Day 3 Update from Track Junior World Championships
There were several strong performances by the young Canadian team at the 2012 UCI Junior Track World Championships in New Zealand on Day 3.
Aidan Caves (BC) had four strong events in the six-event Omnium tonight, finishing with a fifth place in the Kilo, good for the 11th place of the overall standings for the first year Junior. Caves had two sub-par performances in the mass start races over the last two days. Caves was over-heard to say “I know I have the speed, I will have to work on my endurance to make the podium in 2013.”
In sprint action, Joakim Albert (QC) had a person best Flying 200m qualification, stopping the clock at 10.4 seconds, landing in ninth. Eric Johnstone (AB) stopping the clock in 10.9 seconds to finish in 15th, Will Simonds did not qualify for the sprint tournament with a personal best 11.6 seconds.
In the first round, Johnstone took the eventual fifth place finisher from Great Britain to the mat with a solid effort, only to come up a little short. He lost his dual just a half a wheel behind his rival, and was knocked out. Albert went through the opening round, defeating an American rider.
In the second round, Albert lost by a wheel, and had to prepare for the repêchage rounds. With the speed of all the competitors, Albert was to take the lead and control from the front. Unfortunately, the other riders had the same game plan, and at the end of a very tough sprint, Albert came second top be knocked out of the tournament. “We will race much more aggressively in the Keiren on Sunday” said the talented sprinter from Quebec.
Audrey Labrie (QC) raced near the front of the scratch race in order to stay away from trouble and be part of any move. The race came down to a sprint finish, with Labrie crossing the line in eight place.
Today, the team start with the Individual Pursuit, featuring Will Simonds and Aidan Caves, the Women’s Omnium with Kinley Gibson, as well as the Points Race with Eric Johnstone. The Women’s Keirin will feature young sprinter Audrey Labrie.
