SEVEN NATIONS WIN TITLES ON FINAL DAY OF MILTON INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE  

MILTON, Oct.2 – The Milton International Challenge p/b Lexus concluded on Saturday after three days of intense competition among riders from 11 nations.  The final day saw winners from Great Britain, the United States, Suriname, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, plus host Canada.

In the Junior Omnium competitions, Canadian riders took both the women’s and men’s titles, with Ali van Yzendoorn (Kallisto-FCV p/b Toyo Tires) winning the women’s title after lapping the field in the Points Race.  Thierry Kerouac Marcassa (Team Quebec) won the men’s title in similar fashion.

The Individual Pursuit titles were won by British rider Neah Evans (Podium Ambitions) for the women, with Japan’s Ryo Chikatani (Japan National Team) winning the men’s.

In the Keirin competition, Rio Olympian Laurine van Riessen (Netherlands) outsprinted Canada’s Kate O’Brien (Team Canada) for the women’s title, while Jair Tjon En Fa of Suriname won a come-from-behind victory in the men’s race, ahead of Great Britain’s Jonathan Mitchell (Billy Bilsland Cycles).

The final competitions of the Challenge were the Scratch Races for women and men.  Evans took her second win of the day in the women’s field, while U.S. champion Zachary Kovalcik (Black Lodge Cycling) won the men’s.

“Once again we have proven that we have a world class facility and a world class team that is ready to host a World Cup here in Milton,” said Mathieu Boucher, Performance Development Director at Cycling Canada.  “We saw great performances from Canadian athletes that contributed to our desire to host international events and to showcase track cycling.”