Canadian Dylan Bibic celebrates after winning the Men's Scratch race, at the National Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, west of Paris, on Oct. 13, 2022.The Canadian Press
Canada’s Dylan Bibic won the men’s scratch race at the world track cycling championship Thursday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., became the first Canadian to win gold in the event, which is a 15-kilometre mass start, featuring breakaways that can eliminate lapped riders.
The race demands a combination of endurance and sprinting abilities.
Defending champion Donavan Grondin of France was in good position to win again with a couple laps to go.
Belgium’s Tuur Dens accelerated to take the lead until Bibic’s timed attack to win by a full bike length.
“I believe in my sprint as it’s comparable to sprinters, so I can rely on it,” Bibic told the UCI in a post-race interview. “I’ve done a lot of team-pursuit practice and riding behind the moto.
“I’m now looking forward to the Omnium and Madison, which I want to place well in ahead of the Olympics, and then the UCI Track Champions League.”
Bibic won gold in his world championship debut. He won last year’s men’s points race at the junior world championship in Cairo, Egypt.
The Velodrome National de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines is the Olympic venue for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Nineteen Canadians, led by Olympic sprint champion Kelsey Mitchell, are competing at the world championship until Sunday.
Four Canadians will also compete in the world para track cycling championships there Oct. 20-23.