(Milton) Dylan Bibic almost added a second medal in as many days to his tally at the UCI Nations Cup in Milton, but he came just short of the grueling omnium.
At the end of the scratch, the tempo race, the elimination race and the points race at the Mattamy National Cycling Center, Bibic found himself at the foot of the podium, with 121 points.
It was the Briton Ethan Edward Hayter (163) who won gold, ahead of the Japanese Kazushige Kuboki (150) and the Frenchman Benjamin Thomas (143).
“There was no mathematical way to get a medal in the last 10 laps,” explained Bibic. I tried to chip away at points throughout the race, but I think their legs were fresher than mine. »
The Milton athlete admitted that his victory in the elimination race the day before may have cost him some energy, but he couldn’t use it as an excuse.
“I felt in qualifying that I was a little tired, a little sluggish. But I have no excuse: at the time of the race, I was full of caffeine and sugar, I was ready to give a good performance. »
After a lackluster scratch, Bibic gradually climbed the ranks. He found himself in sixth place after the tempo race, before moving up to fourth place after the elimination race. However, he was not able to improve his situation in the last race.
Bibic tried to give himself the opportunity to get on the podium by gaining a lap on the peloton in the final laps, which gave him a 20-point bonus. Only problem: the Japanese, the British and the French did the same, and he admitted to going home with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I’m not completely satisfied, but I know I’m right behind these guys. Except for one or two runners, it’s the same field that will be there in Paris and I know that with the right preparation, I can go and get a medal there. »
Wammes also narrowly misses
In keirin, Nick Wammes also came close to the podium, reaching the grand final, where he ultimately finished fifth, his best career result in this discipline.
In this final race, Wammes was in the game until the last meters, but he was not able to get ahead of the leaders.
“I tried to be patient and stay in line with the leaders, but I got trapped on the outside. It happens,” he analyzed.
The Dutch Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland scored a double, ahead of the British Jake Carlin.
Ryan Dodyk and James Hedgcock were also in the running. Dodyk reached the small final and took 10e rank. Hedgcock was eliminated in the semi-finals.
The short sprinters
For the first time in three Nations Cups in Milton, the Canadians were excluded from the podium in the individual sprint.
Lauriane Genest, last of the four Canadians still in the running, saw her journey end in the quarter-finals, when she was eliminated in two rounds by the New Zealander Ellesse Andrews, bronze medalist in the discipline at the last Worlds. She officially finished in fifth place.
Olympic champion and world brand holder Kelsey Mitchell was knocked out in the round of 16, trapped by Mexican Yuli Paola Verdugo Osuna. Positioned at the bottom of the track, Mitchell was unable to follow the pace set by the Mexican, who played her cards well, leaving no space for the Canadian to maneuver.
“I had no power in my legs and was not able to set the desired time [en qualifications], Mitchell said. I then thought I would have a few races to get me going again, but that didn’t happen. Definitely a frustrating day, I would have liked to bank as many races as possible before [les Jeux olympiques de] Paris. »
Genest did not make herself available to the media on site.
“It’s disappointing, but there are things that are very good, including the girls’ time. They are well ranked because they are strong in the 200m,” analyzed the head sprint coach at Cycling Canada, Franck Durivaux.
“Lauriane gave a lot throughout the qualifications. She is still able to come out with fast sprints thanks to her track experience here. Afterwards, when the level becomes very high, with girls younger than her, it becomes a little more complicated. She needs some time off and she deserves it. »
Ultimately, Lily Plante and Ariane Bonhomme were unable to finish the American-style race. After being caught twice by the peloton, they were excluded. A result which, however, allows them to collect points with a view to qualifying for the Worlds next October.
“We clearly need experience. […] There is no Madison Race in North America and you absolutely have to go to Europe. This year, the Madison was catastrophic, Plante said after the race. It shakes us up [résultats] like that.
“It’s not about strength, it’s about experience. The only way to acquire it is to run. For the Los Angeles Games, we have four years to build the qualities we need for Madison. We need to be exposed to this level a little more often. »
Great Britain led the 120-lap race virtually from start to finish to win gold. France and the United States accompanied her on the podium.
The competition will end on Sunday with the presentation of the individual sprint and the American race for men, as well as the omnium and keirin for women, where Genest will try to save her weekend.