In the first round of the Women’s Keirin, Maddie Godby finishes second, securing her spot in the quarterfinals. Godby’s strong performance in the race has boosted her confidence for the upcoming rounds.
Godby raced in the last heat of the round against five other riders. The top two riders from each heat would move on to the quarterfinals, while the rest would have to compete in the repechages for a chance to advance.
Despite initially being boxed in, Godby managed to find an opening and made a strong final kick on the last half lap, crossing the finish line in second place. This automatic transfer to the next round tomorrow has given her a significant confidence boost.
Reflecting on her performance, Godby said, “I think getting the first-day nerves out of the way and getting through to the quarters in one ride has helped my confidence. Going out tomorrow and racing aggressively is my plan, and I know that I can execute against it. Plus, I’m racing at the Olympics, and that’s a huge honor.”
USA Cycling’s Track Sprint Coach Erin Hartwell expressed his satisfaction with Godby’s ride, stating, “I’m super happy and super impressed with the ride. The hardest thing in sprint cycling is getting out of the keirin reps and getting into the quarters. Maddie is a great competitor, she knows the keirin inside and out, but you still need the legs to back it up. She had great execution coming over the top on that ride and qualifying to the next round.”
Godby will now focus on the Quarterfinals, which will take place tomorrow. The semifinals and finals will follow directly after. As for Gavin Hoover, he will be competing in the Omnium, participating in the Scratch, Tempo, Elimination, and Points Race.
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