12.09.07 - Track cycling – World Cup - Gina Grain the top Canadian in fourth


December 9, 2007 – Gina Grain of Vancouver nearly won a medal in the scratch race this weekend at a World Cup track cycling competition in Beijing. Grain, a silver medallist in the event in 2006 World Championships, was the top Canadian at the second stop on the circuit finishing fourth.

Marianne Vos of the Netherlands won the race. B.C.’s Mandy Poitras was 10th. In the points race, Grain was 16th while Poitras was 10th in her qualifying heat and did not advance to the final.

In the individual pursuit, former cross country skier Tara Whitten was 10th clocking 3:41.37.

On the men’s side, Quebec ‘s Martin Gilbert and Zach Bell of the Yukon were 12th in their qualifying round in the Madison. Only the top-nine advanced to the final.

‘’The race didn’t go very well,’’ said Gilbert. ‘’At that speed there’s no room for error and we made too many. It’s a disappointing weekend. We didn’t make the final.’’

In the points race, Bell also missed the final placing ninth in his qualifying heat. It was the same story for Alberta’s Ryan McKenzie in the scratch race finishing 10th in his qualifying heat

Travis Smith was fifth in his qualifying heat in the Keirin race and 24th in the sprint.