Strong performances in Women’s Road Race

The women’s road race today was wet because of rain but did not stop the top young riders in Canada from competing hard.

There were attacks made throughout the race from Quebec, Ontario, BC and Alberta riders using various strategies, though the peloton was always able to catch back up.

For Team BC, Gillian Ellsay, Callie Swan, Brenna Keeley Pauly and Holly Erica Simonson were major contributors to the team strategy of setting up sprinter Sarah Van Dam to be in the hunt for a top finish.

And what a finish it was, a true sprint to the finish with Sarah fighting hard for 4th place. Being only 15 years old in her first Games, the future is very bright for BC!

Results
4th Sarah Van Dam (Victoria)
7th Callie Swan (Prince George)
9th Brenna Keeley Pauly (Victoria)
10th Holly Erica Simonson (Victoria)
22nd Gillian Ellsay (Courtenay)

Quotes
VAN DAM, Sarah (Victoria)
On the team plan and finishing fourth
“I was to be the sprinter, make sure we had numbers in breaks, follow things and stay covered. Going into the last couple kilometers, it wasn’t perfect and we were on the wrong side of the road with the wind but things happen, so it was OK.  I really like sprinting so it feels really cool to finish fourth.”