News – Page 24 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

MONTRÉAL TO HOST THE 2026 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Montréal, September 22, 2022 – At its Congress held today in conjunction with the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) awarded the 2026 UCI Road World Championships to the city of Montréal. The event will be organized by the promoter of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, with support from Cycling Canada.

In 1974, the first-ever edition of the UCI Road World Championships presented outside Europe took place on the now legendary Mount Royal circuit, with Belgium’s Eddy Merckx and France’s Geneviève Gambillon crowned as the Men’s and Women’s Road World Champions. Fifty-two years later, the event will return to Montréal, from September 20 to 27, 2026, just one week after the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM), the first and still the only events on the UCI WorldTour presented in the Americas. Québec, Canada will therefore be the focus of the global cycling community for three 100%-cycling weeks.

As one the biggest sporting events on the planet, the UCI Road World Championships represent an exceptional opportunity in terms of economic, social and tourism benefits as well as international reach and reputation—all the more so given that this flagship UCI competition, with its iconic rainbow jersey awarded to the winners, will be among the major events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Montréal Summer Olympics.

Hosting the UCI Road World Championships also attests to Montréal’s standing as a cycling destination par excellence and leader in the development of cycling in all its forms.

THE UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS*

A competition program spread over 8 days.
A free event for the public.
1,000 athletes, men and women, at the Junior, U23 and Elite levels.
11 titles defended: 6 time trials and 5 road races.
More than 75 countries represented.
More than 5,000 team members, officials, UCI members and guests.
Holding of the UCI Congress, the organization’s supreme body, with more than 400 representatives from all continents.
More than 800 accredited media.
Televised in nearly 150 countries.
250 million TV viewers.
Over half a million spectators expected, more than half of them from outside the region.
More than $170 million in overall economic activity for the province of Québec and more than $210 million for Canada.**
More than 1,000 local jobs supported.
The event will support $54 million in tax revenue value for all of Canada.

The event will be orchestrated by the organizing committee Mondiaux Montréal 2026, in close collaboration with the UCI, assisted by Cycling Canada and the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC), and with financial and technical support from the City of Montréal, the governments of Québec and Canada, and Tourisme Montréal. The capture and production of the international broadcast signal will also be the responsibility of the organizer, which, as demonstrated over the 11 editions of the GPCQM, has all of the local expertise necessary for that major operation.

STATEMENTS

“We are thrilled that the UCI Road World Championships, our annual flagship event, will return to North America, 11 years after the UCI Worlds in Richmond, Virginia, and we are just as pleased that they will be back in Canada, which hosted them in Hamilton in 2003, and in Montréal, 52 years after they were first held in Québec’s largest city. Both the country and the province love cycling, and have proved it every year for more than a decade now at the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM), two races on the UCI WorldTour, the most prestigious men’s road cycling circuit. I have no doubt that this event, thanks to its seasoned organizing committee, which is responsible for the success of the GPCQM, will be a fantastic showcase for the sport of cycling in North America.”

Mr. David Lappartient, President, UCI

“Montréal is very proud to be the host city of the 2026 UCI Road World Championships. I would like to thank the International Cycling Union for putting its trust in Montréal. Congratulations to our partners who helped convince the international cycling ecosystem to hold this prestigious event in Canada’s number one city for excellence in organizing major events. The administration of Montréal is proud to support this prestigious event with these amazing partners. It will be a great gathering in a city renowned among the best cycling circuits in North America.”

Ms. Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal

“We are extremely grateful to the UCI for entrusting us with the duty of hosting the global cycling community’s representatives and athletes at this event, which will crown the future men’s and women’s UCI Road World Champions. We will deliver an event worthy of its reputation and that will write another page in our city’s great sports history. This gathering promises to be spectacular, unifying and accessible for everyone! Our organization has been presenting the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal for more than 10 years now, in the process making a significant contribution to one of the major objectives of the UCI: the globalization of cycling. By producing the 2026 UCI Road World Championships and acting as host broadcaster for this major gathering, we will take our commitment to the next level and confirm our heritage in the world of sports in Canada.”

Mr. Sébastien Arsenault, President and CEO, Mondiaux Montréal 2026

“We are delighted and very excited to see the UCI Road World Championships return to Canada in 2026. This event along with the UCI World Congress generate significant economic benefits and offer exceptional international visibility. In collaboration with the GPCQM team and all the partners involved, we will deliver a spectacular event that will put our athletes, coaches and officials at the forefront. This will allow us to continue the development of Road Cycling in Canada, and to inspire Canadians to take up cycling in all its forms.”

Mr. Pierre Laflamme, President, Cycling Canada

“I am excited to see that Montréal, one of our great Canadian cities, will host the 2026 UCI Road World Championships. This will be an exciting time for all Canadians and for our Canadian athletes especially, as many cycling fans from around the world will come out to watch and cheer on the participants. I would like to thank all of the partners for the incredible work they have done, reaffirming Montréal’s and Canada’s position as world leaders in cycling. Congratulations to Cycling Canada, Mondiaux Montréal 2026, the Government of Québec and the Ville de Montréal.”

The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Government of Canada

“In 2026, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal, and thus a half-century of expertise in the organization of sporting events and celebrations in our city. Not to mention, Montréal has been named the top host city in Canada for sports events three times since 2018. The 2026 UCI Road World Championships are thus perfectly in keeping with our desire to ensure that Montréal is and remains a harmonious tourism destination. This event will be organized in line with sustainable, responsible tourism principles.”

Mr. Yves Lalumière, President and CEO, Tourisme Montréal

“Today’s announcement is proof of the importance of cycling in Québec, an acknowledgement of the hard work by the organizers and a testimony to the health of our sport here. These World Championships will also be an outstanding sports showcase for the growth of cycling, with the world’s best athletes competing here and inspiring many generations of cyclists. They will also be an opportunity for many Québec cyclists enjoying international success to show off their talents at home, in front of their families and fans.”

Mr. Claude Pinard, President, FQSC

*References:

Bid Guide, UCI Road World Championships
Economic impact assessment by Sport Tourism Canada (2021) and Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (2021)

The 2019 Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal alone generated $38.1 million in economic impact for Canada. There were nearly 75,000 overnight stays related to the event over two days of racing alone. Source: Sport Tourism Canada Study. Data for the 2022 edition, which concluded just days ago, will be available in a few weeks’ time.

September 22, 2022/by Communications

20 ATHLETES TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2022 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AUSTRALIA

Ottawa, ON (September 12, 2022) – 20 Junior, U23 and Elite athletes are headed down under for the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia on September 18-25.

Canada is fielding a strong Women’s squad including U23 athletes Simone Boilard and Magdeleine Vallières-Mill, as well as Olivia Baril, Alison Jackson, and Leah Kirchmann. For Kirchmann, this will be an opportunity to wear the Canadian jersey one last time at the World Championships, after she announced her retirement last month. Kirchmann and Jackson will represent Canada in the Individual Time trial.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at the World Championships in Australia this year with a solid Canadian team,” said Kirchmann. “My goal is to target a strong personal performance in the Time Trial and want to ride to help achieve the best possible result for Canada in the road race. I think we have a lot of strong cards to play, and a good mix of experienced, and up and coming talented riders to compete against the best in the world. Since it will be my last worlds, I want to also fully appreciate the time I get to spend with the team, and will be sure to soak up the atmosphere of racing such a significant event in a beautiful location.

Canada will be represented in the men’s race by Canadian National Champion Pier-André Côté, along with Nickolas Zukowsky, Derek Gee and Matteo Dal-Cin. Gee and Dal-Cin will also suit up for the Time Trial.

“We are very excited for this year’s Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia as we are sending our largest team since 2019,” said National Team Coach Nigel Ellsay. “We are particularly excited to enter two U23 women to contest the first ever rainbow jersey for their category, and to participate for our first time in the mixed team time trial. We believe that Canadian athletes will be arriving in Wollongong with strong chances for success”

Cycling Canada has ramped up programming for Junior and U23 athletes over the past year, and with a continuing focus on youth development will be sending a large contingent of riders in these categories to race in Australia. Carson Miles, Tristan Jussaume and Nicolas Rivard will race in the U23 Road Race, with Miles and Jussaume also contesting the Individual Time Trial. Eight athletes will represent Canada in the Junior category including Campbell Parish, Kiara Lylyk and Penelope Primeau who recently also represented Canada at the Junior World Track Championships in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Racing can be streamed live on FloBikes here, starting with the Elite women’s and men’s Time Trials on Sunday, September 18.

Elite Women
Olivia Baril (Road Race) – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Simone Boilard (Road Race) – Quebec City, QC
Alison Jackson (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Vermilion, AB
Leah Kirchmann (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Winnipeg, MB
Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (Road Race) – Sherbrooke, QC

Elite Men
Pier-André Côté (Road Race) – Saint-Henri de Lévis, QC
Matteo Dal-Cin (Inidividual Time Trial, Road Race) – Ottawa, ON
Derek Gee (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Osgoode, ON
Nickolas Zukowsky (Road Race) – Ste-Lucie-des-Laurentides, QC

Junior Women
Éloïse Camiré (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – St-Jérôme, QC
Kiara Lylyk (Road Race) – Guelph, ON
Penelope Primeau (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Rosemère, QC
Anabelle Thomas (Road Race) – Calgary, AB

Junior Men
Jerome Gauthier (Road Race) – Amos, Quebec
Felix Hamel (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Sainte-Julie, QC
Michael Leonard (Road Race) – Oakville, ON
Campbell Parrish (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Vancouver, BC

U23 Men
Carson Miles (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Ottawa, ON
Tristan Jussaume (Individual Time Trial, Road Race) – Contrecoeur, QC
Nicolas Rivard (Road Race) – Bois-Des-Filion, QC

September 12, 2022/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA SIGNS REBOOST CANADA AS NEWEST NUTRITION SUPPLIER

Ottawa, ON (September 8, 2022) – Athletes know what they put into their bodies will impact any training session or race, which is why Cycling Canada is excited to announce a partnership with Reboost Canada. Reboost’s 100% Canadian-sourced maple syrup gel products will ensure athletes at all levels are able to perform at their peak capabilities.

“Reboost is the natural choice to unleash your full athletic potential…and it tastes so good,” said David Lemelin, from Reboost. “Being a product that is 100% local, from start to finish, we are excited to collaborate with Cycling Canada and our best Canadian cycling athletes to perform at their best while showing the rest of the world all the goods from Maple to Canada!”

The Canadian-based company, produces all-natural supplements including their Maple Energy Gels which can be taken before, during or after training and racing to help restore the body’s glycogen storage making it a great all-round source for fuel and recovery.

“We’re really excited to welcome Reboost as one of our newest nutrition suppliers,” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing and Events at Cycling Canada. “Having a product that’s catered specifically for athletes, and not to mention one that is crafted from Canada’s most symbolic natural treat, will ensure athletes can perform and recover properly while enjoying the familiar taste of Canadiana.”

Alongside National Team support, Reboost will also extend exclusive discounts to Cycling Canada members. Current Cycling Canada members can use code “CCC” at checkout to redeem 10% off maple energy gel orders. To learn more about Reboost maple energy gel products and place an order of your own, visit their website here.

September 8, 2022/by Communications

9 NATIONAL RECORDS BROKEN 57 TITLES WON AT CANADIAN TRACK NATIONS

Milton, ON (September 4, 2022) – After three intense days of racing at the Mattamy Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario, 57 new national titles were awarded at the 2022 Canadian Track Championships along with nine national records broken, making for an exciting weekend.

Para-cyclist, Mel Pemble, set the tone, breaking the first Canadian record of the weekend in the women’s C3 Time Trial with a time of 40.379 seconds, smashing the record she previously held by 1.83 seconds. The British Columbia rider then went on to break another national record in the Individual Pursuit the category later in the weekend.

Denise Magnini (Time Trial), Keith Bruneau (Time Trial, 200m Sprint), Frank Kovacs (Time Trial, 200m Sprint), Guy McLintock (200m Sprint) and Uli Mayer (Individual Pursuit) all can call themselves Canadian Champions and National Record holders in their respective Master categories.

On the Elite side, heavy hitters like Kelsey Mitchell, Lauriane Genest, Nick Wammes and Maggie Coles-Lyster were all in attendance. Over the three days, Mitchell would sweep the women’s sprint events along with taking the crowd by surprise with a bronze in the women’s Team Pursuit alongside Jackie Boyle, Sarah Orban and Kathryn Ayroud. Olympian, Nick Wammes, sought to take his own Sprint sweep but would be shy by two events to take bronze in the men’s Kilo and taking the silver to James Hedgcock by 0.005 seconds in the Keirin.

Fresh off her Commonwealth Games bronze, Maggie Coles-Lyster came back home after racing around the world with big goals. She would take the overall win in the women’s Omnium, winning three out of four events.

“It was nice coming off a high of third, fourth, fifth at Commonwealth Games, and then coming into nationals and having my legs back again after a bit of time off I was excited,” said Coles Lyster after taking the win in front of a home crowd. “My goal coming into the Omnium was to win every race. I wanted to show what I’ve found myself capable of this year and what I’ve put a lot of work into. I made three out of four of those happen. It was really cool having the top three all be from B.C. and it was really competitive which made for some good racing.”

Men’s endurance racing saw, Junior World Champions, Carson Mattern and Dylan Bibic who looked to win Elite titles. Racing in an experienced field the two were able to take home maple leaf jerseys with Bibic taking gold in the Omnium, overtaking strong athletes including Tokyo 2020 Olympian Michael Foley. He would then end his event schedule to take the win in the Madison alongside Mathias Guillemette where they won every sprint of the race. Coming off his double rainbow jersey wins just weeks ago, Mattern saw the top of the podium in the Men’s Pursuit with teammates Sean Richardson, Amiel Flett-Brown and Daniel Fraser-Maraun.

With the wrap up of 2022 domestic track events, Elites will prepare for World Championships in Saint-Quentin, France, then will come back home for the 2023 Canadian Championships for Elites and Masters slated for January 6-8 in Milton. List of all Canadian Champions along with medallists and results can be found here.

September 4, 2022/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA WELCOMES ATP LAB AS NEWEST SUPPLIER

Ottawa, ON (August 31, 2022) – Cycling Canada is excited to welcome ATP Lab as their newest supplier for the 2022-2023 season. The partnership will give Canadian cyclists the resources to fuel and recover better and faster with ATP Lab’s vitamins and supplements to support with their goals on the bike.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Cycling Canada,” said Scott Prunier, Director of Marketing at ATP Lab. “Not only is it a true testament to fulfilling on the high standards for nutrition within the elite teams, but also helps us expose our decade plus of experience in producing pharma-grade supplements to the cycling world.”

With over a decade of experience working with athletes and developing natural products to fuel their training, racing and goals ATP Lab is steadfast on ensuring athletes get the most out of their training as well as recovery. The Canadian owned and operated business has all of their products manufactured and produced in Quebec and was a natural fit to help support our Canadian riders.

“What our riders do on the bike is incredibly important, but what they do off the bike in terms of how they recover, fuel and train is equally as important,” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing & Events at Cycling Canada. “Working with a Canadian-based organization who has spent years building a strong reputation through proven, quality products is a natural fit for Cycling Canada, including our high performance national team athletes and everyday members alike.”

Stay tuned at Canadian Championship events throughout the season where our athletes and community can sample select ATP product, developed with the end user top of mind. Alongside supporting Cycling Canada’s high performance athletes, ATP Lab has also extended a 25% discount to all Cycling Canada members on their online store – simply enter promo code CC25 upon checkout at www.atplab.com to try it yourself.

August 31, 2022/by Communications

CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO MATTAMY CYCLING CENTRE FOR ELITE/PARA/MASTERS ATHLETES

Ottawa, ON (August 30, 2022) – Athletes from across Canada are gearing up for the 2022 Canadian Track Championships on September 1-3 at the Mattamy Cycling Centre in Milton, ON. Elite, Para and Masters riders will take part in the three days of racing, with Elites and Masters coming back to compete for the Canadian Champion title for the first time since 2019.

“It has been an exciting event season and we are looking forward to hosting athletes back in Milton for another Track Championship weekend,” said Jolène Dupuis, Manager of Events and Officials at Cycling Canada. “Both Elite and Masters athletes have not had the opportunity to race for the maple leaf jersey in three years, so we are excited to witness them back in action with even more fast racing on the heals of Track Nations Cup that happened earlier this spring.”

Not only will Elites like Olympic Champion Kelsey Mitchell and Tokyo Olympians, Ariane Bonhomme & Michael Foley be back on the track, but also former and current Junior World Champions, Dylan Bibic & Carson Mattern and Paralympic medallists, Kate O’Brien & Keely Shaw will also be on the hunt for the top of the podium and the title of 2022 Canadian Track Champion in their respective categories.

“I’ve been super fortunate to have some success on the road this year, but in the last two years I’ve really been trained as a track cyclist,” said Shaw. “I’m super excited to be back in Milton for nationals this weekend and interested in seeing what a season of road racing has done for my track events. Milton has become something of a home away from home for me. I can’t wait to be back at the velodrome in a race environment and see the fruits of everyone’s labour as the best track cyclists in Canada get together to race for the maple leaf.”

Athletes will take on individual, team, sprint and endurance events over the three days of racing all competing for the coveted maple leaf jersey. The full technical guide which includes schedule and important event information can be found on the Events page of our website.

August 30, 2022/by Communications

TEAM CANADA ANNOUNCES SELECTION TO GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES DE QUÉBEC ET DE MONTRÉAL

Ottawa, ON (August 30, 2022) – Cycling Canada has announced the eight rider team that will race in national team colours at the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM) on September 9th (Quebec City) and 11th (Montreal). The GPCQM races are the only two slated on the UCI WorldTour calendar held in the Americas, bringing the highest level of international competition for professional men on home soil.

“We have made it a point to invite the National Team since the very beginning to give them a unique and privileged experience, bringing them closer to their dream of reaching the ultimate circuit,” said Sébastien Arsenault, president and CEO of the GPCQM. “And we had proof this summer with our Quebec riders at the Tour de France. It’s all possible thanks to hard work, but also to the essential support of several decades of committed and passionate players.”

The team will be led by Pier-André Côté, who has had a breakthrough season, after being crowned Canadian Road Champion and winning the Grand Prix Criquelion. He will be joined by his Human Powered Health teammate Adam De Vos. The team will be rounded out by U23 riders, coming fresh off the Tour de l’Avenir, including U23 Canadian Road Champion, Carson Miles as well as Quentin Cowan and Thomas Schellenberg. In addition to the stacked field, Nicolas Côté and Matteo Dal-Cin will also be representing the maple leaf.

“The GPCQM has become a center piece of both the Men’s WorldTour and the Men’s Canadian development scene.” said Nigel Ellsay, National Team Coach at Cycling Canada. “For our athletes, this experience at the GPCQM will see us attacking, getting dropped and fighting at the highest level of the men’s peloton. These experiences will be invaluable to our athletes in their short and long-term development, while building memories to last a lifetime.”

Racing will start on Friday, September 9 in Québec City and will continue Sunday, September 11 in Montréal. For more details, click here.

Team Canada
Pier-André Côté – Lévis, QC*
Nicolas Côté – Saint-Bruno, QC
Quentin Cowan – Calgary, AB
Matteo Dal-Cin – Ottawa, ON
Carson Miles – Ottawa, ON
Nicholas Rivard – Bois-Des-Filion, QC
Thomas Schellenberg – Chilliwack, BC

*Only racing in Québec

August 30, 2022/by Communications

ANDREW TITUS: RIDING FOR HIMSELF AND FOR OTHERS

Cycling: it’s a sport that inspires, teaches, motivates and for some, can save their life. For Andrew Titus, the bike does all of that and more.

The middle school teacher born and raised in New Brunswick, lives and breathes all things riding. From motivating people to join ride clubs, to teaching the foundations and fundamentals of riding to his students or organizing fundraiser rides to help support others in his community and beyond. To put it simply, he embodies what it means to be part of the cycling community.

“I think I got into it like most people,” said Titus. “It was my dad holding on to the back of my shirt at four-years old and doing loops around a parking lot. I can honestly say I remember the moment when he let go like it was yesterday. It was just this amazing feeling of absolute freedom and I love that feeling.”

It’s hard not to be drawn to the charismatic mountain bike and gravel rider, as he talks about what cycling done for him, from fond childhood memories to a greater meaning in his adult life. For him, it’s all about building a community of riding and grounding himself and others with the world around them.

“A person doesn’t get old and stop moving, they stop moving and then they get old. To me it’s about vitality that is in the community, it’s about connecting with each other in that way. For me, being a teacher is being a good example to those that are younger. I’m of the opinion that you’re a teacher 24/7.”

Riding to him doesn’t need to be flashy, with the most up-to-date bike, or the top-of-the line accessories or having the newest kit. Rather, riding can be simplified. He wants to show those in his community and the kids he teaches to come as they are. Cycling doesn’t have any bias on who you are or what you wear. It’s more about the people you ride with, explore places with and learn from. As a teacher, he fosters an environment that promotes accessibility and knowledge to the sport. His motto is to “come as you are” no matter what you do, what you ride or what you wear, it’s about being yourself.

“I ride a piece of junk to be honest, I’m riding a 30-year-old single speed bike when I’m with the kids, wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of Converse. This is a cyclist. Now, do I love Le Tour de France? Absolutely. But what you can pass on to these young kids is the philosophy that riding doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, you can just be you and ride your bike.”

Growing up Titus explains that he could’ve gone down a different path in life that might have landed him in unfavourable situations or circumstances, going left when he should’ve gone right. But, he said it was riding and being surrounded by like-minded athletes that steered him to this path, ultimately, as he says, saving his life.

“When I was younger, I lived in a rough neighbourhood and riding afforded me to stay away from a lot of the activity that I was surrounded by and just explore. Because of it, I had this feeling of exploration from a young age. There’s always another dirt road; there’s always another dirt track; or somewhere you can load your bike and drive for an hour and find an amazing track. I love where I live. Riding just really rescued me from a rough neighbourhood.”

Titus hopes that what he learned as a kid can inspire others to find meaning and value.

“It has taught me to be even more non-judgemental and to be more open to other people, to be deeply sympathetic and empathetic to people’s position.”

While it’s evident of how passionate is and how willing he is to go above and beyond to help others experience the beauty of riding, he’s also known for some wild and gnarly rides. He’s notorious for being the first to put his hand up to create something out of the box and finding hidden gems along the way. From knowing the best roadside coffee and homemade apple pies, to dreaming up and executing crazy rides to raise awareness and fundraising.

“Last year, myself and two friends raised money for the George Street Cycling Squad (the crew at my school) we rode around it for 100-kilometres. So, we rode in circles, and I just did it on a single-speed. It was fun because people could cheer for us, and they could stop by.”

It’s easy to see where he finds the inspiration to try rides that no one else wants to do. The bottom line for him, is he does it for the kids. While he teaches fundamentals in the classroom, he is devoted to giving kids tools they can use in life. He wants kids to be confident and self-sufficient and hopes the bike can be a conduit to that.

“The school I teach at is incredibly diverse from a socioeconomic standpoint. A lot of times, I’ll do these fundraiser rides and I’ll buy bikes so that I can loan or give them to kids – which is what usually happens anyways, because they arrive at school riding death traps and I go to fix them, realizing that fixing them is ridiculous – so I just give them a new bike. Then, I organize rides for them to come on, with the school, so that they can make new friends; learn about the tremendous trail network that we have around here which keeps them off the streets; but it also keeps them occupied from potentially risky situations that they may find themselves in. That to me, is way more important than getting out with the hammerheads. The rides that I do with the kids are real connection moments for me; to them; from them to each other and from them to the community. That really feels like it’s giving them something. I tend to teach them out to repair their bikes as well, and that makes them self-sufficient and gives them feelings to independence. You can’t teach that in the classroom.”

With no signs of slowing down or hanging up his helmet, Titus hopes the sport continues to evolve and become more inclusive and break boundaries, so that anyone can explore their own backyard; find an escape from reality; and enjoy the freedom and calmness riding can bring.

“People always seem to be reinventing it. I like that there is so much room for everybody. Everything from racial inclusivity, to gender, to socioeconomic. What I’m really hopeful for in both the short and long-term is more of that. Not only has it rescued me but just recently seeing it as a vehicle to rescue other people as well. Biking has slowed my life down, the aging process and let me take in everything going on around me. That is true of everybody, the kids I ride with express the same emotions, and same goes for the friends that I ride with.”

You can follow Titus’ journey and all his rides by following him @spoke_n_word or through his blog where you can keep up to date on how he’s supporting his community or following along on his crazy adventures.

August 29, 2022/by Communications

HEMSTREET WINS SOLE SILVER AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Les Gets, France (August 29, 2022) – British Columbia’s Gracey Hemstreet would be the sole Canadian to win a medal at the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets, France. The Junior rider took home silver in the women’s Downhill race just shy of a gold by 1.870 seconds. This would be the eighteen-year-old’s second World Championship medal after taking the bronze at the 2021 Championship.

On the men’s side, Downhill Junior rider, Bodhi Kuhn, stepped up to the plate finishing fifth in the Junior category, while Jackson Goldstone was looking for his second World Championship rainbow jersey after claiming gold in 2021, but would finish in 14^th spot after a crash on his final run. Elite rider, Finn Iles, who came off an at home victory at the World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Ann, was seeded sixth going into the finals but would evidently be pulled due to injury.

“It was a huge week for Canada in Downhill Mountain Bike,” said National Team Coach, Chad Hendren. “Leading the Canadians was Gracey Hemstreet with a well served second place finish which is a solid step up from the bronze she won last year and we’re very proud of her. Her two World Championship podiums in a row will carry good momentum as she steps into the Elite category next year. All-in-all it was a successful week, and now we move to Val di Sole for the final World Cup race of 2022.”

Meanwhile, Mountain Bike racers opened up day one with the Team Relay event to finish in the top ten, with Emilly Johnston, Carter Woods, Peter Disera, Ian Ackert, Isabella Holmgren and Laurie Areseneault racing into seventh which would be Canada’s best finish overall.

Following the Team Relay, Junior riders would take on the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) event with Isabella Holmgren being Canada’s top performer in the category to take tenth spot. Her finish comes on the heels of her double medal performance at Canada Summer Games and performance camps in Switzerland, showcasing her talent on the world stage. Meanwhile, Zorak Paille would finish in eleventh spot on the men’s side.

Elites took on Short Track (XCC) on day three with Laurie Arseneault taking fourteenth spot, after coming off her National Championship win just one month prior in the event, and Sean Fincham in seventeenth spot on the men’s side and would later finish 30^th in XCO.

All eyes were then on U23 rider, Carter Woods, in XCO after a stellar season on the World Cup circuit. He would ultimately finish in 16^th spot. Coming off her National Championship win, Emily Batty, would be the top Elite woman in XCO cracking the top 20 to finish in 19^th.

“Overall Worlds was successful for Canada,” said National Team Coach Jeff Ain. “We have a very bright future based on the performances we had across all categories. I’m proud of the athletes who all performed their best on the day at the end of a long season. We improved our team relay result from 2021 and have athletes in every category who are tracking towards being ready to push for podium performances. A big thank you to all the staff and partners who worked tirelessly to make this project run smoothly and efficiently.”

Full results from all racing can be found here.

August 29, 2022/by Communications

PALMER AND SIMPSON CROWNED CANADIAN BMX CHAMPIONS

Calgary, Alberta (August 29, 2022) – Over 700 riders from all over the country came out for the Canadian BMX Championships in Calgary, Alberta for the second year in a row on August 27th. Championship titles and maple left jerseys were awarded in the women’s and men’s categories for Junior (17-18), U23 (19-22) and Elite (23+) riders, with medals awarded to Challenge classes for age group racing from as young as five years old.

Races started out strong rounds, before heavy rain and thunderstorms got in the way, causing an afternoon-long delay before the rain returned, cancelling the rest of races for the day. Race organizers then made the decision to crown Champions based on the amount of the points collected during the day, with Olympian, James Palmer becoming the men’s Elite Canadian Champion.

“It an awesome day getting back in the gate in front of the Canadian crowd today,” said James Palmer after his win. “After having to sit out last year’s National Championships with an injury, I was eager to line up and battle for the Canadian sleeve again. I was able lay down two smooth laps before we got hit with some unfortunate rainy weather that ultimately ended our day and gave me the National Championship win based off winning the first two rounds of racing.”

In the elite field, both World Championships bronze medallist, Molly Simpson, and teammate Teigen Pascual battled it out on the track. Ultimately, it was Simpson who walked away with the title. With the addition of the U23 category this year, Curtis Crey and Megan Winger both won the first U23 BMX Canadian Champion title. Junior rider Max Ganakovsky would go on the claim the title for a second year in a row, while Keira Murphy got her hands on her first title in the women’s category.

“Making a call to cancel racing is never easy to do, but I’m thankful the officials had safety as the first priority because it would have been dangerous for us the race in those later conditions,” continued James Palmer. “A special shout-out to the track crew and volunteers for doing all they could to dry the track out and get us back out there.”

After the day of racing there were a total of six National Champions going home with their maple leaf jersey.

Results
Junior Women: 1- Keira Murphy 2- Abygale Reeve 3- Mathilde Brisebois
Junior Men: 1- Max Ganakovsky 2- Carson Kowaski 3- Dylan Tremel
U23 Women: 1- Megan Winger
U23 Men: 1- Curtis Krey 2- Edouard Brisebois 3- Thomas Jodoin
Elite Men: 1- James Palmer 2- Alex Tougas 3- Riley Lavorato
Elite Women: 1- Molly Simpson 2- Teigen Pascual

For full results, please click here.

August 28, 2022/by Communications