The fourth day of the 2021 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships saw members of Team USA take on the Men’s Omnium, the Women’s Madison, and the Women’s Individual Pursuit.
Taking to his third event of the championship, Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) got up on the boards for the Men’s Omnium. The event started with points race heats to move the top 12 from each heat into the final four events. Hoover moved through his heat easily, racing conservatively to push through to the next round. In the Scratch Race, Hoover found it challenging to find his timing in the event and ultimately finish 17th. In the Tempo Race, Hoover was part of nine riders who were lapped in the event. He finished 20th in the race.
Not letting the morning session get him down, Hoover rallied in the third event of the Omnium, the Elimination Race. He was active at the front of the race and riding smart; he placed seventh, doing better than some big names like Elia Viviani (ITA) and Iuri Leitao (POR). This placing bumped Hoover up five places in the standings as he went into the final event of the Omnium, the Points Race. The top end of the field covered almost all the action during the event. Like in the Elimination Race, Hoover raced smart, maintaining his position in the field. In the end, he gained one spot from where he entered the event and finished in 14th.
1. Ethan Hayter (GBR) 180 pts
2. Aaron Gate (NZL) 124 pts
3. Elia Viviani (ITA) 121 pts
14. Gavin Hoover (USA) 38 points
In their second time teaming up for the Madison ever, Lily Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rally Cycling) and Kendall Ryan (Ventura, Calif.; L39ion of Los Angeles) took their teamwork to the Worlds stage. The duo would face the Madison Heats in the morning session. The heat was particularly stacked with the Dutch, British, and Italian teams also in their heat. A fast pace was set early in the heat, but Team USA managed to stay on even laps with the winners and score points in the third sprint. Unfortunately, their efforts were just shy of pushing them through to the finals, placing ninth with only the top eight teams advancing to the finals.
Competing in her first individual event ever at a world championships just a short two hours after her first Madison, Williams represented the U.S. in the Women’s Individual Pursuit. In heat five of nine, Williams raced a solid race, stopping the clock at 3:30.386, slotting her into second after her heat. The powerhouse German Team Pursuit team would field 3 of their four members in the event, and the riders would sweep the podium. Williams ended the day seventh.
1. Lisa Brennauer GER
2. Franziska Brausse GER
3. Mieke Kroeger GER
7. Lily Williams USA
On Sunday, Hoover takes to the track one final time in the Men’s Elimination Race. Then, double medalist so far at this championship, Jennifer Valente (San Diego; TWENTY24 Pro Cycling), will take on the Women’s Points Race. And sprinters Madalyn Godby (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Mandy Marquardt (Allentown, Pa.; Team Novo Nordisk) will take to the boards for the Women’s Keirin.
