Track Cycling | Canadian Maggie Coles-Lyster finishes ninth in omnium

(Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines) Like several of her teammates this week, Maggie Coles-Lyster came very close to a podium finish at the omnium of the Paris Olympic Games. But a 16^e The points race saw him slip from third to ninth in the overall standings.

Coles-Lyster, of Maple Ridge, B.C., showed her colours in the first of four races, finishing second in the scratch race behind American Jennifer Valente, now a two-time Olympic champion and two-time reigning world champion in the discipline.

The 25-year-old did not improve her fortunes in the tempo race by not winning a sprint. However, she did enough to only slip one place.

Coles-Lyster did not miss her shot in the elimination race. After a wild race, punctuated by several collisions — including a few involving the Canadian — Coles-Lyster finished third, positioning herself advantageously for the podium with a total of 96 points.

After three races, Valente looked untouchable on 118 points, but Australia’s Georgia Baker was just 12 points ahead of Coles-Lyster on 108.

Unfortunately, several riders lapped the peloton, collecting 20 points each time. Coles-Lyster could only add five points to her total in the eight sprints of this final stage.

Valente won with 144 points ahead of Poland’s Daria Pikulik (131) and New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston (125).

Mitchell devastated

Kelsey Mitchell tried hard to finish her second Olympic Games on a high after disappointing performances in the team sprint and keirin, but she again came up short in the individual sprint, where she was the reigning Olympic champion.

In the race to determine positions five through eight, the Manitoban launched her attack with just under two laps to go, but the other three riders quickly caught up and passed her. With just over a quarter of a lap to go, Mitchell eased off, knowing she was beaten.

Fifth or eighth didn’t change anything for her and she was a raw athlete who showed up in the mixed zone.

New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews won gold ahead of Germany’s Lea Friedrich. Britain’s Emma Finucane finished third.

Hedgcock and Wammes stuck behind

James Hedgcock and Nick Wammes both saw their competition end in the quarterfinals. The two Canadians were trapped behind, much like Lauriane Genest and Mitchell were earlier this week.

Hedgcock, who started from No. 6, was never able to crack the top four. Both Genest and Mitchell had said this week how difficult it was to move up the field on the oval track at the National Velodrome. Hedgcock was able to see that for himself.

Wammes took a different strategy. Starting in position 5, the Canadian launched the attack as soon as the motorcycle left the track. The rest of the group, including Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen, quickly joined him. Wammes tried to hang on, but alone in front for almost a lap, he did not have enough energy and also finished last. The first four places gave access to the semi-finals.

Lavreysen won the final ahead of Australians Matthew Richardson and Matthew Glaetzer. The race was punctuated by a violent crash involving the other three riders. After a few minutes on the track, Malaysian Muhammad Sharon, Japanese Shinji Nakano and British Jack Carlin were able to leave under their own power.