A TOP 20 FINISH FOR ALISON JACKSON AT PARIS 2024
Paris, FRA (Aug. 4, 2024) – Canada’s four road cycling representatives performed well at the Paris 2024 road races, held on August 3 and 4 on the outskirts of Paris.
After a tight sprint over a 158-kilometre course, Alison Jackson, from Vermilion, Alberta, finished in 19th place, five minutes behind the leader, American Kristen Faulkner.
This is the best Canadian result in road cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while fellow Canadian Olivia Baril, from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, who finished 20th in the individual time trial on July 27, finished this time in 44th position.
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A leading trio of Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Hungarian Blanka Vas won the final sprint, 58 seconds behind the leader, giving them silver, bronze and fourth place respectively.
Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC
On a 273-kilometre course, Michael Woods and Derek Gee, both from Ottawa, Ontario, represented Canada in the men’s road race.
Cheered on by a crowd of over 500,000, the Canadian representatives performed well, positioning themselves strategically in the peloton. Woods broke away with a group of riders, from which Belgian Remco Evenepoel escaped, racing to victory in 6:19:34.
“It got really exciting,” said Woods. “I was in the move that solidified the podium, but I just didn’t have the legs to keep up. I’m disappointed, but my preparation wasn’t ideal for this race and the course didn’t suit me perfectly, as I’m mostly a climber.”
Photo Credit: Candice Ward/COC
Woods and Gee finished the race in 41st and 44th place, after a day of nearly six hours in the saddle, both seven minutes 23 seconds behind the Belgian. France’s Valentin Madouas finished one minute 11 seconds behind first place, followed by fellow Frenchman Christophe Laporte, who took bronze one minute 16 seconds behind the race leader.
Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 5, for the first day of track racing, where athletes will be in action in the team pursuit and team sprint.
