Canadian
National Team Member
12 time National Champion
Multiple World Cup Winner
World Championships Silver Medalist
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Saturday, March 26, 2005Poitras 7th in Worlds Points Race
World Track Cycling Championships
Los Angeles, CA
March 25, 2004
7th Points Race
The World Championships began for me on Friday night with the women's 25km points race where I finished a career high 7th. Not quite the result I was hoping for, but I will now look to Sunday's scratch race to improve upon that. Please see below for a race report from Canadian Cyclist by Rob Jones (photos can also be seen on www.canadiancyclist.com). Thanks again to everyone for your support. More results to come after Sunday's scratch race.
Photo: Greg Descantes
RACE REPORT provided by Rob Jones (Canadian Cyclist):
Friday also saw the Canadians race in the Kilo, where Travis Smith finished 13th, and the women's Points Race, where Mandy Poitras was a career-high 7th. In the men's Keirin, Teun Mulder (Netherlands) took the rainbow jersey, while 2000 Olympic champion German Robert Bartko returned to the track from an aborted attempt on the road to win the Individual Pursuit.
Poitras was in the pack for the first 82 laps of the women's 100 lap event, unable to get more than a few metres clear on numerous breakaway attempts. A battle of contrasting strategies was taking place between defending champion Olga Slyusareva (Russia) and last year's silver medalist Vera Carrara (Italy). Slyusareva used her superior speed to take points in the intermediate sprints, while Carrara stole a lap mid-race.
Poitras took a leaf out of Carrara's book, rolling off the front of the group with 18 laps remaining in the race. "It was a 'nothing to lose' situation - now or never if I was going to get on the scoreboard. I tested first of all, and they weren't chasing, so I gave it everything I had.
"I was going for the points at 10 laps to go, and then I got on with two others who were chasing to try and stay away to the finish. We were caught with three to go and I tried to position to score in the final sprint but no go. It was frustrating, I came in really prepped - I should have gone for it earlier. Normally I'm just a sprinter, so to hold out there for 15 laps; I've never been able to do that before."
Photo: Greg Descantes
Poitras was actually in a good position to steal a lap (and 20 points), as she gained over half a lap until Carrara attacked the field, which upped the pace and brought everyone back together. Into the final sprint, Carrara led Slyusaeva by 4 points. A win by Slyusareva and no points for Carrara would give the Russian the victory. Slyusareva did win, but Carrara was right behind, and took the title by 2 points.
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