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Canadian women’s team pursuit squad wins another bronze at Paris world track cycling championships

A model of consistency, the Canadian women’s team pursuit squad won a fourth consecutive track cycling world championship medal on Thursday in Paris. Jasmin Glaesser, Stephanie Roorda, Allison Beveridge and Kristi Lay beat the New Zealand foursome in the bronze medal race with a time of 4:17.8, only 1.3 seconds shy of the world record, one that the Aussies would shatter ten minutes later.

After the third fastest qualifying time Wednesday, the Canadians faced Great Britain in the first round but found themselves thwarted by the Brits. They would wait a few hours to take on the Kiwis, who are becoming their regular rivals.

Then it was time for the derney-excitement of the men’s keirin. Canada’s Hugo Barrette was 5th in the first round, heat 2 and third in the second heat of the repechage. Home favourite François Pervis won keirin gold for the second year in a row. Barrette and Joseph Veloce will contest the sprint on Saturday.

Kate O’Brien contested the 500-metre time trial in the late session. She was fourth to launch and set a time of 35.921 for 18th on the day. France’s Virginie Cueff held the mark of 33.926 for over half the field until Hong Kong’s Wai Sze Lee clocked 33.788. Then Australian legend Anna Meares posted 33.425, looking good for her 11th track cycling world championship. However, the last rider, 2014 bronze medalist Anastasia Voynova of Russia, beat Meares with 33.149. Not even a gentle crash with photographer when she tried to grab a Russian flag could sully Voynova’s big day.

In the team pursuit bronze medal match, the Canadians led immediately and never let up. The Canadian women’s team pursuit squad has now taken bronze, bronze, silver and bronze in the last four worlds. Glaesser has been on all four of those teams, while Beveridge and Roorda were part of the silver-winning gang last season in Cali, Colombia.

In the gold medal final, Australia destroyed the old team pursuit world record, setting the new mark at 4:13.614 and ending Great Britain’s four-year unbeaten streak.

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