May 28, 2007 (Valencia, Venezuela) — Canada finished 7th in the final medal count for the Pan Am Championships with four medals. Colombia took the lion’s share of the championships winning an impressive six gold medals, four silver and four bronze. Consistent track performer Cuba also took home 14 medals but less gold than either Colombia or the United States.

Canada’s top result came from Martin Gilbert’s impressive victory in the men’s road race perhaps something of a surprise given that Gilbert was initially named to the road team as an alternate! Gilbert’s success was bolstered by a breakthrough silver medal for Zach Bell in the time trial and the bronze medals won the Team Sprint squad, and Gina Grain in the women’s road race.

Gilbert’s win is believed to the first road race victory for Canada at the Pan Am championships according the CCA high performance director, Kris Westwood. “It was more important for us to win here than at the upcoming Pan Am Games in July (July 13-29). Those Games are not an Olympic qualifying event,” said Westwood.

For Gilbert the win was an important confidence booster after what he felt were lackluster performances this week on the track, and he hopes that the win puts him in greater consideration for selection for future road projects.

Gilbert’s sentiments may well have been shared by Gina Grain and Zach Bell, both of whom reached the podium in road events after not quite meeting their objectives in their respective track events.

Near misses don’t come any closer than for Bell. In the men’s points race he finishe in a tie with the eventual bronze medalist Carlos Hernandez from Mexico. When riders tie for points in a points race officials use the order across the line on the final sprint to break the deadlock, and unfortunately for Bell he was beaten by Hernandez in the final sprint.

The week also contained a number of other close calls with the podium for the Canadian contingent, as Cam Mackinnon was narrowly defeated in the bronze medal round of the match sprints to finish 4th, and David Veilleux finished 4th in the U23 road race (held in conjunction with the elite race) in the front group and on the same time as the bronze medalist.

In other action Canada’s Monique Sullivan performed well finishing 5th in both of her sprint events while the Madison team of Gilbert and Ryan McKenzie was also fifth.

Nation Gold, Silver, Bronze

1. Columbia 6, 4, 4
2. United States 6, 3, 1
3. Cuba 5, 4, 5
4. Venezuela 3, 7, 2
5. Chile 1, 3, 1
6. Mexico 1, 2, 4
7. Canada 1, 1, 2
8. Dominican Republic 0, 0, 2
9. Brazil 0, 0, 1
10. Argentina 0, 0, 1