March 4, 2003 – B.C. cyclist Mandy Poitras has pretty much secured her spot at the World Track Cycling Championships in Melbourne, Australia with a very strong fourth place finish in the 20K Points Race in Moscow at the opening round of the 2004 World Cup.

Poitras, racing for the Tim Horton's Canadian National Team, won two sprints outright in the 60-lap race held in the Krylatskoye Velodrome, which was built for the 1980 Olympic Games. Poitras narrowly missed the bronze medal by one point and was in the bronze position going into the final sprint. The top four riders score points in each of 10 sprints contested every 2K. In the final sprint Poitras finished fifth just out of the points. She will now begin preparations for the second World Cup round in Mexico in mid March.

Congratulations Mandy, and good luck!