April 13/24 8:02 am - Canada Opens Milton Nations Cup with Two Medals

Posted by Editoress on 04/13/24
 

Team Canada began the final round of the Nations Cup on their home track in Milton, Ontario, by winning the first gold medal of the event, with Dylan Bibic taking the men's Elimination Race. The men's Team Sprint squad also made it onto the podium, setting a new national record on their way to the bronze medal, solidifying their hold on an Olympic spot for Paris in the process.







As winner of the elimination race at the first Track Nations Cup in Adelaide, Bibic was looking for glory in front of the Canadian crowd.While the race was expected to be a showdown similar to Adelaide, with Italian Elia Viviani, Viviani bowed out early. Bibic finished just ahead of Shunsuke Imamura (Japan) and Mark Stewart (Great Britain), who took silver and bronze respectively. "This is my third year in Milton, Canada, at the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup and my first time getting a medal so it is an amazing feeling to win in front of a home crowd."

For the men's Team Sprint, the Canadian team of Ryan Dodyk, James Hedgecock and Tyler Rorke had just one mission: to qualify for the Olympics. They ended the evening with a bronze medal around their necks after a last lap come-from-behind effort against Italy by Hedgcock. World champions the Netherlands took gold ahead of Great Britain.







"It was our last chance, really," commented Rorke, referring to Olympic qualification for Paris. "We knew what we had to do, and we did it. We had the advantage of being supported by the home crowd. We ride on this track every day, so we know it well," added Hedgecock.

Canada also took three fourth places. The two women's teams in the Team Pursuit and Team Sprint both made the medal round, competing in the bronze Final. Kelsey Mitchell, Lauriane Genest and Sarah Orban (with Jackie Boyle substituting for Genest in the medal ride) initially qualified in second place before finishing fourth in the first round. They lost the bronze medal to Poland. The Netherlands took top honors, followed by Mexico with silver. The Pursuit team of Erin Attwell, Ariane Bonhomme, Maggie Coles-Lyster and Sarah van Dam faced France in the bronze Final, with Great-Britain taking gold and Italy silver. The women's Canada B team finished thirteenth.

Sarah Van Dan continued her fine form in the Elimination race, securing fourth place after a hard-fought battle, with Jennifer Valente (USA) taking gold, Letizia Paternoster (ITA) silver (after a relegation in the final ride with Valente) and Anita Yvonne Senberg (NOR) bronze. The men's Team Pursuit teams finished seventh (Canada A) and ninth (Canada B).

Results

AM Session Photos by Ivan Rupes

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