The TP team of Evan Burtnik, Bayley Simpson, Connor Byway, and John Willcox raced from the back straight against a Russian Team that clearly had been saving something in their qualifying ride. Focussed, the Canadians maintained their tough schedule and dropped 3 seconds from yesterday’s performance for a blistering 4:13.710. This maintained the 7th position and the first time ever a Junior Men’s team would ride more than once for final results. In the ride to decide 7th/8th, the Canadians again had a solid effort, but a Japanese team stoked about their women’s team bronze by 0.02 over a favoured Russian group, took the race.
The Junior Men’s Scratch Race was active right from the start. Attacks and counter attacks animated the race, yet the group never let the leash go to more than half a lap. First year junior Jordann Jones from Ontario conserved himself, and nimbly maintained good placement in the 40 lap race. An early crash shredded much of his skinsuit, but Jordann re-entered the race and took back his position. In the last 10 laps a spectacular sets of crashes repeatedly cleared the track. Jordann rode up and over, dodging danger after danger, and in the final sprint pulled past for 4th!
Stefan Ritter is the team’s only sprinter and today had his first Kierin experience outside of his local Juventus Cycling Club track. Stefan is another first year junior with loads of potential. He has only four months of exclusive sprint training and was out to learn about racing against more experienced specialists. His goal was to commit fully to any decision and begin building his arsenal of tactics. Stefan raced into the repechage, but clearly demonstrated his speed. He will race the 200 TT and look to qualify for Match Sprints later this week.
Katherine Maine will be doing the Women’s Omnium event the final two days of competition. She tested herself today in the 500 TT. As the first competitor, she set the standard with a 37.714. She finished in 19th position and is ready for the Omnium event later this week.
On the third day of competition, Anna Talman and Gillian Ellsay will begin with qualifiying in the Women’s Individual Pursuit. Bayley Simpson will represent Canada in the Omnium, Evan Burtnik and John Willcox will race the Kilo TT timed final, and Connor Byway will look to qualify for the Points Race final.