Para-Cycling – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CANADA ADDS TWO MEDALS TO ITS HAUL AT THE PARA-CYCLING AND ROAD CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS  

Ottawa, ON (October 1, 2024) – The Canadian contingent at the UCI 2024 Para-Cycling and Road World Championships, which won two medals in the time trial events, added two medals and an array of top-10 finishes to its tally at the competitions, which took place from September 21 to 29, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland.  

Paracyclist Nathan Clement, who hails from Vancouver, B.C., and became a two-time world champion on September 24, added another world title to his collection after finishing the road race in a sprint against Italy’s Giorgio Farroni. The two riders clocked a time of one hour, one minute and 20 seconds over the 38.1-kilometer course. Uzbekistan’s Aziz Atakhodjaev (+2:47) took bronze.    

“Completing the double rainbow jersey in Zurich feels surreal.” said Clement. “From winning a Paralympic medal at the start of the month and now ending it with a World Championship title in both the Time Trial and Road Race leaves me with immense gratitude towards my teammates, coaches, Cycling Canada staff, and Canadians across the country. This major accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of each and every person.” 

Like his Canadian compatriot, men’s C3 rider Alexandre Hayward won a second bronze medal in the road race, after finishing third in the time trial. The Quispamsis, New Brunswick native finished one minute 28 seconds behind the race leader, Finlay Graham of Great Britain (1:55:24h). Benjamin Watson (+13s), also from Great Britain, took silver. 

Mel Pemble, Kara Douville, Jessica Law and Joey Desjardins reached the top-10 in their races, all in the para categories.   

In her very first year with the U23s, Ava Holmgren, of Orillia, ON, who won bronze in the short circuit at the Mountain Bike World Championships, took fourth place in her category after finishing 22nd in the elite women’s category. Her Canadian teammate Magdeleine Vallières-Mill, from Sherbrooke, QC, was the best result in the elite women’s category, with a 14th place. The junior women also put in a solid performance, placing Alexandra Volstad and Addison Frank in the top 20, finishing 12th and 17th respectively.   

In the other categories, Pier-André Côté (elite men), Adam Smith (junior men) and Michael Leonard (U23 men) achieved the best Canadian results in their respective categories.   

 Full results from the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships are available here. Next up on the UCI World Championships calendar are the UCI Track World Championships, to be held in Ballerup, Denmark, on Oct. 16-20.  

CANADIAN RESULTS

Para
1 – Nathan Clement (MT1) – Vancouver, BC
3 – Alexandre Hayward (MC3) – Quispamsis, NB
5 – Mel Pemble (WC3) – Victoria, BC
6 – Kara Douville (WH4) – Calgary, AB
6 – Maarten Duif (MH1) – Carleton-Place, ON
7 – Jessica Law (WC5) – Vancouver, BC
8 – Joey Desjardins (MH3) – Hawkesbury, ON
DNF – Charles Moreau – Victoriaville, QC  

Elite & U23
4 – Ava Holmgren (WU23) – Orillia, ON
14 – Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (WE) – Sherbrooke, QC
41 – Olivia Baril (WE) – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
44 – Pier-André Côté (ME) – Saint-Henri-de-Lévis, QC
51 – Clara Emond (WE) – Québec, QC
54 – Mike Woods (ME) – Ottawa, ON
64 – Alison Jackson (WE) – Vermillion, AB
77 – Michael Leonard (MU23) – Oakville, ON
87 – Jonas Walton (MU23) – Surrey, BC
DNF – Mara Roldan (WU23) – Whitehorse, YK
DNF – Quentin Cowan – Montréal, QC
DNF – Guillaume Boivin – Montréal, QC
DNF – Derek Gee – Ottawa, ON
DNF – Jérémie La Grenade – Gatineau, QC  

Junior
12 – Alexandra Volstad (WJR) – Calgary, AB
17 – Addison Frank (WJr) – Ottawa, ON
30 – Adam Smith (MJr) – Winnipeg, MB
35 – Jayden McMullen (MJr) – St-Thomas, ON
67 – Mikaël Guilbault (MJr) – Montréal, QC
78 – Naomie Julien (WJr) – Laval, QC
81 – Sidney Swierenga (WJr) – Vancouver, BC
DNF – Tristan Drews (MJr) – Victoria, BC

NATHAN CLEMENT DEFENDS HIS WORLD TITLE AT 2024 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 24, 2024) – Nathan Clement of Vancouver, British Columbia, won his second career rainbow jersey after dominating the T1 men’s individual time trial on Sept. 24 at the 2024 UCI Road Cycling and Para-cycling World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 29-year-old, who won silver in the same discipline at the Paralympic Games in earlier this month, completed the 11.3-kilometer course in 18 minutes 38 seconds and 16 thousandths, more than a minute and 25 seconds ahead of silver medalist Giorgio Farroni of Italy. Uzbek Aziz Atakhodjaev completed the podium.

Also in para-cycling, Quispamsis, New Brunswick native Alex Hayward added a bronze medal to his collection by finishing third in the C3 men’s time trial, completing the 18.8-kilometer course in 23 minutes, 34 seconds and 76 thousandths, 4.75 seconds behind first place, held by France’s Florian Bouziani. Britain’s Finlay Graham (+2.11s) took silver.

Riders in other categories were also in action. Among the Canadian results, Sidney Swierenga finished in the top-10 in the junior women’s race, Paula Findlay finished 18th in the elite women’s race, while Pier-André Côté achieved the best result in the elite men’s race with a 19th position. Kara Douville (women’s C4), Joey Desjardins (men’s H3), Mel Pemble (women’s C3) and Jessica Law (women’s C5) also finished in the top 10 of their respective categories.

Competition continues in Zürich all week, with the team time trial on Sept. 25 and the road races starting for Canadian athletes on Sept. 26. Full details, including a detailed schedule and complete results, are available on the official UCI Road Cycling and Para-Cycling World Championships 2024 website.

Time trial results: 
Nathan Clement (men T1) – 1st
Alexandre Hayward (men C3) – 3rd
Kara Douville (women H4) – 4th
Joey Desjardins (men H3) – 5th
Mel Pemble (women C3) – 6th
Jessica Law (women C5) – 7th
Sidney Swierenga (junior women) – 10th
Charles Moreau (men H3) – 12th
Paula Findlay (elite women) – 18th
Olivia Baril (elite women) – 30th
Pier-André Côté (elite men) – 19th
Derek Gee (elite men) – 22nd
Adam Smith (junior men) – 34th
Jonas Walton (U23 men) – 36th
Alexandra Volstad (junior women) – 36th
Mikaël Guilbault (junior men) – 47th
Michael Leonard (U23 men) – 55th

FOURTH PLACE FOR ALEXANDRE HAYWARD TO CONCLUDE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES  

Paris, France (Sept. 7, 2024) – Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, New Brunswick finished fourth in the men’s C1-3 road race, held on Sept. 7, 2024 in Clichy-Sous-Bois, on the outskirts of Paris.  

This is the third consecutive top 5 finish for the 27-year-old, who won bronze in the track individual pursuit on August 30 and finished fifth in the road individual time trial on Sept. 4.   

“Deep down, I really wanted to finish in the top five,” said Hayward. “I knew it would be difficult with all the strong riders that would be there, but I figured my only chance was to follow the British and French wheels as much as possible and try to get into the first move. I had no idea that the first move was going to happen on the first lap. Luckily for me, I managed it and hung on for a handful of laps, until a lack of experience sent me to the back. I’m very happy with fourth place.

At the end of the race, Hayward finished one minute, 50 seconds behind the race lead held by Britain’s Finlay Graham (1:43.19). Frenchmen Thomas Peyroton-Dartet (+0s) and Alexandre Leaute (+24s) took silver and bronze.

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Former swimmer Nathan Clement, who competed at Rio 2016 and won silver in the individual road time trial on Sept. 4, finished ninth, 16 minutes behind new Paralympic champion and time trial winner Jiaxin Chen (1:15:08h) of China. American Dennis Connors (+2:01m) and Colombian Juan Jose Betancourt Quiroga (+2:01m) took silver and bronze. 

“We came to the Paralympics with one goal: to try and win a medal in this time trial,” said Clement. “I was able to do that, get on the podium and fulfill a childhood dream. Coming into the road race today, it was one of those things where, if the opportunity presented itself, I was going to go out there, see what I could do, try to mix it up with the pack. But as the race went on, with the weather, it was one of those days where I had to be careful and enjoy the experience.   

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com 

Bronze medallist in the women’s C4-5 individual pursuit, Keely Shaw finished 15th in the road race, while Charles Moreau, who was competing in his third Paralympic Games after taking part in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, was unable to finish the road race following a crash. He finished seventh in the time trial.   

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Canada ends these Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with a total of four medals, won by Nathan Clement (silver – men T1-2 – road individual time trial), Kate O’Brien (bronze – women C4-5 – track 500m time trial), Keely Shaw (bronze – women C4-5 – track 3000m individual pursuit) and Alexandre Hayward (bronze – men C3 – track 3000m individual pursuit), as well as a world record set by Mel Pemble (4th – women C1-3 – track 500m time trial).   

More information, including event results, can be found on the official Paris 2024 Paralympic Games website. 

A FOURTH MEDAL FOR CANADIAN CYCLISTS AT THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paris, France (Sept. 5, 2024) – Nathan Clement, of Vancouver, BC, won Canada’s fourth cycling medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by taking silver in the T1-2 men’s individual time trial held on September 4 in Clichy-Sous-Bois, on the outskirts of Paris.  

World champion in the discipline, Clement finished on the second step of the podium, 1:17.58m behind the new Paralympic champion, Jianxin Chen of China, who clocked 21:35.78m at the end of the 14.1-kilometer race. Belgium’s Tim Celen (+1:51.86) took bronze.   

“It’s special. It’s my life’s work,” said Clement. “Although I’ve worn different hats as a CP seven-a-side soccer player, as a Paralympic swimmer and now as a Paralympic cyclist, I’m very lucky, because many athletes don’t have the opportunity to compete in two Games, let alone two Games in a different sport, let alone stand on a podium and see the Canadian flag raised.” 

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com 

Having both won bronze in the individual pursuit during the track events on August 30, Keely Shaw (WC4), of Midale, SK, and Alex Hayward (MC3), of Quispamsis, NB, both finished fifth in their respective events.   

“I woke up this morning feeling great and super motivated, with the feeling that I was going to have a good day,” said Hayward. “I had a few problems, technical difficulties on the line that forced me to rely a little more on my feel today. And I think because I was feeling so good, I went a bit too fast and paid for it a bit in the end. I’m happy with my result and happy to share it with my friends and family.”  

Hayward finished 1:01.68m behind the race leader, occupied by France’s Thomas Peyroton-Darter with a time of 38:28.80m over 28.2 kilometers, while Spain’s Eduardo Santas Asensio (+43.91s) took silver and Matthias Schindler (+52.55s) of Germany won bronze.    

Shaw finished with a time of 22:09.19, just 29.95 seconds behind winner Samatha Bosco (21:39.24m), who was joined on the podium by Meg Lemon (+4.92s) and Switzerland’s Franziska Matile-Doerig (+5.09s). Her Canadian counterpart Kate O’Brien, of Calgary, AB, who had won bronze in the 500m track time trial, did not finish the race. 

Charles Moreau (MH3), of Victoriaville, QC, and Mel Pemble (WC3), of Victoria, B-C, were also in action on the first day of road racing, finishing seventh and 14th in their respective categories.  

“Seventh place isn’t quite what we hoped and expected, but it was a tough race,” said Moreau, competing in his third Paralympic Games. “It was a longer race than we’re used to, and until the very end, I was still in the race, but I lost some at the end. The others had a better race, that’s how it is. Tokyo was disappointing for me, so I was just hoping that everything would go well with my equipment, and that part went well, so I’m happy, but I would have liked to have been able to keep the pace until the end”.  

Moreau will also be in action on Sept. 5, when he will take part in the road race at 16:05 local time. More information, including results and the full event schedule, can be found on the official Paris 2024 Paralympic Games website. 

MIKE SAMETZ WITHDRAWS FROM PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES DUE TO INJURY

Paris, September 1, 2024– Para cyclist Mike Sametz (Calgary, AB) will unfortunately be unable to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games due to an injury, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced Sunday.

The 28-year-old crashed in road training earlier this week. The Rio 2016 medallist had been set to make his Paralympic return after missing the Tokyo Games due to injury.

“It’s been a chaotic few days since I had an unfortunate accident on Wednesday,” said Sametz. “I landed awkwardly on my right hip, which resulted in a fracture that required surgery. I am immensely grateful for the emergency responses on all fronts. It’s unfortunate that I will be unable to compete, but I want to congratulate my teammates on their stellar results on the track and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming road events!”

“Our hearts go out to Mike in his rehabilitation,” said Sébastien Travers, national Para cycling team coach. “He made a dazzling comeback after his accident in 2019, and his performances achieved in 2023 and 2024 are proof of his talent and well-deserved place on the team.”

Sametz was a bronze medallist in the individual time trial at the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games and at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

“We are gutted for Mike to not be able to race at the Paralympic Games,” said Josh Vander Vies and Karolina Wisniewska, co-chefs de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “We know how hard he has worked to be back in top form, and to be injured right before the Games is devastating. We wish him all the best with his recovery. He is such a strong competitor, and we look forward to seeing him back racing again in the future.”

Sametz’s six teammates on Canada’s Para cycling team will start road competition at the Games on Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. CEST / 2 a.m. ET with the individual time trial.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

About Cycling Canada: CyclingCanada.ca

Media Contacts:
Ariane Perron
Media Attaché, Canada’s Para Cycling Team
ariane.perron@cyclingcanada.ca / 819-210-3034 (WhatsApp)

Nicole Watts
Senior Manager, Communications & PR
Canadian Paralympic Committee
nwatts@paralympic.ca / 613-462-2700 (WhatsApp)

MEL PEMBLE SET A NEW RECORD AT THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paris, France (Aug. 31, 2024) – Mel Pemble of Victoria, British Columbia, set a new world record in the women’s C3 category in the 500-meter time trial during her participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on August 31. She finished the competition in fourth place.

With a time of 38.512 seconds in qualifying, Mel Pemble took the world record in her category, as she competed in the combined C1-3 women’s category. The previous world record, set by Australia’s Aniek Van Den Aarssen in 2022, was 39.093 seconds.

“It’s pretty cool to come here and realize I’m at my second Games,” said Pemble. “It felt more real coming into these Games with medal potential.” She added, “The world record is going to make that fourth place sting a little less in the end, but I think it’s going to take a little while for me to get over that. I’m very happy with my times, I got a personal best by a second which is more than could hope for, but it would have been amazing to win a medal, it just wasn’t in the cards this year.”

In the finals, Pemble stopped the clock after 38.610 seconds, just 0.3 seconds from the bronze medal won by Germany’s Maike Hausberger (WC2). China’s Wangwei Qian (WC1) took silver, while Australia’s Amanda Reid (WC2) took top honors, with a factorized time of 36.676 seconds.

Pemble, who competed in para-alpine skiing at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, was participating in her first Summer Games.

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and the full schedule of Paralympic Games events, is available on the official Paris 2024 website, while para-cycling athletes will take part in road events from Sept. 4.

HISTORIC DAY FOR CANADIAN CYCLING    

Paris, France (Aug. 30, 2024) – Canada collected six podium finishes in three different disciplines on Aug. 30, including two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, thanks to Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, NB, and Keely Shaw of Midale, SK. 

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games  

After finishing third in qualification for the women’s C4 individual pursuit, Shaw, who had won bronze in this event at Tokyo 2020, clocked 3:46.942m in the bronze final, contested against American Samantha Bosco. Australia’s Emily Petricola, the world record holder, was able to catch up with New Zealand’s Anna Taylor, putting her hands on the gold.   

“I had so many doubts before the last round,” said Shaw. “I didn’t think I had what it took. So it was a race of pure mind games. It was about cutting my legs, cutting everything my body was telling me to stop, all the while knowing I couldn’t, and trying to remember that I have a pretty good track record when it comes to bronze medal finals, so I’m so happy to have been able to repeat and to see myself with the world’s best on the podium at the world’s biggest sporting event is a feeling I hope I never forget.” 

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

In his very first Paralympic Games, paracyclist Alexandre Hayward, whose cycling career began in 2021, was able to get his hands on his first medal, winning bronze in the men’s C3 individual pursuit.   

“I was proud of myself before I got here this morning,” said Hayward. “If I think about the feeling that has stuck with me the most over the last few weeks, it’s pride. I’m proud of myself and it’s like this isn’t even in my dreams. I feel like I’ve set my expectations too high. But at the same time, you know, this team, I’m literally surrounded by Paralympic and Olympic legends. It’s easy to imagine when all your teammates are doing it like it’s nothing. I’m really proud of it all.”  

Great Britain’s Jaco Van Gass and Fin Graham won gold and silver.   

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Mountain Bike 

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships were held in Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Olympian Isabella Holmgren was able to add a new world title to her collection, having won the junior title in 2023, by winning gold in the U23 women’s cross-country short circuit (XCC) with a time of 20 minutes 31 seconds, just ahead of her sister Ava (+26s) in bronze. Ella MacLean-Howell (+22s) of Great Britain took silver. They were closely followed by Emilly Johnston (+31s), a U23 podium regular who finished fourth.   

“It was a fun race, very tough, and to see Ava cross the finish line in third place was incredible,” said Isabella. Ava added: “I started last and knew I had to get a good start, but I got a bad start. I just tried to overtake as many people as possible and not go over the limit, which worked out well!”  

In the junior category, Canadian racer Rafaëlle Carrier, in her first Mountain Bike World Championships, took silver in the Olympic cross-country, 36 seconds behind winner Viktoria Chladonova of Slovenia, who completed the course in one hour, one minute. They were joined on the podium by Slovenia’s Marusa Tereza Serkezi (+1:31m).  

Photo Credit:UCI Cycling

Road 

Canadian 2024 champion and Tour de France 2023 stage winner Mike Woods won stage 13 of the Vuelta a España. The win marks Woods’ fourth career Grand Tour stage victory.   

Photo Credit: A.S.O.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of Paralympic Games events, is available on the official Games website, while Mel Pemble will be in action in the individual time trial on Aug. 31.   

More information on the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships is available here. Tomorrow, the Canadians will be in action for the elite downhill finals. 

The Vuelta a España continues until September 8. For more information on this Grand Tour, click here.   

KATE O’BRIEN WINS CANADA’S FIRST MEDAL OF THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paris, FRA (Aug. 29, 2024) – Kate O’Brien of Calgary, AB, won Canada’s first Paralympic medal at Paris 2024 as she got her hands on bronze in the women’s C4 time trial on Aug. 29 at the Vélodrome national de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

O’Brien, who won silver in this event at Tokyo 2020, qualified in fourth place, clocking a factorized time of 36.873 seconds in the finals to get her hands on bronze. Caroline Groot of the Netherlands took gold with a time of 35.566 seconds, while France’s Marie Patouillet took silver with a time of 36.700 seconds.

“To be quite honest, I didn’t expect this,” said O’Brien. “I honestly didn’t think a medal was within reach, and I’ve never won a first medal in anything! It means so much and to receive so much support from my family and friends.”  She added: “Obviously the times were very, very tight and the year leading up to Paris was a bit of a struggle for training. And so, honestly, I didn’t know if I would make the team and I came in and was able to get into the top six, make the finals and finish with a medal, it’s an absolute dream.”

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com | Kate O’Brien (Canada) Paralympic Bronze Medalist

Keely Shaw of Midale, SK, who is focusing on the women’s C4 individual pursuit event on Aug. 30, qualified 10th in the 500m time trial with a time of 44.520 seconds.

“The 500 is not my main event,” said Shaw. “But the way things went, with the time trial first and the pursuit the next day, we thought it was a good opportunity to have a little dress rehearsal before my main event. Today was all about testing the track and the environment, so there won’t be any surprises on my big day tomorrow.”

She is the only athlete on the Canadian cycling team to compete in four paracycling events at the Paris Paralympic Games.

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com | Keely Shaw

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available on the official Games website. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 30, when Keely Shaw and Alexandre Hayward will be in action in the individual pursuit in their respective categories.

SEVEN PARA CYCLISTS NOMINATED TO COMPETE FOR CANADA AT PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

– Roster includes four Paralympic medallists
– Paris 2024 Paralympic Games takes place August 28 to September 8

Ottawa, July 29, 2024 – A team of seven Para cyclists will race for Canada at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced Monday.

Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team – PARA CYCLING

  1. Nathan Clement – West Vancouver, BC – MT1 (classification)
  2. Alexandre Hayward – Quispamsis, NB – MC3
  3. Charles Moreau – Victoriaville, QC – MH3
  4. Kate O’Brien – Calgary, AB – WC4
  5. Mel Pemble – Victoria, BC – WC3
  6. Mike Sametz – Calgary, AB – MC3
  7. Keely Shaw – Midale, SK – WC4

The team includes four Paralympic medallists: Charles Moreau (two bronze at Rio 2016), Kate O’Brien (silver at Tokyo 2020), Keely Shaw (bronze at Tokyo 2020), and Mike Sametz (bronze at Rio 2016).

Moreau is the most experienced of the team, with two Games appearances (2016, 2020). O’Brien, Shaw, and Sametz will participate in their second Paralympic Games (O’Brien has also represented Canada in cycling at the Olympic Games, in 2016). For Sametz, it is a return to Paralympic competition after injury and illness kept him out of the sport for the Tokyo Games.

Nathan Clement and Mel Pemble will be making their Paralympic debuts in Para cycling but are already Paralympians in other sports – Clement in Para swimming (2016) and Pemble in Para alpine skiing (2018). Alexandre Hayward will become a first-time Paralympian in Paris.

“I can’t describe how it feels being selected for the team for Paris 2024,” said Pemble. “It truly feels unreal when I think back on four years ago; restarting this sport and being unsure on where it would lead. Though I’ve been lucky enough to have a Winter Games experience, in a way, this still feels as if it’s my first Games with a different kind of excitement of what is to come and what is possible to achieve in Paris.”

 

At the 2023 world championships in Scotland, these athletes won nine medals, including two gold – Clement in the men’s T1 road time trial and Pemble in the women’s C3 omnium on the track (which is not a Paralympic event). O’Brien, Shaw, Clement, and Sametz also secured podium finishes.

“Being selected for the Paris Paralympic Games is an honour beyond words,” said Clement. “Wearing the maple leaf at my second Games is incredibly humbling. I’m thrilled for this chance to give it for my community and country. Without my team in Vancouver and the support of the city, this dream would not be possible. Thank you to everyone. I can’t wait to hear that starting siren and see my teammates achieve their goals and race on the biggest stage alongside them!”

Last fall at the 2023 Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Canadian Para cyclists won 12 medals with Hayward leading the way with four (two gold, one silver, one bronze). Pemble added a gold and silver, Clement notched a gold and bronze, and Shaw won silver. Sametz took home two bronze and Moreau contributed his own bronze medal performance.

“Since being introduced to Para sport as a competitive 15-year-old who’d just had his life turned upside down by a hockey injury, the goal of one day representing Canada at the Paralympics immediately played a huge role in my life,” said Hayward. “The feeling of fulfilling that dream 12 years later is hard to put into words and to be heading there with the realistic goal of returning with a medal is a huge cherry on top.”

Qualification slots for Canada for the Games were earned through cumulated results at world championships and World Cup events in 2023 and 2024.

Hayward, O’Brien, Pemble, and Shaw will race in the track events, taking place August 29 to September 1 at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome just outside of Paris.

The road events will take place September 4-7, starting and finishing in Clichy-Sous-Bois, with Clement, Hayward, Moreau, Pemble, Sametz, and Shaw set to compete.

“I am so pleased to welcome to the team the seven Para cyclists nominated for Paris,” said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “Canada’s Para cycling team was so successful at the Parapan Am Games last year, and it was a thrill to watch them race. I can’t wait to do it again in Paris next month!”

“Congratulations to each Para cyclist selected to compete for Canada at the Paralympic Games,” said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “This is such an exciting and accomplished group of racers, with strong recent Paralympic Games, world championships, and Parapan Am results. I know they are ready to do their best in Paris, and I’m looking forward to supporting them at the Games.”

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place August 28 to September 8 in Paris, France. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 130 athletes.

Prior to being officially named to the Canadian Paralympic Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The current list of nominated athletes can be found HERE. The approved final roster will be announced closer to the start of the Games.

TEAM CANADA COLLECTS FOUR MEDALS AT PARA-CYCLING TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Ottawa, ON (March 27, 2024) – Canada shone at the Para-cycling Track World Championships 2024, held March 20-24, racking up a total of four medals.

On the first day of competition, Mel Pemble of Victoria, BC, clinched Canada’s first medal with a silver in the Women’s C3 500m Time Trial. She scored the second fastest time stopping the clock at 39.573s, just 0.093s behind gold medallist Xiaomei Wang, of China while Aniek Van Den Aarsen, of the Netherlands took the bronze medal.

On that same day, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien, of Calgary, AB, and Keely Shaw, Midale, SK, were also in action in the women’s C4 category. They finished fifth and ninth in the 500m time trial.

On Friday, March 22nd, Shaw, won the bronze medal in the Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit. After qualifying in fourth position, she scored a time of 3:54.093 in the bronze medal final against Anna Grace Taylor (4:00.732) of New Zealand. The gold medal was awarded to Emily Petricola of Australia, who scored a time of 3:46.317 in her heat against Samantha Bosco (USA) who finished with a time difference of 7.690s. That same day, Alex Hayward of Quispamsis, NB, finished fifth in the men’s C3 individual pursuit, just short of qualifying for the bronze final.

Looking to add a third omnium title to her collection, Pemble ended up taking the bronze medal on March 23, where she went on to score another second position in the 200m flying sprint, before finishing fifth in the individual pursuit and sixth in the scratch race. Pemble accumulated a total of 138 points, while the gold medal went to Xiaomei Wang of China (160 points) and the silver to Aniek Van den Aarssen of the Netherlands (146 points).

Surprising the field on the last day of competition, Hayward, of Quispamsis, NB, won a silver medal in the Men C3 scratch race Hayward crossed the line alongside Jaco Van Gass of Great-Britain and Masaki Fujita, of Japan, who respectively won gold and bronze.

“All in all, these are great performances from our athletes,” commented National Team Coach Sébastien Travers. “We are accumulating a lot of key learning as well as a better understanding of the priorities ahead in preparation for the Paralympic Games. I’m very proud of our team and grateful to the staff members who have contributed to the athletes’ success.”

Full results from the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships can be found here.

Team Canada: 

Alex Hayward (Men C3) 
Silver (Scratch Race), 5th (Individual Pursuit), 7th (Omnium), 11th (Time Trial)

Kate O’Brien (Women C4) 
5th (Time Trial), 11th (Omnium), 12th (Scratch Race), 14th (Individual Pursuit)

Mel Pemble (Women C3) 
Silver (Time Trial), Bronze (Omnium), 5th (Individual Pursuit), 6th (Scratch Race)

Keely Shaw (Women C4) 
Bronze (Individual Pursuit), 9th (Time Trial), 10th (Omnium), 13th (Scratch Race)

Lowell Taylor/Ed Veal (Men B)  
10th (Individual Pursuit), 14th (Sprint), 16th (Time Trial)