Derek Gee is Canada’s sole representative at the first track World Cup of the season in France

Like Aiden Caves in last season’s Manchester round of the UCI track World Cup, Derek Gee, who dominated nationals at the beginning of the month, was Canada’s sole entrant in the first event of the 2018-2019 season in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvesline, France near Paris. Gee competed in only one race, earning 8th in Saturday’s omnium. Caves also raced the omnium in Manchester.

Gee, usually part of Team Canada’s team pursuit lineup that earned a silver at Milton last season, had a good start with 8th out of 24 fellows in the scratch race. The tempo race saw him come in 15th with two points. After two events, Spaniard Barcelo Torres led Greek athlete Christos Volikakis by four points at the top of the table.

After the break the elimination race resulted in another 15th for Gee, as Torres continued to lead the pack. In the final competition, the 25-km points race, Gee took the second most points in the last of the 10 sprints to haul himself up to 8th overall. Torres won gold, silver went to Brit Oliver Wood and Frenchman Benjamin Thomas rounded out the podium.

3e place de @Ben__Thomas_ sur l'Omnium de la manche de Coupe du Monde de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines ! ?
???#TissotUCITrackWC pic.twitter.com/LEZGEbgPlZ

— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) October 20, 2018

World Cup action starts at Milton’s Mattamy National Cycling Centre next Thursday night with men’s and women’s team pursuit qualifying.