The Canadian National Cycling Team was off to a busy start at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, GBR, on Aug. 3 with events in mountain bike downhill, para-cycling track and track.
Canada Headed to Round 1 of the Men Elite Team Pursuit
Dylan Bibic of Mississauga, ON, Michael Foley of Milton, ON, Derek Gee of Ancaster, ON, and Mathias Guillemette of Trois-Rivières, QC, came sixth in the Men Elite Team Pursuit Qualifier, 4.364 seconds off top-finishing Denmark (3:46.816). Their efforts earned Canada a spot in tomorrow’s Round 1 against Germany.
Mathias Guillemette, Michael Foley, Derek Gee, Dylan Bibic
Photo Credit: Charlie Forgham-Bailey/SWpix.com
“I’m incredibly satisfied with this morning’s performance,” said Gee. “I think we rode a clean, well-executed ride with still some room for improvements going into the rounds. With only one team pursuit a day, we’re always going for our best possible time. The better you qualify, the better you’re set up for the next rides. Not only is riding more than once at competition always the goal, but to come top eight is crucial points for Olympic qualifying.”
Bibic also placed sixth in the Men Elite Scratch Race in defense of his 2022 World Champion title. He was unable to retain the top spot against a fierce field ultimately won by William Tidball (GBR).
The 2023 Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup Milton silver medal team – Lauriane Genest of Montreal, QC, Kelsey Mitchell of Sherwood Park, AB, and Sarah Orban of Calgary, AB – kept pace in the morning’s Women Elite Team Sprint Qualification, finishing a scant 1.276 seconds off leader Great Britain’s time of 46.072 for seventh. However, in Round 1 their time of 47.656 seconds fell short of the 45.988 laid down by Germany, who eventually went on to win the final.
In the Men Elite Team Sprint, James Hedgcock of Ancaster, ON, Tyler Rorke of Baden, ON, and Nick Wammes of Bothwell, ON, finished a mere 0.003 seconds shy of qualification. There will also be no Canadians moving forward from the Women Elite Individual Pursuit Qualifiers, despite commendable efforts including Maggie Coles-Lyster’s seventh-place finish.
Keely Shaw Locks In Chance for Gold
Keely Shaw of Midale, SK, was the only Canadian to make the top four in the Individual Pursuit Qualifiers held Aug. 2. She will race for the rainbow jersey in the Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit Finals against Emily Petricola (AUS) on Aug. 7
Keely Shaw
Photo Credit: Charlie Forgham-Bailey/SWpix.com
Downhill Kicks Off with Junior Qualifiers
Six Juniors who call British Columbia home successfully stamped their ticket to tomorrow’s downhill finals. Fernie’s Joy Attalla will be the sole women’s representative, while the men will be sending Tegan Cruz (Pemberton), Max Halchuck (Kelowna), Dane Jewett (Squamish), Bodhi Kuhn (Rossland) and Jon Mozell (North Vancouver).
odhi Kuhn
Photo Credit: Michal Cerveny/SWpix.com
Full results from the first day of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can be found here and detailed information about the event can be found here.