News – Page 20 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CANADIAN ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIPS BACK IN 2023 AND COMING TO CRANKWORX WHISTLER

Canadian Open Enduro to take place Sunday, July 30, co-produced by Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League and sanctioned by Cycling Canada

WHISTLER, BC (March 2, 2023) – Crankworx, the Canadian Enduro League (CEL) and Cycling Canada have announced the return of the top title in Canadian enduro racing.

The Canadian Enduro Championships are back in 2023 and are coming to Crankworx Whistler. The Canadian Enduro Champion titles will be awarded to Canadian racers based on the Elite (17+) results of the Canadian Open Enduro.

The Canadian Open Enduro will take place on the final weekend of Crankworx Whistler on Sunday, July 30. And while Canada’s elite will have their eyes set on the championship titles, the race itself will be open to elite and amateur racers from all nations.

Racers can expect the high-caliber racing, advanced terrain, and iconic Whistler tracks they’ve come to expect of enduro racing at Crankworx Whistler.

“Having Canadian Championships is huge for us,” said Jesse Melamed. “Our Canadian numbers are growing on the World Circuit and having such a prestigious race at home in Canada will help bring more kids into the sport and grow the racing passion. It’s great to see Crankworx step up and make this as big as it should be. I am stoked that I get to race in Whistler again this year and fight for the sleeve,” he added. “It is an honour to wear it. The race in 2022 was one of the best yet so I can’t wait to see what Crankworx will provide for the championships race this year.”

The event will be co-produced by Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League and sanctioned by Cycling Canada.

“The goal going into this was to bring these three great organizations together to stage a world-class enduro in Canada for our local riders, and for the world who wants to get in on the action,” said Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director of Crankworx, on the joint efforts of Crankworx, the Canadian Enduro League, and Cycling Canada. “So far it has been incredibly exciting working with these great advocates for enduro in Canada. We’ve been hosting enduro races during Crankworx Whistler for most of our history, including the EWS from 2013-2022. The spirit has always been about hard-charging racing in our amazing backyard. Combining what we do with Ted and the community he’s grown through CEL is going to result in a pretty special race and a great way to send the 2023 Crankworx World Tour out with a bang.”

“The Canadian Enduro League is honored to bring our experience into such a unique and collaborative partnership,” said Ted Morton of the Canadian Enduro League. “Crankworx’s willingness to co-produce this event with us and partner with Cycling Canada highlights their ethos of wanting to ‘celebrate mountain bike culture,’ and that means providing racers with a high level of communication, on-course safety, clear direction and of course, amazing trails with lots of love! This is the culminating opportunity for aspiring and veteran Canadian Enduro racers, and to be showcased in Whistler, during Crankworx, unbelievable! As a racer myself, I’m elated to see the return of the Canadian Open Enduro, an opportunity to compete against friends from around the world, while racing on some of the best trails in Canada.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League to host the Canadian Enduro Championships as a part of the wider Crankworx Whistler festival,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada Director of Marketing and Events. “By working alongside two of the most reputable enduro race organizations in the country, we’re confident that athletes from across the country will have access to the highest possible calibre of racing as they battle for the coveted maple leaf sleeve.”

The race will be a one-day format with training Saturday, July 29, and racing Sunday, July 30.

The Canadian Championship titles will be awarded to the top Canadian male and female riders racing in the Elite (17+) category of the Canadian Open Enduro.

The Canadian Open Enduro will have three registration categories for both men and women, open to riders from any nation: Elite (17+), and amateur U21 and 21+. A prize purse of $20,000 CAD total will be awarded to the top finishers in the Elite category.

Points toward the Canadian Enduro League will also be up for grabs. Additionally, the Canadian Open Enduro will provide a means for scoring qualifying points to compete in the EDR (formerly Enduro World Series). Details on the latter co come.

The race is expected to attract Canada’s top enduro riders on the hunt for the coveted Canadian Champions’ sleeve and title. Additionally, with a gap in the EDR schedule, odds are high the race will attract a healthy smattering of top international talent.

There will be a cap of 300 spots available in the race, across categories, so racers are encouraged to mark down the registration date and be ready. The race is expected to sell out.

Registration will go live at 10 a.m. PST on April 13, 2023.

For young racers looking to get involved, there will be a separate Kidsworx Enduro. The event will be run on a different day during Crankworx Whistler. Full details to come.

Those who’d like to be first in-the-know as details become available about the Canadian Open Enduro can register their interest here: Canadian Open Enduro

March 2, 2023/by Communications

UPDATES TO THE CYCLING CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 23, 2023) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce updates to the composition of the Board of Directors following its Annual Meeting in September 2022, as well as several recent appointments.

Cycling Canada’s Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) voted to re-elect three incumbent directors from a slate of nine nominees. Each of the following Directors will serve two-year terms in the role of Director at Large:

Mark Collins (Georgetown, ON)
Louizandre Dauphin (Abbotsford, BC)
Curt Harnett (Toronto, ON)

After the Annual Meeting, the Board appointed Andrea Eby (Vancouver, BC) to the role of Director at Large for a term of one year, concluding at the Cycling Canada Annual Meeting in September 2023.

In February 2023, the Board voted to appoint Denise Ramsden (Toronto, ON) to fill a recently vacated Director at Large position for a term also expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting.

Stepping down effective Feb. 7, 2023, was Mark Gilligan (Toronto, ON), who served on the Board for two terms beginning in September 2019. Shauna Finlay (Edmonton, AB), also departed the Board after completing a two-year term in September 2022 and did not stand for re-election.

The Board would like to recognize and thank both Shauna and Mark for their significant contributions over their time on the Board, particularly in the areas of governance, safe sport policy and risk management.

Continuing their ongoing terms on the Cycling Canada Board of Directors are Peter Lawless, Kelly Murray and Board Chair Pierre Laflamme. The position of Athlete Representative remains filled by Andrew L’Esperance but may change subsequent to the completion of the current Cycling Canada Athletes’ Council election process.

Cycling Canada would like to extend a warm welcome to its new Directors and a sincere thank you to all candidates who put their names forward as nominees in the recent election.

The role of Cycling Canada’s Board of Directors is to provide overall strategic direction, leadership and stability for the organization. The Board establishes the overall mission and purpose for the organization and is responsible for a number of key governance-related activities including approving the appointment of and providing direction to the CEO and senior management team, the development and adoption of organizational policies, financial oversight and approval of the annual budget.

Cycling Canada Board of Directors as of Feb. 8, 2023
Mark Collins                Director at Large
Louizandre Dauphin   Director at Large
Andrea Eby                 Director at Large
Curt Harnett                Director at Large
Pierre Laflamme         Director at Large/Chair
Peter Lawless             Director at Large
Andrew L’Esperance National Team Athlete Representative
Kelly Murray                Director at Large
Denise Ramsden        Director at Large

February 23, 2023/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS FOR 2022 ANNUAL AWARDS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 21, 2023) – Following the announcement of the award winners for events and commissaires, Cycling Canada is please to recognize the remaining award winners for 2022.

New for 2022 is the Community Coach of the Year Award. The inaugural recipients, Nicolas Masbourian and Camille Desjardins-Leduc, were nominated by their community with the support of their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO). Desjardins-Leduc has developed a day camp that allows young people learn about cycling activities and involves U17 and Junior cyclists as leaders. She has also developed a Canadian para-cycling program for children 17 and under to promote accessibility to people with disabilities.

Masbourian is a youth cycling club coach, HopOn Learning Facilitator, National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Instructor and developer of a bicycle safety education program delivered in Quebec.

Earning the title of 2022 Coach of the Year are Pierre Hutsebaut and Christine Gilliard. Gilliard coaches athletes to reach their full potential through the Sport-Études program, which she has managed since 2006. In 2022, several of her students participated in Canadian National Cycling Team projects, including Road World Championships.

In his decades-long involvement with cycling, Hutsebaut has earned a reputation coaching both elite and up-and-coming road cyclists to perform their best on the international stage. Among the Canadian cyclists he coached in 2022 were Hugo Houle, Simone Boilard, Nickolas Zukowsky and Paralympian Marie-Claude Molnar.

The Presidents’ Trophy recognizes the best performance in World Championship competition as voted on by members of the Canadian National Cycling Team. Dylan Bibic claimed the honour in recognition of becoming the first Canadian in history to win gold in the scratch race at the Track World Championships at just 19 years old.

Also decided by National Team athletes is the Russ Copeland Award for best junior rider, which Jackson Goldstone received for the second consecutive year. His win of the UCI men’s junior Downhill World Cup Overall was a result of an impressive string of first- and second-place finishes throughout the season.

Finally, Cycling Canada has awarded the Builder of the Year Award to Nicolas Legault, General Manager of the Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont (CNCB). Led by Legault, the CNCB initiated a transformative project that culminated in September, when the Vélodrome Sylvan Adams-Centre Multisports Desjardins was unveiled to the public. In December, the CNCB was officially named as a UCI World Cycling Centre Continental Satellite. In addition to being an invaluable facility for athlete development, the centre bolsters Canada’s prominence on the international cycling stage and play an instrumental role in Cycling Canada and the FQSC’s efforts to build and support the cycling community via grassroots programming and high profile events.

2022 Community Coach of the Year
Camille Desjardins-Leduc
Nicolas Masbourian

2022 Coach of the Year
Christine Gilliard
Pierre Hutsebaut

2022 Presidents Trophy
Dylan Bibic

Russ Copeland Award
Jackson Goldstone

2022 Builder of the Year
Nicolas Legault

February 21, 2023/by Communications

13 UCI CONTINENTAL TEAMS AFFILIATE WITH CYCLING CANADA FOR 2023

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 15, 2023) – In its continuing effort to develop programs, policies and services that support Canadian teams, Cycling Canada is pleased to release the list of 13 UCI Continental and Women’s Teams that have affiliated with Cycling Canada for the coming year. These squads will be comprised of over 75 Canadian athletes who will be competing across road, downhill, enduro and cross-country mountain biking.

The five UCI men’s and women’s road teams registered for 2023 are XSpeed United Continental, InstaFund Racing, Toronto Hustle, Team Ecoflo Chronos – formerly known as Premier Tech U23 – and the addition of a new women’s team, Primeau Velo Racing Team.

On the mountain bike side, Cycling Canada will count Forbidden Synthesis Team (DH), Foresco Holding Proco RL Pro Team (XC), Norco Factory Team (DH) and Pivot Cycles – OTE (XC) as returning UCI teams in 2023. With the addition of enduro to the 2023 UCI World Cups, Devinci Global Racing and Rocky Mountain/Race Face Enduro Team (EDR) will start their journey as UCI teams, alongside new teams Pittstop Racing (XC) and Outlaw United (DH).

“We’re very excited to see such a diverse and growing list of affiliated Canadian UCI teams for the 2023 season,” said Jen Milligan, Community and Grassroots Manager at Cycling Canada. “We are thankful to all the 13 UCI Continental Teams affiliated as we recognized their important role supporting our athletes on the national and international stage.”

Trade Teams affiliated with Cycling Canada receive several benefits, including free technical space at Canadian Championship and Canada Cup events, priority invitations to events on the international and national calendar, access to special rates and more. For more information, click here.

February 15, 2023/by Communications

22 NATIONAL TITLES AWARDED AT 2023 ESPORTS CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 13, 2023) – The Cycling Canada and USA Cycling National Esports Championships presented by Echelon Racing Promotions saw 22 Canadians win national titles on the Wahoo RGT platform across U17, Junior, Elite, Masters and Para categories on Feb.11-12, 2023.

Athletes completed between one to three laps of the Dirty Reiver course, a difficult 18 kilometers featuring steady climbs and an uphill sprint for the line.

2022 Canadian Champions Laura Perry (Masters Women 35-44), Richard Keller (Masters Men 45-54) and Anna Tykoliz (Masters Women 65+) were determined to bring the title home once again and they all succeeded in their mission, winning the race in their respective categories.

Julia Lehmann, Patrick Harris and Tristan Taillefer raced for the win in the Junior and U17 categories, while Lowell Taylor captured the first-ever virtual national paracycling title.

In preparation for the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, Thomas Thrall (Elite Men), Mairen Lawson (Elite Women) and Josée Rossignol (Masters Women 45-54) all secured their first virtual jersey. They will be racing in the virtual course of Glasgow, GBR next week on Zwift.

The full list of results can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian U17/Junior/Para Track Championships in Bromont, QC, from March 31-April 2. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

February 13, 2023/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA, THE FQSC AND CORPORATION DU GRAND PRIX CYCLISTE DE BEAUCE JOIN FORCES TO PRESENT A UNIQUE EVENT

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 10, 2023) – The Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes, Cycling Canada and the Grand Prix Cycliste Beauce corporation are proud to announce that the 2023 Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships and the Quebec Elite Road Cycling Championships will be held from June 29 to July 2 in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce.

“Just a few weeks after the Appalachian Classic withdrew from hosting the Canadian Masters Road Championships, we coordinated our efforts to find a quick and efficient solution, without compromising the quality of this event,” commented Louis Barbeau, Executive Director of the FQSC, who was pleased with the agility of the players involved. “We called on the Tour de Beauce team because of their experience and expertise in organizing major road races, whether it be the Tour de Beauce, the Quebec Championships or the Canadian Championships. They responded to our request, as they have often done over the past 20 years.”

An exceptional dual status
Led by a team well experienced in organizing cycling events, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce corporation had recently agreed to organize the 2023 Quebec Elite Road Cycling Championships, which includes the masters categories. In agreeing to organize the Canadian Road Championships for Masters, it was decided that the two events would be combined in 2023.

In concrete terms, this means that for the masters races, all Canadians will be eligible for the rankings, medals and jerseys for the Canadian Championships, while only Quebecers will be eligible for the Quebec Championships. Therefore, there will be two separate podiums in the masters categories. It should be noted that the Association des coureurs vétérans (maîtres) du Québec (ACVQ) has been consulted and has agreed to this solution.

In the case of junior and senior age categories, men and women, the Quebec Championships will be reserved exclusively for Quebecers.

“It is with great pleasure that our organization intends to take up this new challenge,” added Francis Rancourt, General Manager of the Corporation du Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce. “We are fortunate to be able to count on a well-trained team, but also on the support of our many local partners, notably the Ville de Saint-Georges, who understand the importance of the benefits of such events for the region.”

Please note that the Canadian Masters Champions will automatically qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. All information regarding the 2023 Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships, including the detailed schedule, will be available on Cycling Canada’s event page.

February 10, 2023/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA TO HOST CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN COLLABORATION WITH USA CYCLING

Ottawa, ON (February 8, 2023) –Cycling Canada is excited to announce that the second edition of the Canadian Esports Championships will take place on Feb. 11-12, 2023, on the Wahoo RGT virtual cycling platform.

Hosted in collaboration with USA Cycling, the 2023 Canadian Esports Championships presented by Echelon Racing Promotions marks the first collaboration between the two national cycling federations.

“We are thrilled to return with the second edition of our Canadian Esports Championships,” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing & Events at Cycling Canada. “Working alongside both USA Cycling and Echelon Racing Promotions has given us the ability to amplify this event to a whole new level, all while offering Canadian Champion titles across a variety of age classes.”

Titles will be awarded across 24 categories, from Juniors to Masters, with the recent addition of para-cycling categories. All athletes will be racing on the Dirty Reiver course, with over 18 kilometres of steady climbs, a long descent, a twisting flat section, and an uphill sprint for the line.

“Thanks to the ongoing work of Wahoo RGT and Echelon Racing Promotions, we have the opportunity to host a full range of para-cycling categories for the first time at this event,” continued Josh Peacock. “We look forward to continuing to support their efforts in enhancing representation of all athletes with disabilities in the future.”

For more information on the event, including schedule, registration and technical guide, click here. Registration closes on Wednesday, February 8th at 5:00pm EST. Races will be livestreamed here on Sunday.

Please note that Cycling Canada will be donating $5 per registrant to the Heart & Stroke Foundation to honour the late Kris Yip’s memory.

February 8, 2023/by Communications

ISABELLA HOLMGREN BECOMES CANADA’S FIRST JUNIOR CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPION

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 5, 2023) – Isabella and Ava Holmgren of Orillia, ON, won Canada’s first-ever medals at the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide, NED, with Isabella becoming Junior World Champion and Ava winning silver in the same category.

Following a successful season filled with World Cup podiums and national titles, both sisters were top contenders for the women’s junior world title. In wet and muddy conditions, the Holmgrens rode a strong and controlled race in the lead group only to attack in the third lap, with Isabella ultimately placing herself ahead of her sister to cross the finish line.

“I came here to get Canada’s first-ever [World Championship] medal,” Ava Holmgren told the UCI in an interview. “What happened was something even better. My sister won and I celebrated for her, for our country and for our family across the whole finish line.”

A team of fourteen athletes represented Canada over the weekend, with six athletes placing seventh in the Team Relay on Feb. 3 and four athletes making their way to the top-15 in their individual races. Maghalie Rochette was Canada’s top finisher in the Elite field, finishing in ninthplace, while Junior Canadian Champion Ian Ackert obtained the best junior men result, placing 11^th.

For full results from the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, click here.

February 6, 2023/by Communications

HOP ON FUNDING APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 3, 2023) – Applications are now open for Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) funding through Cycling Canada. Eligible cycling clubs may apply by March 1, 2023, to support the implementation and development of HopOn programming.

“This direct support from the Government of Canada through the CSAI funding will continue to build on the great work led by our clubs and communities to inspire Canadians to cycle,” said Robyn Skinner, Cycling Canada Director of Community Growth and Engagement. “Most of us can remember the feeling of learning to ride a bicycle and the freedom that followed. This funding will provide opportunities for more equity-deserving groups to discover HopOn and begin their journey on a bicycle.”

Clubs affiliated with their respective Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) can apply for up to a maximum amount of $15,000 to be used towards:

National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified Instructors and Learning Facilitators
Program subsidies (e.g., registration fees)
Equipment needs (bikes, helmets, trailer, maintenance, insurance, etc.)

The funding is made possible by the Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) component of the Sport Canada Sport Support Program, which seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented groups. Its key objective is to support community sport initiatives for equity-deserving groups, in particular, Black, Indigenous, newcomers and persons with a disability.

“Through its work with the cycling community, B.I.CYCLE has identified key barriers for equity-deserving groups in Canada: awareness, equipment, representation and location” said Dr. Amr Elmaraghy, founder of the HopOn partner and grassroots community group. “This funding will aid in breaking down these barriers by supporting clubs’ efforts engaging with equity-deserving groups. Aligning the B.I.CYCLE mission, expanded HopOn programming will provide greater opportunity for historically disadvantaged Black and Indigenous individuals and communities to benefit from the physical and psychological benefits of cycling.”

To access the application, click here. Questions related to the application can be directed to Jen Milligan, Cycling Canada Community and Grassroots Manager, at jen.milligan@cyclingcanada.ca. More information on the HopOn program can be found here.

February 3, 2023/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 1, 2023) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the composition of its operational committees. An expression of interest launched in November 2022 for the identification of individuals who are capable, willing and motivated to serve the organization in a volunteer capacity for one of four operational committees.

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

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

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

High Performance Committee
Denise Ramsden (ON) – appointed for a two-year term
Stephen Burke (AB) – appointed for a two-year term
Aroussen Laflamme (QC) – appointed for a two-year term
Kirsti Lay (AB) – appointed for a two-year term
Andrew Pinfold (BC) – appointed for a two-year term
Mike Pinkoski (AB) – appointed for a two-year term
Beatrice Trang (ON) – new member, appointed for a two-year-term

February 1, 2023/by Communications