(Milton) Quebecer Lauriane Genest easily reached the second round of the keirin at the Milton Cycling Nations Cup, dominating her qualifying heat.
Genest, who skipped the individual sprint in the quarter-finals on Saturday to conserve her energies for the keirin, finished several bike lengths ahead of her closest rivals.
The bronze medalist in the discipline at the Tokyo Olympics – Canada’s first Olympic medal in the keirin – had indicated the day before that she had eased off in her quarter-final because she needed a good performance this Sunday.
A poor performance at the last Worlds relegated her to 17th in the world. She must be in the top 24 to receive an invitation to the next World Championships in Glasgow next August.
Her compatriot Kelsey Mitchell will however have to go through the repechage, she who finished second in her wave. The Albertan, who has already added two medals to her prize list during this Nations Cup, was overtaken by the German Alessa-Catriona Pröpster in the last lap of her wave.
In the men’s sprint, Canadians Ryan Dodyk, Nick Wammes, Tyler Rorke and James Hedgcock all easily passed the qualifications.
Hedgcock’s run ended in the round of 32, while Dodyk and Rorke reached the next round. Only Wammes qualified for the quarters.
In the women’s omnium, the two Canadians Sarah van Dam (third in her heat) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (eighth) reached the final rounds. The top 12 riders from each qualifying heat advanced to the next grueling rounds, which will be contested in the evening.
In men’s madison, Canada will count on the tandem formed by Dylan Bibic and Michael Foley to try to add to its harvest. The qualifications will take place a little later and the final, in the evening.
