March 17, 2006 (Melbourne, Australia) -Travis Smith scored Canada’s first medal in the cycling program winning silver in the Keirin event at the Melbourne track today.

Crossing the line in third place after winner Ryan Bayley (Australia) and Ben Kersten (Australia), Smith was promoted to the silver medal position after Kersten was disqualified for cutting into fellow Australian Shane Kelly’s line in the final 200m.

Ross Edgar (Scotland), fourth finisher was also moved up one claiming the bronze medal.

“I was feeling good and I thought I was in for a medal,” Canada’s sprint specialist said. “I was really nervous beforehand, but that was only because I knew I had a chance. It worked out really well.”

The Commonwealth Games’ first ever Keirin provided plenty of action, but it was Australia who truly dominated. With their three riders all reaching the final, it almost looked like it could be an Australian whitewash.

Smith worked his way through to the final the hard way by finishing fourth in his first round heat and coming back through the repecharge. He was obviously in fine physical form however, as Kiwi Adam Stewart found out when the 86kg Canadian nudged his way out of a tight spot in their repecharge heat.

In the six-man final, Australian veteran Shane Kelly was leading with two laps to go. His team-mates who had been lingering at the rear launched their move. Kersten was on the wheel of Bayley but came over the top of Kelly too sharply and clashed pedals.

Smith had bided his time and unleashed his effort behind Kersten. Kelly raised his arm in protest and it only took a few minutes for previous evening’s Kilometre champion to be relegated to last place.

“I was patient and knew the two Aussies would go,” Smith said. “I got on Kertsen’s wheel and it obviously helped me that he chopped his own team-mate.”

Winner Bayley was rapt with his ride. “Once I hit the front on the back straight I was pretty confident I would win.”

“I just put my head down and nailed it,” he said. “It’s the first Keirin at the Commonwealth Games so I’m quite happy with that.”

Earlier on the women’s 25km points race was won by Australia’s Kate Bates ahead of teammate Rochelle Gilmore and Kate Cullen (Scotland). In an event dominated by the Australians, Canadians Gina Grain and Mandy Poitras rode an attacking race with Grain finishing in fourth, just one point behind the bronze medal position.

Bates was consistently led out for the sprints by at least one of her teammates and any escapes were rapidly chased down. Poitras won the race’s final sprint to put her at 12 points behind the Scot.

To make it three out of three gold medals for Australia on the night, Sean Finning won the men’s 40km points race. An average speed of 51km/h saw riders gain laps over the bunch almost at will.

Finishing with 137 points ahead of Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) on 119 points and Geraint Thomas (Wales) on 110 points, Finning said he was confident leading up to the race.

“I knew if I raced well I’d be in with a chance and it worked out well in the end,” he said.

Canadians Zach Bell and Martin Gilbert rode strongly finishing 8th and 17th respectively.