for Canada. Canada earned the bronze medal, behind Mexico and Colombia.

Report by Cycling Canada

Results from the first day of track racing in Chile

Women Scratch Race
1 Jennifer Valente (USA)
2 Alison Beveridge (Canada)
3 Arlenis Sierra (Cuba)

12 Stephanie Roorda (Canada)