October 27, 2018 (Milton, Ont.) – A packed house saw Team Canada take home silver and bronze medals on Day 3 of the Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Milton. Hugo Barrette from Iles-de-la-Madeleine, QC won stellar silver in the men’s Keirin while Allison Beveridge from Calgary, AB, and Stephanie Roorda from Vancouver, BC, raced to a bronze medal in the women’s Madison – a Canadian first at this level.

The tension mounted in men’s Keirin as Barrette advanced to the final amidst a world-class field winning his heat in the First Round and taking third in the Second Round.

The pace was quick from the gun and with more than a lap remaining a huge cheer erupted as Barrette attacked gaining a strong gap on the five chasers. As he round the final corner he was still leading but in the final sprint, Great Britain’s Jason Kenny, six-time Olympic champion, just passed him at the line. Matthijs Buchli (Beat Cycling Club) was third. Canuck, Joel Archambault from Ste-Christine, QC, finished 13th.

“I wanted to win and knew I could so I jumped from far out as I was on Kenny’s wheel and felt it was right moment to go,” said Barrette. “What a feeling to take silver at home against this world-class field. I could hear the crowd and that really motivated me. I hope to inspire the next generation as well as I’m just a regular guy working hard to realize my dreams.”

In the women’s Madison, Beveridge and Roorda raced well and were sitting third with five laps remaining. The duo know each other well and were in the medal hunt. In tight quarters they kept their cool to win the bronze, Canada’s first World Cup medal in the Madison, as Great Britain won gold and Denmark took the silver.

“It’s great to win a medal home and our first at a World Cup. We were in the medal hunt and sure there were some close calls and dark moments but we gave it our best and stayed calm. We’re so happy to finish with a medal for Canada,” said Roorda.

In the men’s Omnium, Canadian Michael Foley from Milton, ON, battled through two crashes in the Elimination round to finish with a top-10 result. Foley was 8th in the Scratch Race, 14th in the Tempo Race, 8th in the Elimination Race and 14th in the Points Race to finish 10th overall behind winner Benjamin Thomas from France.

“I’m pretty happy with 10th in this field and that was the goal as well,” commented Foley post-race, “I was lucky in the Elimination with the two crashes and was able to keep going but felt it in the Points Race. With two other Omnium riders on the team we’ll have to see about future competitions.”

Lauriane Genest from Levis, QC, qualified strong in ninth in the women’s Sprint but was eliminated in the 1/16th finals to finish 17th overall. Amelia Walsh from Ayr, ON qualified 34th and did not advance.

“The goal was a top 10 so I’m happy with 9th at my first World Cup,” said Genest. “The competition is higher here than the Pan Ams and Commonwealth Games. I wasn’t satisfied with my 1/16 final and it can always be faster. Now I will focus on tomorrow’s Keirin.”

Results here.