07.20.08 - Montreal’s Simon Lambert-Lemay ninth at world junior cycling championships

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Simon Lambert-Lemay of Montreal posted Canada’s best men’s result at the world junior cycling championships this week with a ninth place finish Sunday in the 136 kilometre road race.

Johan Le Bon of France won the gold medal in three hours and 20 minutes and 52 seconds with Mattia Cattaneo of Italy second in 3:20:54. Sebastian Lander of Italy led a group of eight riders that included Lambert-Lemay to grab the bronze in 3:20:55.

‘’I’m very pleased,’’ said Lambert-Lemay, 18, in his world juniors debut. ‘’I wasn’t sure how well I could do but I knew I was in great shape heading into the race. I knew it was going to be a tough race and I had to maintain myself near the leaders to have a chance.’’

Lambert-Lemay was coming off a third place finish overall at the Tour of Ireland. In Sunday’s race he was confident he could challenge for a medal with five kilometres to go.

‘’There’s a final climb with about five kilometers left and I knew if I got through that I could put myself in position for the sprint,’’ he said. ‘’From then on I just had to position myself well and be aggressive. It went really well.’’

Devon Novakowski of Kingston, Ont., was 63rd and Ryan Aitcheson of Kitchener, Ont., was 66th.

In the women’s 81.6 kilometre road race, Jolien D’Hoore of Belgium won a sprint to the finish over Rossella Callovi of Italy in 2:20:28. Hanna Amend of Germany was third in 2:20:29.

Denise Ramsden of Kingston was 22nd in 2:20:30, Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud of Montreal was 33rd , Leah Kirchmann of Winnipeg 40th and Jessica Kissell of Strathmore, Alta., 53rd.

Dupont-Renaud had Canada’s best result at the junior worlds this year finishing fourth in the women’s scratch race on the track.