Canadian bronze on day one of London 2016 UCI track cycling worlds

Canada’s highlight on Wednesday’s first day of the 2016 UCI track cycling world championships at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London was Annie Foreman-Mackey winning bronze in the individual pursuit. The pinnacle for the home crowd was seeing the British men’s team pursuit gang set itself up for a medal on Thursday.

In the women’s individual pursuit qualifying, played out over 3-km, Annie Foreman-Mackey vaulted to the top of the table with a 3:35.694 with four women left to ride the boards. World champion and Rebecca Wiasak (Australia) and Polish rider surpassed Foreman-Mackey, putting her into the bronze medal match with American Ruth Winder later in the day.

RT @Louis_Garneau: Starting @trackworlds off right! @formacannie to compete for Bronze tonight in IP! pic.twitter.com/zWs5oLdW0t

— Cycling Canada (@CyclingCanada) March 2, 2016

A few hours later, before Wiasak successfully defended her title, Foreman-Mackey led from the start and snatched the medal by rolling 3-seconds faster than Winder. Last year in France, Canada took two bronze medals, one in the womens’ team pursuit and Allison Beveridge’s reward in the scratch race.

In this season’s World Cup, Canadian team sprint duo Monique O’Sullivan and Kate O’Brien were 8th in Cali, Colombia; 5th in Cambridge, New Zealand; and 4th in Hong Kong. The women were looking to secure a place in the Rio Olympic Games. Up against the home team in qualifying, Canada had a false start before the Brits jumped to the top of the heap and Canada placed third. However, the time of 33.867 couldn’t withstand the next few teams’ runs and Canada plummeted to 9th, their lowest qualification standing of the season.

Congrats to @empty_kate and @mmj_sullivan on their 9th (team sprint) and qualifying for Rio Olympic Games! #TWC2016

— Toronto V.C. (@TorontoVeloClub) March 2, 2016

Great Britain’s team pursuit squad, led by Sir Bradley Wiggins, set the fastest qualifying time of 3:55.664, narrowly eclipsing the time of 2015-2016 World Cup winners Australia. Last season’s champions New Zealand were third and take on the Aussies in Thursday’s first round, while Britain faces Italy.

Canada’s quartet of Adam Jamieson, Sean MacKinnon, Remi Pelletier-Roy and Ed Veal posted 4:05.641 for 12th.

The fellows were pensive before their contest.

Team Italy is now on the boards while Team Canada is having a chat! #TWC2016 https://t.co/GU23TR9fOl

— UCI Track Cycling (@UCI_Track) March 2, 2016

On Thursday Canada’s World Cup winning women’s team pursuit team races in qualification, while Kate Sullivan takes on the keirin.