Canada’s team pursuit riders reflect on a silver Day 3: ‘We want it really bad’
While the American team put together three impressive rides at the UCI track cycling world championships in London, Canada proved that the depth of its program remains its strength.
by Kevin Mackinnon
While the American team put together three impressive rides at the UCI track cycling world championships in London, Canada proved that the depth of its program remains its strength.
It’s been no secret that the Canadian women really, really, really wanted this world title, and are even more determined to take a gold medal in the event in Rio later this year. There are seven women gunning for the chance to represent Canada in the event including Allison Beveridge, Jasmin Glaesser, Kirsti Lay, Georgia Simmerling (the four who rode the TP here in London), along with Laura Brown, Steph Roorda (who took bronze in the scratch race last night) and the individual pursuit bronze medalist here at the worlds, Annie Foreman-Mackey.
All seven have been pushing themselves in practice each and every day and the squad seemed poised to finally achieve their goal this week—until, of course, the Americans rolled in and started riding out of their minds. The US team rode 4:16 in qualifying to Canada’s 4:20, then followed that up with a near-world-record 4:14 ride in the first round.
The Canadians looked to be on track for a blazing time, too, until things started to unravel in the closing stages of the race. Down to three, Glaesser, Lay and Simmerling struggled to stay together and a sizeable lead shrunk over the last lap of the race. The New Zealand team came within a three-thousands of a second of beating the Canadians to the gold medal final, but the Canadians hung in, finishing in 4:18.261 to the Kiwi’s 4:18.264.
A few minutes later the Americans continued to impress, riding at world record pace for much of the way before slowing over the final two laps and having to “settle” with a 4:14:806.
Which set things up for the final, where the Americans once again showed just how well they’re riding right now, taking the final in 4:16.802 to Canada’s 4:19.626.
Great Britain (4:16.640) took the bronze medal over New Zealand (4:20.226).
The Canadians remain upbeat with their result, though. Their preparation coming into this world championship was hampered by both sickness and injury, so in the end they couldn’t complain with the silver here in London, especially when they saw just how strong the competition has been.
We caught up with three of the members of the team after the race:
Jasmin Glaesser
“We knew the Americans were really strong out there and it was going to take a lot to try and beat them. We tried to ride within ourselves and hoped we’d go a little bit quicker, but we fell a little bit short. I’m proud of how the team rode, not just in the final, but through the whole competition.
The three rides in two-day format is quite tough and we didn’t come here with the best lead in. So we have to consider ourselves fortunate to pull it together. We got some luck squeaking by New Zealand in the first round and making it to the gold medal final.
To put it in perspective, 10 days ago a few of us were still out with a stomach virus, so to come here and still pull it together and perform even with a sub-standard lead in, and build up, speaks for the depth and the consistency of our team. I think its very motivating for us that even when we’re not at our best we can still perform. We’re competitors and we try to win no matter what and I, think that will carry us through to Rio.
It’s no secret that there’s quite a bit of competition between us and the Americans. We go back and forth. We beat them at Pan Am Games last summer, then they beat us at the Pan Am Championships just a month later. We’re disappointed that they got the better of us today, but we know that we’re capable of being up there and we’re capable of going that fast.
New Zealand was very, very impressive this world championship. They’ve always been a strong team, but I think they really stepped it up for this world championship, so it made for a very challenging, very tough first round earlier today. It took a lot out of us. It hurt us a bit in the final, but that kind of competition is what sport is all about. It only pushes us forward, and the sport and the event forward as well.
I think Australia and Great Britain weren’t at their best at this world championship, either, so we’re going to have to expect them to step things up in Rio and it’s going to be a whole new level of competition. We are going to see some really fast times and we’re going to be ready.
I think the depth of our team is our biggest strength. Not just on race day, having those other riders who can jump into the line up, but in training—having that kind of competition within the team constantly to make it to the racing. That is going to be our biggest strength going into Rio for sure. Even though its tough to always have to compete for your spot, that’s what drives us forward and makes us better.”
Allison Beveridge
“It (the first round ride) reminded me a lot of our world cup in New Zealand. We were up a bit and the Aussies fought back and took us by a couple of thousandths. So, to come back and do that to the Kiwis and hold on was a bit a relief, but credit to them for having a really strong ride and a good showing.
We didn’t have the best build up to this world championship, overcoming some obstacles, so we know that we can improve still and our ultimate goal is Rio. It’s encouraging that we can still be on the podium with where we’re at.
We did what we could this weekend and rode within ourselves, so credit to the Americans for putting together three really strong rides.”
Kristi Lay
“It was a really challenging few days. All the teams showed up with their “A” game this weekend and it was a battle every round. We came away with silver, but we were chasing the rainbow, so that’s bittersweet. But we’re going to regroup and we have so much more to give. I think it will be exciting to see in Rio what we can do.
Both the first two rides were by the skin of our teeth getting across the line because the teams are so close. I think that we’re capable of putting more together, and we know that, so we have to regroup and move forward.
I think that you’re always fueled by your competition, and seeing the girls bring their “A” game, we want it. And we want it really bad.”
