03.31.08 - 2008 Track Worlds in Manchester - Day 5

The Track World Championships concluded today and, remarkably the Brits did not win a single gold! Today it was the day of the Netherlands to shine, with world titles in both the Kilo and the women's Scratch Race. New Zealand picked up their first title of these championships in the Omnium, while American Jennie Reed closed out the championships with an exciting win in the women's Keirin.

Canada had two riders competing - Gina Grain in the Scratch Race and Travis Smith in Omnium. Smith finished 13th overall in the omnium after five events (200m TT, Points Race, Pursuit, Scratch Race and Kilo), and was second in the 200m TT. Grain finished in the field, in 14th place, in the Scratch Race after a mid-race attack failed.

Eleonora Van Dijk making a gutsy late move counterattack to Grain's earlier move. While the leaders all looked at each other, Van Dijk managed to get enough of a lead to cruise in 10 metres in front of the sprint. World Cup champion Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso (Cuba) took the silver, followed by Australia's Belinda Goss.

Grain's mid-race move was the most dangerous of the race, as she joined Jarmila Machacova (Czech Republic) and Jessica Jurado (Mexico). initially, the trio took the lead up to nearly half a lap, but as the chase grew stronger, Grain's partners could no longer contribute to the lead, and they were reeled in.

Photos: Rob Jones ©www.canadiancyclist.com

Gina Grain	Gina Grain

Travis Smith	Travis Smith

Travis Smith	Travis Smith

Travis Smith