News – Page 11 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

MEL PEMBLE WINS CANADA’S FIRST MEDAL AT 2024 UCI PARA-TRACK CYLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 20, 2024) – Mel Pemble of Victoria, BC, clinched the silver medal in the Women’s C3 500m Time Trial on March 20 at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA. She scored the second fastest time stopping the clock at 39.573s, just 0.093s behind gold medallist Xiaomei Wang, of China. Aniek Van Den Aarsen, of the Netherlands took the bronze medal.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien and Keely Shaw were also in action in the women’s C4 category. They finished fifth and ninth in the 500m time trial, 2.386s and 4.066s behind first place, won by Kaddena Cox (GBR) and her time of 36.675s. Anna Grace Taylor (NZL) and Xiohui Li (CHN) won silver and bronze.

“It was a good first day for us here in Rio,” said National Team Coach Sébastien Travers. “It’s always incredible to see athletes achieve their best-ever performance on race day. That was the case for Mel Pemble and Keely Shaw today, and we’re very pleased. Mel’s medal is a balm on her performance in 2023, where she had some difficulties with the starts.”

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

March 20, 2024/by Communications

TEAM CANADA HEADS TO BRAZIL FOR THE 2024 PARA TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 15, 2024) – Cycling Canada is sending a team of six athletes to compete at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA, on March 20-24 with sights set on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

All glorious at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, CHE, in Nov. 2023, medallists Alexandre Hayward, Mel Pemble and Keely Shaw will be on hand, hoping to impress the crowds once again.

Two-time world champion in the C3 women’s omnium, Pemble will have big ambitions, looking to collect another rainbow jersey to add to her collection.

“Coming into my third World Championships, I feel like I’m in a better headspace than I was before heading into the 2023 Worlds, because I’ve had that experience of coming in with medals under my belt,” said Pemble. “There’s also the fact that it’s a Games year and there’s added pressure to keep up those performances in the Paralympic events to secure that spot for Paris, but I’d also like to push to keep my Omnium crown. It’s going to be a different approach going in with an even bigger race on the horizon.”

Compatriots and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien and Shaw will build on the momentum of silver medals won at the World Championships in Glasgow in Aug. 2023, in the time trial and individual pursuit respectively, both in the women’s C4 category. After months of intensive training, the duo of Lowell Taylor and Ed Veal will also be ready to compete in the men’s B category.

Racing starts on March 20 and continues over the weekend. All information, including start lists and live timing, is available here.

Team Canada
Alexandre Hayward (MC3)
Kate O’Brien (WC4)
Mel Pemble (WC3)
Keely Shaw (WC4)
Lowell Taylor / Ed Veal (MB)

March 15, 2024/by Communications

14 NATIONAL TITLES WON AT 2024 CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 12, 2024) – Cycling Canada proudly hosted the 2024 Canadian Esports Championships on the Zwift virtual cycling platform from Feb. 10-11, featuring accessible competition for athletes nationwide across seven age categories.

Competition began on Feb. 10 with the U17, Juniors and Masters races. Several 2023 champions were successful in defending their crowns, including Julie Lehmann (U17 Women); Dan Zeggelaar (Masters Men 35-44); Josée Rossignol (Masters Women 45-54); and Anna Tykoliz, who has won the Masters Women 65+ category in all three editions of the Canadian Esports Championships.

Ryan Nickerson took home top honours for the U17 Men, while the Junior titles went to Cadie Geertsema (Women) and Raphael Péloquin (Men). Rounding out the Masters winners were Lindsay Burgess (Women 35-44); Sebastien Perreault (Men 45-54); Nathalie Champagne (Women 55-64); Bruce Bird (Men 55-64); and Brian Zulkoskey (Men 65+).

“I’m very proud to have won the Canadian Champion’s jersey,” said Perreault. “The number of participants in virtual cycling events is on the rise, and the sport is becoming more and more recognized. It’s great that Cycling Canada is offering the country’s cyclists the chance to experience inspiring moments through these championships. Congratulations to all the participants!”

On Feb. 11, the Elite athletes hit the virtual road in races livestreamed in partnership with Zwift Community Live. Thomas Thrall maintained his title of Elite Men’s Champion for a second consecutive year, while the maple leaf jersey was earned by Michelle Gagnon for the Elite Women.

“Whether it be eports or simply women’s cycling, the sport is evolving at an exponential pace and I’m so excited to be a part of it all,” commented Gagnon. “It’s events like these that motivate the cyclists of tomorrow and encourage Canadians to simply hop on the bike and get out there.

Winning the maple leaf jersey was the cherry on top and I will be wearing it all over the Belgian roads with pride!”

The full list of podium results from the Canadian Esports Championships can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian Track Championships for U17, Junior and Para athletes from March 29-31. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

February 12, 2024/by Communications

CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HOSTED ON ZWIFT

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 8, 2024) – Cycling Canada is excited to bring the 2024 Canadian Esports Championships on the Zwift virtual cycling platform, on Feb. 10-11.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Canadian Esports Championships event to Zwift for the first time in 2024,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada Director of Marketing and Events. “This exciting event represents another step forward for Cycling Canada’s esports programming as we continue to build strong relationships with industry partners while working closely alongside our community to develop a uniquely challenging and entertaining competition.”

Reigning 2023 Canadian Champions, Julie Lehmann (U17 Women), Patrick Harris (Junior Men), Mairen Lawson (Elite Women), Thom Thrall (Elite Men), Josée Rossignol (Masters Women 45-54), Diane Bomans (Masters Women 55-64), Anna Tykoliz (Masters Women 65+), Dan Zeggelaar (Masters Men 35-44), Albert Chan (Masters Men 55-64), and Dave Wall (Masters Men 65+) will line up again with hopes of securing another virtual maple leaf jersey.

The Elite races on Sunday Feb. 11 will be livestreamed on Cycling Canada’s Facebook page, in partnership with Zwift Community Live.

The full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

February 8, 2024/by Communications

CANADA CRACKS TOP 10 AT 2024 CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 5, 2024) – Team Canada showed its depth of field with several athletes out of a 21-person roster earning top-10 results at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, CZE, from Feb. 2-4.

Competition began on Feb. 2 with the team relay. Riding for the red and white were Ian Ackert of Severn, ON; Rafaëlle Carrier of Lac-Beauport, QC; Tyler Clark of Mono, ON; Jayden McMullen of St. Thomas, ON; and Ava and Isabella Holmgren of Orillia, ON. The team pulled together to post an impressive time of 1:02:29hr for fourth place just behind Belgium, who stopped the clock at 1:01:55hr for bronze. The top two spots on the podium went to gold medallists France and silver medallists Great Britain, both with a time of 1:01:23hr.

Canada’s best results came in the U23 category. After winning the rainbow jersey last year as a Junior, Isabella started her U23 career just shy of the World Championship podium in fourth place for the women. Despite a hard-fought battle back from 20th place, her time of 49:32m was a scant 13s behind bronze medallist Leonie Bentveld (NED) and her time of 49:19m. Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt took gold (48:24m) while Kristýna Zemanová (CZE) claimed silver on a time of 49:08m.

Not far behind Isabella was her sister and 2023 Junior silver medallist, Ava, coming in at 13th place.

Also making the move into the U23 category for 2024 was Ackert in the men’s category. The 2023 Junior Cross-country Olympic (XCO) bronze medallist held steady through a competitive field to place sixth with a time of 53:31m, 1:39m off the time of gold medallist Tibor del Grosso of the Netherlands (52:02m).

In her ninth consecutive World Championship as an Elite, Maghalie Rochette of Sainte-Adèle, QC, maintained her reputation for consistency in the women’s category. She secured a 10th-place finish with a time of 50:11m, finishing less than four minutes behind leader Fem van Empel (NED) and her time of 46:19m.

Canada also earned a top-20 finish in the Women Junior category, with Carrier placing 16th in an impressive World Championship debut.

“After starting the racing with our best-ever result in the team relay on Friday, it was great to see each athlete put all of their preparation into action and leave absolutely everything on course,” said National Team Coach Michael Van Den Ham. “Results-wise, the three top-10s and numerous other personal best results are impressive not only this year, but as as a sign of things to come from this group.”

Full results from the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships can be found here.

Team Canada – Results

Junior Women
16th – Rafaëlle Carrier, Lac-Beauport, QC
31st – Lily-Rose Marois, Lac-Beauport, QC
44th – Aislin Hallahan, Peterborough, ON
46th – Nico Knoll, Calgary, AB
51st – Dorothée Perron, Gatineau, QC

Junior Men
23rd – Jayden McMullen, St. Thomas, ON
47th – Felix-Antoine Leclair, St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
51st – Tristan Taillefer, St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
67th – Alix Brunelle, Sherbrooke, QC
68th – Lucas Goertz, Waterloo, ON

U23 Women
4th – Isabella Holmgren, Orillia, ON
13th – Ava Holmgren, Orillia, ON
27th – Madeleine Pollock, North Vancouver, BC

U23 Men
6th – Ian Ackert, Severn, ON
53rd – Cody Scott, Courtenay, BC

Elite Women
10th – Maghalie Rochette, Sainte-Adèle, QC
18th – Sidney McGill, Edmonton, AB
30th – Christiane Bilodeau, St. Albert, AB
31st – Katelyn Walcroft, Collingwood, ON

Elite Men
41st – Tyler Clark, Mono, ON
46th – Evan Russell, Mill Bay, BC

February 5, 2024/by Communications

TEAM CANADA ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 31, 2024) – Cycling Canada is sending a team of 21 Junior, U23 and Elite athletes to compete at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, CZE, on Feb. 2-4.

An exciting showcase of up-and-coming talent, the roster features five 2023 Canadian Cyclo-cross Champions, including Juniors Rafaëlle Carrier (Women) and Jayden McMullen (Men) and was chosen following a full season of UCI World Cups and Canadian Championships. Seven Junior and U23 riders spent their holidays in Europe competing for the National Team at numerous international races, including two World Cups in Belgium, gaining valuable international experience.

11 National Team veterans – including 2023 Junior Cyclo-cross World Champion Isabella Holmgren, silver medallist Ava Holmgren, 2023 Junior Cross-country Olympic (XCO) bronze medallist Ian Ackert and top-10 World Cup finishers Maghalie Rochette and Sidney McGill – will share their knowledge with their remaining ten compatriots, for whom Tabor 2024 will be their very first World Championships.

“This is probably the strongest group of riders I’ve seen representing Canada at a Cyclo-cross World Championships,” said National Team Coach Michael Van Den Ham. “I’m excited to see what they can accomplish not only this year but with so many new athletes, I’m excited to see how these Championships lay the foundation for the future as well.”

Racing starts on Feb. 2 with the Team Relay and continues with individual races over the weekend. Live timing will be available here.

Team Canada
Junior Women
Rafaëlle Carrier – Lac-Beauport, QC
Aislin Hallahan – Peterborough, ON
Nico Knoll – Calgary, AB
Lily-Rose Marois – Lac-Beauport, QC
Dorothée Perron – Gatineau, QC

Junior Men
Alix Brunelle – Sherbrooke, QC
Lucas Goertz – Waterloo, ON
Felix-Antoine Leclair – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Jayden McMullen – St. Thomas, ON
Tristan Taillefer – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC

U23 Women
Ava Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Madeleine Pollock – North Vancouver, BC

U23 Men
Cody Scott – Courtenay, BC
Ian Ackert – Severn, ON

Elite Women
Christiane Bilodeau – St. Albert, AB
Katelyn Walcroft – Collingwood, ON
Maghalie Rochette – Sainte-Adèle, QC
Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB

Elite Men
Tyler Clark – Mono, ON
Evan Russell – Mill Bay, BC

January 31, 2024/by Communications

Sanction: Alexander Amiri 2024-01-26

Jan. 26, 2024

Cycling Canada advises that Mr. Alexander Amiri of Victoria, BC, is permanently ineligible from all Cycling Canada, and affiliated, activities and events as a participant in any capacity, including coach, athlete, volunteer, employee, consultant, commentator, assistant or spectator.

This sanction is imposed based on the finding of an adjudicative Panel that Alexander Amiri breached various sections of the 2021 Cycling Canada Code of Conduct & Ethics. These breaches include, but are not limited to, sexual misconduct and grooming of a minor.

Cycling Canada commends the courage of those who have come forward regarding this matter and will not comment further on this case out of respect for their privacy and confidentiality.

Cycling Canada has a fundamental responsibility to protect the health and well-being of its organization, members and participants, all of whom have the right to play and compete in an environment free from harassment, maltreatment and abuse. To that end, Cycling Canada became an early signatory of the Abuse-Free Sport Program in December 2022 and remains committed to working closely with its members to create safe and inclusive environments that foster and preserve positive, healthy and enjoyable experiences for all.

Safe Sport resources for all Cycling Canada participants can be found on our website here.

January 26, 2024/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 25, 2024) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the composition of its operational committees. An expression of interest launched in November 2023 for the identification of individuals who are capable, willing and motivated to serve the organization in a volunteer capacity for one of three operational committees.

Coach Development Committee
Yannick Bédard (QC)
Laura Brown (BC)
Mauricio Garzon (QC) – returning member, appointed for a two-year term
Paul Jurbala (ON) – Chair
Michael Suraci (ON) – new member, appointed for a two-year term
Chantal Thompson (ON) – returning member, appointed for a two-year term

Events Committee
Luc Arseneau (NB) – new member, appointed for a two-year term
Karol-Ann Canuel (QC) – returning member, appointed for a two-year term
Andy Holmwood (AB) – Chair
Frédérick Langlois (QC)
Andrew Paradowski (ON)
Jonas Tremel (AB) – returning member, appointed for a two-year term

Officials Committee
Christian Côté (QC)
Steve Head (ON)
François Lévesque (QC)
Geordie Ma (AB) – Chair, returning member, appointed for a two-year term
Michael Pinkoski (AB)
Vallérie Trottier (QC) – returning member, appointed for a two-year term

There were no changes to the composition of the High Performance Committee for 2024.

More information about Cycling Canada’s governance, including operational committees, can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

January 25, 2024/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES 2023 ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 10, 2024) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Annual Awards, which recognize individuals and events that made large impacts in the cycling community over the past year.

“Congratulations to our 2023 Annual Award recipients,” said Matthew Jeffries, Cycling Canada Chief Executive Officer. “These awards are vital in recognizing the tireless effort and countless hours that go into growing cycling nationwide. We are so grateful for this dedicated community: our sport would not be where it is in Canada today without your unwavering support. Congratulations again to the award recipients and thank you to all the nominees, nominators and people who voted in this year’s process.”

The 2023 Annual Award recipients are:

Canadian International Commissaire of the Year
Adrien Levesque – Moncton, NB

Canadian National Commissaire of the Year
François Levesque – Drummondville, QC

Coaches of the Year

Petrina Tulissi – Calgary, AB
Rob Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Joel Harwood – Squamish, BC

Community Coaches of the Year
Joe Hall – Mississauga, ON
Alyssa Hagley – Milton, ON

Events of the Year
BMX: Haut-Richelieu BMX Canada Cup – Saint-Jean-sur-le-Lac, QC
Canadian Championship: 2023 XCM MTB Championships – Whitehorse, YK
Cyclo-cross: Cyclo-cross de Lévis and Eastern Cyclo-cross Challenge – Lévis, QC
International: Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal – Québec/Montréal, QC
Mountain Bike: Dieppe XCO & XCC Canada Cup – Dieppe, NB
Road: Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix – Vancouver, BC

President’s Trophy & Russ Copeland Award
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON

Commissaire of the Year recipients were nominated by their peers and respective Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) for their exceptional accomplishments, contributions and assignments at local, national and international events. The international award was given to Adrien Levesque, who was appointed to prestigious UCI events across multiple disciplines in 2023, such as the Track Nations Cups, Track Champions League and World Championships in Glasgow, GBR. He also acted several times as UCI Technical Commissaire, broadening his scope of responsibility in the sport. The national award went to to Elite National BMX Official François Levesque after being assigned to the majority of BMX Canada Cups over the last few years while remaining heavily involved as a provincial instructor and mentor in Quebec.

Coach of the Year recipients were selected through a nomination process supported by their respective athlete and/or team that won a 2023 Canadian Championship title. Petrina Tulissi coached two road athletes to gold medal performances: Michael Leonard in the U23 men’s time trial and Alexandra Volstad in the Junior women’s road race. Rob Holmgren received two awards: one for Ian Ackert’s Junior Men Cross-country Short Track (XCC) Mountain Bike (MTB) win, and a second for Ackert and Isabella Holmgren winning the U23 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships in their respective categories. Joel Harwood, who also received a Recognition Award for Coach of the Year in 2017, was recognized for Lucas Cruz’s victory in the Canadian Elite Men Downhill Championship.

The Community Coaches of Year were nominated by community members and supported by their PTSO. Representing the Peterborough Cycling Club, Alyssa Hagley partnered with Ontario Cycling to deliver three multi-day camps and one showcase event for the HopOn program, as well as lead a group of volunteer coaches who are now in the process of becoming HopOn Instructors. Joe Hall is a cycling ambassador who always provides riders with a safe environment. He is highly involved in HopOn through the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, ON, volunteers at local events and is a commissaire at Ontario Cycling events.

Event of the Year recipients were selected through a combined public and internal voting process. The Dieppe Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) Canada Cup and the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal were honoured with the title for a third and second consecutive year, respectively. For its first year on the domestic calendar, the Cyclo-cross de Lévis and Eastern Cyclo-cross Challenge gave racers a chance at crucial UCI points prior to the World Cup circuit, and was subsequently chosen as the organizer for the 2024 and 2025 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships. Haut-Richelieu was an important stop for the BMX Canada Cup Series, credited with a great track and fantastic atmosphere for both its UCI and nationally sanctioned races. Returning for the first time since 2019, the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix celebrated its fifty-year anniversary by bringing in riders from across the globe and a full crowd to experience an exciting Criterium course. Meanwhile, athletes traveled from across the country for a successful Canadian Cross-country Marathon (XCM) MTB Championship, Cycling Canada’s first-ever event held in the Yukon.

Isabella Holmgren was awarded the Russ Copeland Award for best Junior rider, as well as the President’s Trophy for best performance in a World Championship competition as voted on by members of the Canadian National Cycling Team. Her standout season began in February, when she became Canada’s first-ever UCI Junior Women’s Cyclo-cross World Champion. Isabella’s exceptional performances continued through to the Glasgow 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in August, where she clinched the Junior Women’s XCO Champion title.

January 10, 2024/by Communications

DOMINANT PERFORMANCES, INAUGURAL TITLES AND CANADIAN RECORDS AT 2024 CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 8, 2024) – The first 59 national titles of 2024 were handed out at the Canadian Track Championships for Elite and Masters athletes at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON, held Jan. 5-7, 2024.

In the largest-ever edition of the event featuring over 170 athletes, three names stood out with numerous appearances on the podium’s top step: Dylan Bibic (Israel – Premier Teach Academy Team), James Hedgcock (National Cycling Institute Milton) and Rosa Phillip (Midweek Cycling Club).

In the Elite Men category, Bibic upheld his reputation as Canada’s leading endurance rider after recently becoming Men’s Endurance Champion in the 2023 UCI Track Champions League. He successfully defended his titles in the omnium and Madison, which he rode with his gold medal partner from last year, Mathias Guillemette, and also became inaugural champion in the both the elimination and points race, newly introduced for the Elite category in 2024. The first-ever champions on the Women’s side were Jenna Nestman (Tesseract Racing) for the elimination race and Diane Snobelen (Cycle Capital) for the points race.

Meanwhile, Hedgcock used the experience gained winning team sprint gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games to take top honours in the three Elite Men’s races in which he participated: the sprint, 1km time trial and keirin. His three-day streak upped his remarkable tally of Canadian Track Championship medals to over 20 since his debut as a U17 athlete in 2016.

“We’re going to Australia in a few weeks for the first Track Nations Cup of the year so it’s looking good going into that,” said Hedgcock of his feelings coming off the year’s first competition. “It was a lot of fun, I always love racing nationals. It feels good to win every time; it still feels the same [after so many medals] so I’m happy.”

After winning six titles in 2023, Rosa Phillip (Midweek Cycling Club) continued her reign of the Masters Women A category. She earned the maple leaf jersey in the 500m time trial and scratch race; she also won the overall Women’s keirin and sprint titles, as well as the team sprint with Amy Maher and Denise Magnini (Opus Elite Cycing P/B Cyclepath Oakville).

“My legs actually surprised me,” commented Phillip. “I haven’t sprinted much this year: I’ve been focusing on cyclo-cross so I had five or six weeks between cyclo-cross nationals and track nationals. Feedback came in time for track nationals so I’m really happy with how my legs were. It always feels good to get the jersey. It never gets old, it just feels good to be racing with my friends. We all race together and it’s a ton of fun, they keep me coming back to the track.”

The 2024 Canadian Track Championships also featured a brand-new category, Masters D for athletes aged 65+. The inaugural titles went to Ken Germaine (Pedalhead Race Room) for the Men’s 500m time trail and Ralph Schatzmair (Realdeal Racing), who swept the Men’s pursuit, points and scratch races.

Masters athletes also broke a number of Canadian records to start the year with a bang, including: Tim Hadfield (Mariposa Cycling Team) in the B Men’s individual pursuit (3:30.952m); Paolina Allan in the B Women’s individual pursuit (2:43.417m); Roland Fletcher, Jacques Cormier, Robert Meneguzzi and Scott Elliott (Midweek Cycling Club) in the Men’s team pursuit (4:40.055m); Magnini, Maher and Phillip (Opus Elite Cycling P/B Cyclepath Oakville) in the Women’s team sprint (58.381s); Thomas Schelesny (Flying Gorilla Academy) in the C Men’s 500m time trial (35.121s); and Gail Wozny (Juventus Cycling Club) in the C Women’s 500m time trial (46.047).

The full list of podium results from the Canadian Track Championships (Elite/Masters) can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian ESports Championships, hosted on Zwift on Feb. 10-11. Then, U17, Junior and Para track athletes will have their chance at a title from March 29-31. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

January 8, 2024/by Communications