News – Page 2 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CYCLING CANADA AWARDS 13 NATIONAL TITLES AT 2025 CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 10, 2025) – Cycling Canada hosted the 2025 Canadian Esports Championships on the MyWhoosh virtual cycling platform from Feb. 8-9, featuring accessible competition for athletes nationwide across a variety of age categories.

The Masters races kicked off competition on Feb. 8 and the Elite categories wrapped up events on Feb. 9. After competing in the 2024 UCI esports World Championships, Thomas Thrall and Tiffany Penner took top honors this weekend. This is Thrall’s third consecutive Canadian title. Ryan Nickerson (Junior Men), Kyle Spang (U17 Men), and Julia Lehmann (U17 Women) also put their hands on the virtual maple leaf jersey placing first in their respective categories.

Several 2024 champions were successful in defending their crowns, including Dan Zeggelaar (Masters Men 35-44) and Josée Rossignol (Masters Women 45-54). Anna Tykoliz has now won the Masters Women 65+ category in all four editions of the Canadian Esports Championships.

“We are thrilled to have delivered another successful Canadian Esports Championship event” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing & Events at Cycling Canada. “This was our first time delivering this event on the MyWhoosh platform, which provided an excellent stage to exhibit the talent of Canada’s best cycling esports athletes.”

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 athletes taking place in Milton, ON, from April 4-6. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

February 10, 2025/by Communications

CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HOSTED ON MYWHOOSH

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 5, 2025) – Cycling Canada is excited to bring the 2025 Canadian Esports Championships on the MyWhoosh virtual cycling platform, on Feb. 8-9.

“We are thrilled to play host to the fourth edition of the Canadian Esports Championships” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing Events at Cycling Canada. “2025 will mark the first edition of these Championships on the MyWhoosh virtual cycling platform, which will add a new element of excitement and challenge as riders prepare to face-off against the best in the nation. With participation at the Canadian Championship event once again serving as a mandatory prerequisite to qualify to race for Team Canada at the World Championship event this fall, the stakes will be high, promising action-packed racing across all categories.”

Reigning 2024 Canadian Champions, Thomas Thrall (Elite Men), Michelle Gagnon (Elite Women), Josée Rossignol (Masters Women 45-54), Diane Bomans (Masters Women 55-64), Anna Tykoliz (Masters Women 65+), Dan Zeggelaar (Masters Men 35-44), and Albert Chan (Masters Men 55-64) will line up again with hopes of securing another virtual maple leaf jersey.

The fourth edition of the Canadian Esports Championships will be supported by Echelon Racing Promotions, providing athletes with the highest quality, accessible, fair and equitable competitions in the Esport cycling space.

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

February 5, 2025/by Communications

BRONZE FOR CANADA AT 2025 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 3, 2025) – Canada showed its strength at the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships held from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Liévin, FRA, with a bronze medal, a top-5 and several top-20 results.

After winning the overall Junior Women’s UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup, Lac-Beauport, QC native Rafaëlle Carrier finished the race in third place, taking bronze just one minute and 43 seconds behind winner Lise Revol of France and her time of 45:25m. Czech athlete Barbara Bukovskà (+11s) took silver.

Rafaëlle Carrier Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix

Isabella Holmgren, from Orillia, ON, shone in the U23 women’s race, finishing in fifth place, two minutes 17 seconds behind the race leader, British Zoé Backstedt (45:42m), who was defending her title in the category. Marie Schreiber (+39s), from Luxembourg, and Leonie Bentveld (+1:20m), from the Netherlands, took second and third places.

Isabella Holmgren Photo Credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix

Both athletes had been in action earlier in the week, taking part in the team relay on Jan.31 alongside Maxime St-Onge, Ian Ackert, Tyler Clark and Sidney McGill, where they finished seventh, one minute, 24 seconds behind Great Britain. Italy (+2s) and France (+5s) took silver and bronze respectively.

“I’ve been around the sport for a while a now,” said Michael Van den Ham, National Team Coach. “A decade ago, I could not have imagined the success we had at this year’s World Championships. A podium, a top-5 and multiple top-20s across multiple categories and from riders in different parts of the country is nothing but a success an something I’m excited to see build on moving forward.”

Athletes represented the country over the weekend, with six reaching the top-20. Émilien Belzile (junior men – 11th), Ian Ackert (U23 men – 16th), Sidney McGill (elite women – 16th) and Tyler Clark (elite men – 38th) were the top performers in their respective categories.

Full results from the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships can be found here.

Junior Women
3 – Rafaelle Carrier – Lac-Beauport, QC
13 – Nico Knoll – Calgary, AB
36 – Lily-Rose Marois – Lac-Beauport, QC
39 – Maya Tassé – Mendham, NJ
DNS – Aislin Hallahan – Peterborough, ON

Junior Men
11 – Emilien Belzile – Sherbrooke, QC
39 – Farland Lamont – Midland, ON
40 – Tristan Taillefer – Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
42 – Sagan Goertz – Waterloo, ON
54 – Monty Rigby – Vancouver, BC

U23 Women
5 – Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
39 – Marie-Fay St-Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC (39th)
40 – Mia De Martin – Saint-Colomban, QC
41 – Dorothée Perron – Gatineau, QC

U23 Men
16 – Ian Ackert – Severn, ON
27 – Maxime St Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
43 – Alexander Woodford – Ottawa, ON

Elite Women
16 – Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB (16)
33 – Christiane Bilodeau – St. Albert, AB
DNS – Katelyn Walcroft – Collingwood, ON

Elite Men
38 – Tyler Clark – Mono, ON
41 – Cody Scott – Courtenay, BC

February 3, 2025/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA WELCOMES JAKROO AS OFFICIAL OUTFITTER OF THE CANADIAN NATIONAL CYCLING TEAM

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 3, 2025) – Cycling Canada and Jakroo Canada are proud to announce a four-year partnership that will see Jakroo become the official provider of on-bike and casual apparel for the Canadian National Cycling Team and Canadian Cycling Champions.

Ryan Dodyk
Photo Credit: Cycling Canada/Jamie Blades

Jakroo will outfit athletes across all disciplines with high-performance competition clothing, including Team Canada kits for the cycling events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We are so excited to begin this new chapter with Jakroo,” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing and Events at Cycling Canada. “Jakroo’s ability to produce some of the world’s fastest performance apparel on an industry-leading production timeline made this an easy choice for a cornerstone partnership as the team sets our sights on LA 2028.”

Isabella HolmgrenPhoto Credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com

Jakroo, a leader in performance endurance apparel for nearly 30 years, brings extensive experience collaborating with top Canadian cycling teams and clubs. Their focus on innovation and research and development to further performance will play a key role in supporting Canada’s top athletes.

Ngaire Barraclough, Lily Plante, Mel Pemble
Photo Credit: Cycling Canada/Jamie Blades

After meeting National Team athletes during the 2025 Canadian Track Championships in Bromont, QC, Jakroo’s Research and Development Manager, Nick Monette, shared his enthusiasm: “The opportunity to work with the top athletes in Canada to continually improve our products is invaluable, especially with the rapidly increasing focus on aerodynamics in track, BMX and mountain bike competition.”

Jakroo Canada’s General Manager, John Beriault, added, “Canadian athletes have posted incredible results over the past few years and we take the responsibility of equipping them at the highest levels of competition very seriously. We’re eager to see what Canada’s best can accomplish as we build for LA 2028.”

Nick Monette, Lily Plante
Photo Credit: Cycling Canada/Jamie Blades

“I’m really excited to be working with Jakroo on the National Team,” said two-time Olympian Michael Foley. “I have worked with them on my road team and know them to be a nimble, innovative company that will be able to adapt to our needs and help make a difference to our performances on the world stage.”

Cycling Canada’s partners provide essential support to the nationwide development of cycling from grassroots to the high-performance level. To learn more about Cycling Canada partners and opportunities for collaboration, click here.

Émilien Belzile Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

February 3, 2025/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA JOINS RBC TRAINING GROUND TO FIND NEW OLYMPIC TALENT

New season of successful program gives Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 the chance to be scouted by fifteen Team Canada sports for free, including cycling

Cycling Canada will again be searching for Olympic potential through the RBC Training Ground program this season.

Developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, and with support from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification program dedicated to finding and funding Canada’s future Olympians.

Since its inception in 2016, RBC Training Ground has helped 21 program alumni reach the Olympic Games, 12 of whom have brought home medals for Team Canada. Most recently, 16 program alumni were named to Team Canada for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including team sprint cyclists, Kelsey Mitchell, Lauriane Genest, Sarah Orban and alternate, Jackie Boyle, as well as BMX racing alternate, Teigen Pascual.

At each qualifying event, participants from a wide range of sport backgrounds perform speed, strength, power and endurance benchmark testing in front of National Sport Organization (NSO) partners. 100 hopefuls will then compete at a National Final. Up to 35 athletes will be selected as RBC Future Olympians and receive funding, mentorship and other resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.

In addition to new sport partners, for year 10 RBC Training Ground is providing more funding support for athletes and implementing program updates designed to provide greater access to high-performance sport for athletes from a wide range of backgrounds.

“RBC Training Ground has always been committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring young athletes across Canada have fairer and more inclusive opportunities to participate in sport,” said Shannon Cole, Chief Brand Officer, RBC. “These meaningful new program updates will help make chasing Olympic dreams more accessible for all athletes across Canada. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the COC and working alongside our sports partners to find and fund the next generation of Team Canada athletes.”

Program Updates for 2025

RBC Training Ground Women’s Hour – an optional, scheduled participation timeslot at all RBC Training Ground qualifying events reserved for women. Athletes will be able to select this option during the registration process. This program update provides women with the option to compete in an environment that may feel more comfortable for them.

RBC Training Ground Athlete Accelerator – a new funding and support opportunity for RBC Training Ground participants facing financial barriers to high-performance sport. In addition to funding, recipients will receive educational development, mentorship support and financial literacy resources. All eligible athletes are able to apply following participation at a 2025

RBC Training Ground Inclusion Council – a council to help further advance RBC Training Ground’s commitment to providing fair and inclusive opportunities for all athletes. Members will include representatives from the Canadian Olympic Committee, RBC, NSO, former athletes and other industry leaders focused on inclusion.

Expanding program access to more communities – program schedule to include new qualifying events (i.e., in Yellowknife, NT, and Windsor, ON) intended to reach talent who have not always had the same access to participate (e.g., Indigenous and racialized communities, geographically isolated groups, among others).

“While some participants are looking to re-energize or boost an Olympic dream in a sport they are already pursuing, others participate with the hope of being discovered and directed toward an Olympic sport they may have never considered,” said Evan MacInnis, Sport Technical Lead for RBC Training Ground. “But they all rely on raw athleticism and determination to attract the attention of our sport partners and are excited to see where this program can take them.”

Athletes are encouraged to register for the newest season, which will include 20 local qualifier events, here. The complete schedule of 2025 RBC Training Ground qualifying events is available at RBCTrainingGround.ca.

January 29, 2025/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES 2025 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 29, 2025) – Cycling Canada has selected 22 athletes to represent the country at the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, FRA, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Two-time World Mountain Bike Champion in the Women U23 category, Isabella Holmgren will be on hand to add another jersey to her growing collection. In 2022, Holmgren won junior women’s cyclo-cross World Championships. She will be joined by Canadian Champions Ian Ackert, Émilien Belzile and Rafaëlle Carrier, who sits atop the UCI junior women’s cyclo-cross rankings after several World Cup podiums.

“We have another strong team ready for this year’s Championships,” said National Team Coach, Michael Van den Ham. “After Carrier became the first ever Canadian to win a Cyclo-cross World Cup overall title last weekend and a number of other athletes earned personal best World Cup performances, I’m excited to see what everyone is able to achieve both this weekend and in the future.”

Pan-American champion Sidney McGill, bronze medalist at the Canadian Championships, will also be participating, accompanied by Alexander Woodford and Tyler Clark, who also stood on the podium at Nationals.

Racing starts on Jan. 31 with the Team Relay and continues with individual races over the weekend. Live timing will be available here.

Team Canada:
Ian Ackert – Severn, ON
Emilien Belzile – Sherbrooke, QC
Christiane Bilodeau – St. Albert, AB
Rafaelle Carrier – Lac-Beauport, QC
Tyler Clark – Mono, ON
Mia De Martin – Saint-Colomban, QC
Sagan Goertz – Waterloo, ON
Aislin Hallahan – Peterborough, ON
Ava Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Nico Knoll – Calgary, AB
Farland Lamont – Midland, ON
Lily-Rose Marois – Lac-Beauport, QC
Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB
Dorothée Perron – Gatineau, QC
Monty Rigby – Vancouver, BC
Cody Scott – Courtenay, BC
Marie-Fay St-Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Maxime St Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Tristan Taillefer – Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Maya Tassé – Mendham, NJ
Katelyn Walcroft – Collingwood, ON
Alexander Woodford – Ottawa, ON

January 29, 2025/by Communications

CYCLING NWT JOINS CYCLING CANADA AS 12TH PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL SPORT ORGANIZATION

Yellowknife, NT (Jan. 27, 2025) – Cycling Canada and Cycling NWT are thrilled to announce that Cycling NWT has become the 12th Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) for cycling in Canada. This partnership marks a significant milestone for promoting cycling across the vast and diverse communities of Canada, expanding an aligned national sport system into the Northwest Territories.

“Community growth is a pillar of Cycling Canada’s strategic plan and to expand the cycling network into a new territory in Canada is not an everyday occurrence,” said Robyn Skinner, Cycling Canada Director of Community Growth and Engagement. “We welcome Cycling NWT to the Canadian cycling community and anticipate learning and supporting our new sport partner in the north.”

Lisa McShane, Member of the Cycling NWT Board of Directors, also expressed her enthusiasm: “We love seeing cycling as a sport but also as a recreational activity in the communities. Involving other sports, sport and recreation partners, and building capacity will be a great journey for all of us.”

As a National Sport Organization (NSO), Cycling Canada is the governing body for cycling within Canada and works closely with its member PTSOs to oversee and develop the sport. PTSOs follow NSO policies and rules, as well as bring national programming to their regional communities in support of a unified athlete pathway and consistent, accessible and safe nationwide sport environment.

Cycling NWT has already made impactful strides by hosting its first National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Coaching Clinic, resulting in several trained NCCP Community Coaches and additional candidates currently undergoing training in Mountain Biking Introduction to Competition Coaching. The organization is also in the process of identifying athletes for future competitions, including the 2025 Canada Summer Games, ensuring readiness for upcoming events.

For more information about Cycling Canada’s PTSO, click here.

January 27, 2025/by Communications

FOUR CYCLING COACHES SELECTED FOR WOMEN AND GENDER EQUITY IN COACHING INITIATIVE

Ottawa, ON (Jan. 22, 2025) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the four participants selected to represent cycling in the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Women and Gender Equity in Coaching initiative.

Mentors
Joanie Caron – BC
Petrina Tulissi – AB

Mentees
Scheherazade Haque – ON
Maxine Bergeron – QC

“I see this mentorship program as a valuable opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and gain insights that can directly be applied to my work and the coaching community that I’m part of,” said Bergeron, who is the Director of Sport Programs at the Centre National Cyclisme de Bromont. “I’m excited to build lasting connections and gather fresh perspectives to help me grow as both a coach and facilitator. From this program, I hope to acquire versatile coaching tools. Ultimately, I want to solidify best coaching practices that I can bring to my environment, support the athletes I work with, and share with other coaches.”

The Women and Gender Equity in Coaching initiative provides mentorship, expert-led education sessions, hands-on experiences and resources designed to advance gender equity. The initiative will also produce legacy materials, including policy recommendations, new programs, and contributions to conferences and publications.

“Cycling Canada is thrilled to be involved with the Women and Gender Equity project funded through the Coaching Association of Canada,” said Jennifer Milligan, Cycling Canada Community and Grassroots Manager. “This is an incredible opportunity for women and non-binary coaches to be involved with coaching at the grassroots level up to the National Team level. This project will allow the mentors and mentees to work together and be involved in Cycling Canada projects so they can gain valuable experience in their coaching journey. It will also provide resources and learnings over the next 14 months that we can continue to use to be able to offer more mentorship opportunities to all coaches.”

For more information, click here.

January 22, 2025/by Communications

THANK YOU, DAN PROULX

After over 15 years with Cycling Canada, Canadian National Cycling Team Head Coach Dan Proulx will be moving on to a new role with Triathlon Canada as their High Performance Director. While saddened to see Dan leave, we are immensely proud of his achievements and excited by the new opportunities that await him.

Dan’s tenure with Cycling Canada was marked by exceptional leadership and a profound impact on both our athletes and the broader cycling community. He served as the Team Manager during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and was hired as Cycling Canada’s full-time Mountain Bike Coach in 2009. Dan was promoted to the role of Canadian National Cycling Team Head Coach in 2021.

Dan Proulx at Santiago 2023 Pan American Games
Photo credit: Dave Holland

Under Dan’s guidance, our athletes achieved remarkable success, including multiple World Championship titles, and Paralympic and Olympic medals. As a four-time Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award winner, he was instrumental in developing the next generation of Canadian coaches, ensuring sustained excellence within our programs. His commitment to nurturing both athletic performance and personal growth has left an indelible mark on our organization.

“2024 marked 20 years of working with Dan Proulx for me,” said National Team Coach and four-time Olympian Catharine Pendrel. “From my early days as an athlete, to Olympic and Championship medals and then my transition to full-time coaching, Dan has been there every step of the way. He has had such a huge impact on me and my career. He has led us with belief in our abilities, passion for coaching and empowerment. He will definitely be missed!”

Catharine Pendrel and Dan Proulx at 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Source: Instagram (@cpendrel)

Thank you, Dan, for your exceptional service. You will always remain a cherished member of our community and we look forward to your future success.

January 17, 2025/by Communications

SUCCESS AT 2025 CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BROMONT

Bromont, QC (Jan. 13, 2025) – The Canadian Track Championships for Elite, Master and Para athletes crowned a host of new champions from Jan.10-12 in Bromont, QC.

In front of a lively crowd, nearly 150 athletes took to the track for three days of endurance, track and team events.

Elite
For the third year in a row, sprinter James Hedgcock took top honours in all three races he entered: the keirin, time trial and sprint. His female counterpart, Sarah Orban, was on course to achieve the same feat: she won both the time trial and the sprint, but ultimately finished second in the keirin behind Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallist, Lauriane Genest.

Ngaire Barraclough and Lily Plante put on quite a show in the endurance races for the well-attended Canadian crowd. Alternating victories, Barraclough winning the points race and the elimination and Plante taking the jersey in the omnium and pursuit, they ended the weekend’s racing by teaming up in the Madison, where they added yet another title to their collection.

The names of Mathias Guillemette and Michael Foley were also heard over and over again at the velodrome, as the two athletes respectively claimed the men’s points and elimination race titles, as well as the omnium and the pursuit title.

Para
Para athletes were also in action at the Vélodrome Sylvan Adams. In their first competition since the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Mel Pemble (Women C3) and Alex Hayward (Men C4) put their hands on the titles in the time trial and individual pursuit, respectively.

This was also Pemble’s first time participating in the new version of the women’s time trial, now a distance of over one kilometer rather than the previous 500 meters. The first athlete in her category to attempt it, the British Columbia native set the world record with a time of 1min 22.515 s.

“I hadn’t been on my track bike since Paris so I approached the event with a totally open mind, just to see where my fitness was at but also to find out how to attack a kilo,” said Pemble. “I clearly felt the difference over the distance and I’m going to have to fine-tune a lot of things for the kilo and put a training plan in place, as it will definitely require more endurance.”

Jessica Law (Women C5), Lachlan Hotchkiss (Men C4) and Matthieu Croteau-Daigle (Pilot: Olivier de la Durantaye, Men B) also took part in the competition, where they won the championship jerseys in both the time trial and the individual pursuit in their categories.

Masters
Many names on the start list became familiar to the Canadian public over the weekend, as numerous competitors stood on the podium more than once. Daniel Blanche (Masters D), Guylaine Larouche (Masters D), Jennifer Bell (Masters A) and Jérémie Fontanaud (Masters C) claimed no fewer than three titles.

“The crowd made a huge difference: we were at home and we were lucky to have a crowd on fire all weekend,” commented Fontanaud, a regular at competitions at the Bromont velodrome. “No one has ever seen such an atmosphere for a Canadian Championships. Personally, I brought home three titles in my new category and I’m extremely satisfied. I was on the podium for every race, so I can’t complain!”

The complete list of podium finishes at the Canadian Track Championships (Elite/Masters) can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian ESports Championships, hosted on MyWhoosh on Feb. 8-9. The complete calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

January 13, 2025/by Communications