CANADA WINS SECOND BRONZE MEDAL AT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

CANADA WINS SECOND BRONZE MEDAL AT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Ottawa, ON – February 21, 2015) Canada took its second medal of the Track Cycling World Championships on Saturday, in St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, when Allison Beveridge won the bronze medal in the women’s Scratch Race.

 Beveridge, who was a member of Canada’s bronze medal Team Pursuit squad on Wednesday, came back from a mid-race crash to win bronze.  Initially, Beveridge finished fourth, but moved up to third after the French rider, Pascale Jeuland, was relegated for an improper move.  Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) took gold and Amy Cure (Australia) silver.

“It was definitely up and down,” agreed Beveridge.  “I felt a bit frustrated after my crash, and then to come fourth was really frustrating.  So to end up with the bronze was really exciting and a good way to end off the world championships.  I first heard that I had won the bronze medal from the announcer and the crowd booing when the French girl was relegated, but when they came over to get me for the podium I knew for sure.”

Canada also had two men in the Sprint competition – Joseph Veloce and Hugo Barrette.  Veloce, the Canadian national sprint champion, qualified 24th with a personal best time of 9.992 seconds for the Fly 200 metre time trial, but was knocked out of competition in the first heat.  Barrette finished 26th in the qualifying time trial and did not move on to the sprint competition.

“It was definitely a bittersweet day,” said Veloce. “I’m happy with my qualifier – the first tie under ten seconds at sea level – but I ended up having to race the fastest guy and he caught me flat footed, so that was it for my day.  I had some forced time off after a bad crash in 2013, but I’m happy with my progression in the last three months, as I keep getting faster.  Now I’m looking forward to racing at home in Toronto.”

Canada has one athlete racing on Sunday, the final day of competition, with Monique Sullivan competing in the women’s Keirin.

Text courtesy of Rob Jones/Canadian Cyclist