07.13.08 - Strong international debut for Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud at world junior cycling championships

OTTAWA – Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud of Montreal made an impressive international debut this weekend at the world junior cycling championships in Cape Town, South Africa highlighted by a fourth place finish in the women’s scratch race.

Megan Dunn of Australia won the gold medal with Gemma Dudley of New Zealand second and Colleen Hayduk of the U.S., third. Dupont-Renaud was fourth out of 18 entries in the 7.5 kilometre race held on Saturday.

‘’It was my first international race and I didn’t have very high expectations,’’ said Dupont-Renaud, 17. ‘’But I did a good job maintaining myself among the leaders and making my attacks at the right moment. On the final sprint I was very close to Hayduk and looking back I think I could have possibly made an inside move on her. Still I was very pleased with my first race.’’

In Sunday’s two kilometre women’s individual pursuit, Ashlee Ankudinoff defeated Sarah Kentin an all-Australian final clocking 2:32.295 to 2:33.344 for her compatriot. Gemma Dudley of New Zealand won the third place duel over Jolien d’Hoore of Belgium.

Dupont-Renaud and Jessica Kissell of Strathmore, Alta., were both eliminated in qualifying and ranked 17th and 18th respectively.

‘’The pursuit is not my main event so my expectations weren’t high,’’ Dupont-Renaud said. ‘’It’s a race that takes a lot of practice to master. In the first kilometre I was in the top five but I couldn’t maintain that pace. But I’m confident it’s an event I can one day excel at. I really enjoy it’’

Kissell, 17, is also making her world juniors debut.

‘’It wasn’t a personal best but it was the best I had in me today,’’ said Kissell, who also excels on the road. ‘’I was happy with it. I’ve done a few pursuits this year and it’s an event I’m getting better at.’’

Canada’s other racer this weekend was Ryan Aitcheson of Kitchener, Ont., who took 21st spot in the men’s individual pursuit.

Canada has fielded an 11-member for these championships which feature competition on both the track and road and continues until next Sunday.