The sprint session started off day five of track racing at the Tokyo Olympics. Maddie Godby (Louisville, Colo.) kicked the day off for the U.S. in the Women’s Sprints. In the sprints, riders do a 200-meter qualifier, and the top 24 riders are transferred to the next round. Godby rode to 20th with a time of 10.869. Moving into the 1/32 round, she raced against Lauriane Genest of Canada, who was ranked fifth after qualifying. Godby came up short to Genest, moving her to the repechages. Godby went on to win the rep round, moving her to 16ths. Then, she went up against top-seed Lea Sophie Friedrich of Germany and would, unfortunately, lose that round, moving her to another rep round. That rep round would be Godby’s last sprint with Wai Sze Lee of Hong Kong transferring to the next round.
Godby talked about her race today and how proud she is to represent Team USA in Tokyo. She said, “I fought really hard throughout the sprint tournament today, and I have to be proud of that. Not only fighting through the rounds but to turn around mentally after a disappointing keirin result. To race up in results from qualifying at the Olympics is definitely a win, and I truly gave everything today.”
Jennifer Valente (San Diego; Twenty24) and Megan Jastrab (Apple Valley, Calif.; Team DSM) teamed up for the Women’s Madison’s Olympic debut. The Madison is one of the most electrifying and chaotic races. Teams of two riders alternate which rider is racing, tagging over to the other member, recovering, exchanging riders again, and then going for points in each sprint every ten laps. Team Great Britain rode a beautiful race capturing 58 points, winning all but two sprints. Team GB, Denmark, and the Russian Olympic Committee eventually lapped the field, getting 20 points on every team. Team USA stuck with the moves but was unable to keep up with several of the sprints throughout the race. Jastrab got thrown in right before the third sprint at 90 laps and earned one point for Team USA. That point brought the team to 9th place at the end of the day.
Valente has some time to recover as she prepares for her last day of racing in the Women’s Omnium on Sunday. Valente said, “The race was very quick from the gun, as we expected. It stayed aggressive throughout the 120 laps. Megan and I fought hard but didn’t quite have it today to be contenders. I’m looking forward now to Sunday, where many of the same riders, including myself, will contest the omnium.”
Tomorrow we have more Madison racing, this time for the men’s team! Team USA consists of Omnium racer Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Elevate-Webiplex Pro Cycling) and Adrian Hegyvary (Seattle).
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