Ontario Athletes Back Home from UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships

Ontario was well represented with 5 of the 10 Team Canada athletes competing in the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Luoyang, China on August 21-25.  Ontario Provincial Coach David Jack was also named as one of the coaches supporting the team along with Murray Solem providing mechanical support.

The level of competition was extremely high with new world records being set.  Albert Taylor, Cole Dempster, and Anika Brants came into the event having previously competed at the 2023 UCI Junior Track World Championships.  Their Coach David Jack summarized the event by saying: “Overall, some excellent learning for everyone.”  This was highlighted Albert Taylor putting up a personal best 3:17 in the IP along with Cole Dempster showing he is among the best in the world at his age class in match sprint.  Unfortunately, a crash took Anika Brants out of the Omnium.  However, this provided an opportunity for Larissa Pedersen to gain experience racing among the strongest bunch racers in the world.  Jayden McMullan had an excellent elimination race placing 12th in a fast-exciting race.

Congratulations to all our athletes for representing Canada proudly and to Ontario Cycling member Ashlin Barry, who trains with the Ontario Track Academy, for capturing a silver medal as part of Team USA.

Ontario Athletes

Anika Brants (Strathroy)

Cole Dempster (Milton)

Larissa Pedersen (Kitchener)

Jayden McMullan (St. Thomas)

Albert Taylor (Cambridge)

Women’s Team Pursuit

8th – Anika Brants, Larissa Pedersen

Women’s Scratch

Anika Brants – DNF

Women’s Omnium

Larissa Pedersen:

Scratch Race – 12th

Tempo Race – 19th

FINAL CLASSIFICATION – DNF

Women’s Individual Pursuit

20th – Larissa Pedersen

Men’s Team Pursuit

8th – Jayden McMullan, Albert Taylor

Men’s Keirin

10th – Cole Dempster

Men’s Sprint

8th – Cole Dempster

Men’s Individual Pursuit

14th – Albert Taylor

Men’s Elimination Race

12th – Jayden McMullen

Men’s 1KM Time Trial

28th – Cole Dempster

35th – Albert Taylor