News – Page 7 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

SUN PEAKS WELCOMES CANADIAN DOWNHILL MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Aug. 8, 2024) – Elite, Junior, U17 and Masters athletes from all over the country will travel to Sun Peaks, BC, on Aug. 10-11, 2024, for the Canadian Downhill MTB Championships, for their chance to win the maple leaf jersey.

“Hosting the Downhill Canadian Championship at Sun Peaks Resort embodies the pinnacle of gravity-fueled excitement against a backdrop of stunning mountain vistas,” said Stephen Exley, Host of the Dunbar Summer Series. “It’s not just about the thrill of competition; it’s about showcasing our nation’s top riders on world-class terrain, igniting the spirit of adrenaline-fueled excellence, and fostering a community united by the love of downhill racing.”

All the defending champions, including Emmy Lan (elite women), Lucas Cruz (elite men), Joy Attalla (junior women), Dane Jewett (junior men) and Austin Makson (U17 men) will be on hand to try and get their hands on the Canadian sleeve. They will be joined by Gracey Hemstreet, who has a proven her strength on the world circuit, including a silver medal in her final year as a junior at the 2022 UCI World Championships.

Over 380 athletes are expected in the west of the country to put on a show for the public.

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

August 8, 2024/by Communications

THE ACTION CONTINUES FOR THE CANADIAN TRACK CYCLING TEAM AT PARIS 2024

St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, FRA (Aug. 7, 2024) – Canadian athletes used strategy on the second day of track competition on August 7 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Adopting a brand-new strategy, the men’s team pursuit team wanted to give it their all for their final race of the day. After a reshuffle of rider positions, the quartet of Quebec’s Mathias Guillemette and Ontario’s Dylan Bibic, Carson Mattern and Michael Foley earned themselves a seventh-place finish, ahead of Belgium with a time of 3:54.517.

“We were happy with what we were doing, but it wasn’t fast enough,” said Foley, who finished fifth in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “We needed to try something new to try and get back on Belgium, so we talked about it and came up with a new strategy, we changed it completely. It didn’t really work, we kind of blew up, but it wasn’t a bad idea.”

Australia won gold with a time of 3:42.067, ahead of Great Britain, while Italy took bronze.

This was a young team, with three of the four runners making their Olympic debuts. Only Foley had been part of the Canadian team at Tokyo 2020.

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Men’s Team Pursuit: Dylan Bibic, Mathias Guillemette, Michael Foley, Carson Mattern

Affected by a virus in the days leading up to the competition, the team pursuit quartet of Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau, QC), Erin Attwell (Victoria, BC), Maggie Coles-Lyster (Maple Ridge, BC) and Sarah van Dam (Victoria, BC) finished eighth, losing out to Australia.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, for sure, but I wouldn’t want to share this experience with anyone other than my teammates,” said Attwell. Teammate Van Dam added: “It’s not the result we were hoping for, we came here with the hope of fighting for a medal and I really, really think that if we’d had an easier run before the Games, we would have fought for that medal, but with the cards we had, we came here today and yesterday and gave what we did and that’s really all we can do on the day.”

The team, of which only Bonhomme, 29, had Olympic experience having finished fourth in the event in Tokyo, set their best time of the Games in the first round, with a time of 4:10.471. The United States took top honors, followed by New Zealand in silver and Great Britain in bronze.

Photo Credit Ed Sykes/SWpix.com
Women’s Team Pursuit: Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah van Dam, Erin Attwell, Ariane Bonhomme

Having failed to qualify from the women’s keirin qualifiers, sprinters Kelsey Mitchell, of Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Lauriane Genest, of Lévis, Quebec, holder of the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in the discipline, were forced to go through the repechage stage, where they both won their heat, earning their ticket to the quarter-finals to be held on Thursday, August 8.

“I’m feeling good – I think this morning in qualifying I was maybe a little too stressed, I took things too seriously,” said Genest. “After the race, the stress disappeared, and I was able to concentrate on the task at hand. I had an easy draft; I took it to my advantage. I tried to make it as easy as possible.”

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

Ontario’s Nick Wammes of Bothwell and Tyler Rorke of Baden ended their day early, as they were unable to get past the qualifying stages of the men’s sprint, bowing out in the round of 32. While both Canadian riders were in the same repechage start, pitted against France’s Rayan Helal, Rorke, who had achieved a personal best in qualifying, kicked off hostilities with two laps to go, but was unable to hold on. It was the Frenchman who slipped through to the next stage.

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 8, when athletes will be in action in the individual events, including the women’s keirin and men’s omnium.

August 7, 2024/by Communications

TRACK CYCLISTS BREAK THE ICE WITH TEAM EVENTS AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

Paris, FRA (August 6, 2024) – Canadian riders officially broke the ice in the track events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as the men’s and women’s team pursuit and men’s and women’s team sprint events took place on August 5 and 6 at the Vélodrome national de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines on the outskirts of Paris.

The young Canadian quartet of Mathias Guillemette, 22, from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and Ontarians Carson Mattern, 20, from Ancaster, Dylan Bibic, 21, from Mississauga, and Michael Foley, 25, from Milton, clocked 3:49.245 in the first round of the Men’s Team Pursuit.

“We didn’t really have a choice but to try and get to the bronze final. At the Olympics, you have to at least try,” commented Guillemette. Teammate Foley added: “We wanted to push the level as far as possible. I think we pushed it a bit too far, we all finished with empty tanks, so this is the best way to finish. I think tomorrow we’ll do our best with the time and see if we can beat the Canadian record, and hopefully that’ll be good enough for seventh place.”

They’ll be back on August 7 for the ranking waves, to determine their final placing between 7th and 8th, where they’ll face Belgium.

Ariane Bonhomme of Gatineau, Quebec, along with British Columbians Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple-Ridge and Erin Attwell and Sarah Van Dam of Victoria, qualified for the first round of the Women’s Team Pursuit on August 7 with a time of 4:12.205.

“It was good to get it out of the way, we were all nervous getting into it,” said Attwell. “We faced a lot of adversity this week, so getting through and battling in rounds tomorrow, I think we’re all pleased with that. It doesn’t matter how today’s ride went, no one should count us out. We just need all pieces to come together.”

The women’s team sprint trio, where Quebec’s Lauriane Genest of Lévis and Alberta’s Sarah Orban of Calgary and Kelsey Mitchell of Sherwood Park were in action on the first day of competition, placed eighth with a time of 46.816s, setting a new Canadian record in the process.

“We have all the right people, it’s just that it wasn’t prioritized as an event en route to the Games,” said Genest. “We decided to really give it our all on the second run, and that’s what we did. The track is fast, we’re just not competitive in that event.”

Setting a new world record with a time of 45.338s, Great Britain took gold, while New Zealand and Germany took silver and bronze respectively.

After qualifying in eighth place in the men’s team sprint on August 5, Ontario’s Nick Wammes, Tyler Rorke and James Hedgecock had the tough task of facing the world’s best in the first round, where the Dutch twice shattered their own world record, with a time of 40.949, becoming the first team in the world to break the 41-second barrier.

“Nick (Wammes) was the only one of the three of us to compete in Tokyo, James (Hedgecock) and I weren’t even old enough to compete back then,” said Rorke, who is 21. “For our age, I think we have a lot of potential for the next few years. We just need experience; a lot of the teams have been riding together for years and years; we’ve been riding together for two and a half years. The next couple of years, if we can get more experience together, I think we’ve got a good shot at improving.”

It was in the ranking wave, against China, that Canada fell to eighth place with a time of 43.944s. The Netherlands took top honors, followed by Great Britain and Australia with silver and bronze.

More information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 7, where the team pursuit rounds will continue, while athletes will be in action in the individual events, including the women’s keirin and men’s sprint.

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com – Women’s Team Sprint: Sarah Orban, Lauriane Genest, Kelsey Mitchell

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 06/08/2024 – Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Track Cycling – National Velodrome, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France – Men’s Team Sprint Final For Places 7-8 – Tyler Rorke, Nick Wammes, James Hedgcock (Canada)

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com | Men’s Team Pursuit: Dylan Bibic, Mathias Guillemette, Michael Foley, Carson Mattern

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com | Women’s Team Pursuit Qualifying – Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah van Dam, Erin Attwell, Ariane Bonhomme

August 6, 2024/by Communications

A TOP 20 FINISH FOR ALISON JACKSON AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (Aug. 4, 2024) – Canada’s four road cycling representatives performed well at the Paris 2024 road races, held on August 3 and 4 on the outskirts of Paris.

After a tight sprint over a 158-kilometre course, Alison Jackson, from Vermilion, Alberta, finished in 19th place, five minutes behind the leader, American Kristen Faulkner.

This is the best Canadian result in road cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while fellow Canadian Olivia Baril, from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, who finished 20th in the individual time trial on July 27, finished this time in 44th position.

QUOTE

A leading trio of Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Hungarian Blanka Vas won the final sprint, 58 seconds behind the leader, giving them silver, bronze and fourth place respectively.

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

On a 273-kilometre course, Michael Woods and Derek Gee, both from Ottawa, Ontario, represented Canada in the men’s road race.

Cheered on by a crowd of over 500,000, the Canadian representatives performed well, positioning themselves strategically in the peloton. Woods broke away with a group of riders, from which Belgian Remco Evenepoel escaped, racing to victory in 6:19:34.

“It got really exciting,” said Woods. “I was in the move that solidified the podium, but I just didn’t have the legs to keep up. I’m disappointed, but my preparation wasn’t ideal for this race and the course didn’t suit me perfectly, as I’m mostly a climber.”

Photo Credit: Candice Ward/COC

Woods and Gee finished the race in 41st and 44th place, after a day of nearly six hours in the saddle, both seven minutes 23 seconds behind the Belgian. France’s Valentin Madouas finished one minute 11 seconds behind first place, followed by fellow Frenchman Christophe Laporte, who took bronze one minute 16 seconds behind the race leader.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 5, for the first day of track racing, where athletes will be in action in the team pursuit and team sprint.

August 4, 2024/by Communications

FIFTH PLACE FOR BMX RACER MOLLY SIMPSON AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (August 2, 2024) – Molly Simpson of Red Deer, Alberta made Canadian BMX racing history with a fifth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games finals on August 2. This is the best women’s result for Canada.

After a near-perfect day in qualifying on August 1, where she posted consecutive top-3 finishes in each of her rounds to accumulate a total of seven points. The 21-year-old, in her very first Olympic experience, was able to finish in fourth place thanks to soaring starts, which put her in good stead for the semi-finals on August 2.

“I’m so excited,” she commented after the first day of competition. “I’m so happy and grateful to be here, this experience is amazing. I’m just following my process, and this is how I can give my best. I’m just trying to soak it all in.”

Finishing second, fourth and fifth in her semi-final rounds, Simpson made it through to the final, finishing seventh in the standings, where the top eight finishers qualified.

It was with another strong start that Simpson climbed to the front of the race, forming the top 4, before being overtaken in extremis by Dutch rider Laura Smulders, just missing out on the podium to finish fifth.

Photo Credit: by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

“I’m overwhelmed with emotions,” commented Molly after her final race. “I’m happy and grateful. Of course, I would have loved to medal, but for my first Games, to be fifth is cool, and getting through those semifinals was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, so to be in the top eight was just amazing. It’s only the beginning for me, I’ve worked so hard. We’re in a good spot and we’ll just keep going.”

Australia’s Saya Sakakibara took top honors, followed by the Netherlands’ Manon Veenstra in silver and Switzerland’s Zoe Claessens in bronze.

With her fifth place, Simpson equaled the best Canadian result in the discipline, while Tory Nyhaug had also come fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the men’s side.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continue on August 3, when Derek Gee and Mike Woods will be in action in the men’s road race.

August 2, 2024/by Communications

CANADA MAKES OLYMPIC DEBUT IN BMX FREESTYLE AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (July 30, 2024) – The Paris 2024 Olympic adventure of Canadian BMX Freestyle racer Jeffrey Whaley, originally from Montreal, QC, came to an end during the qualifying rounds held on July 30 at La Concorde.

The first Canadian representative in the discipline, Whaley’s mission was to qualify among the top nine riders to advance to the final on July 31. Scoring 76.20 in the first run and 80.83 in the second, for a total score of 78.51, the Quebecer finished in tenth place, one place away from the final.

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

“It’s been the hardest four weeks of my life, both physically and mentally,” mentioned Whaley, only a few weeks after shoulder surgery. “Not only did I have to get back on my bike after my injury, but I also had tough practices after two crashes and a collision, which broke both my wheels. It was tough, but I made two full runs and missed the finals by one position. For me, it’s a victory, so I’m leaving with my head held high.”

Britain’s Kieran Darren David Reilly qualified in first place with a score of 91.21. He was followed by American Marcus Christopher (89.48) and Australian Logan Martin (89.39).

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 1, with Molly Simpson in BMX racing action.

July 30, 2024/by Communications

HOLMGREN DUO MAKE THEIR OLYMPIC DEBUT IN MOUNTAIN BIKING AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (July 29, 2024) – The Holmgren duo of siblings Isabella and Gunnar, from Orillia, ON, completed the XCO mountain bike competitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 17th and 30th place respectively on July 28 and 29.

Riding under the sun on the Colline d’Élancourt, just a few kilometers from Paris, Isabella, aged just 19, was not only competing in her very first Olympic Games, but also taking part in her first elite competition.

“I didn’t think I’d be here at the beginning of the year, so competing in the Olympics is great,” said Isabella. “It’s amazing to be here with my brother, it’s our first Olympics and it’s very special to be able to do them together. We have a lot of family who have come to cheer us on, I’m super happy that everyone was able to be here to witness this.”

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix

The Junior World Mountain Bike and Cyclo-cross Champion completed the seven regulation laps in 1 hour 33 minutes and 43 seconds, seven minutes 41 seconds behind the race leader, French favourite Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The podium was completed by American Haley Batten (+2:57m) in silver and Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (+3:02m) in bronze.

Once again under a blazing sun, Gunnar, 25, set off on the course the day after his sister’s race, to finish the eight regulation laps eight minutes 35 seconds behind Great Britain’s Thomas Pidcock, who scored his second Olympic victory with a time of one hour 26 minutes and 22 seconds.

“It was a very high level, a hot race, a tough course. It was a tough day, but an amazing day,” said Gunnar. ”It was incredible to have the French and Canadian crowds around us to cheer us on.”

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

France’s Victor Koretzky (+0.09s) took silver, followed by South Africa’s Alan Hatherly (+0.11s) in bronze.

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 30 with BMX Freestyle, where Canada will make its Olympic debut, represented by Quebec’s Jeffrey Whaley.

July 29, 2024/by Communications

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

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

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

Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team – PARA CYCLING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 29, 2024/by Communications

GEE AND BARIL BREAK THE ICE AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

Paris, FRA (July 27, 2024) – Olivia Baril of Rouyn-Noranda, QC and Derek Gee of Ottawa, ON got the ball rolling for cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a strong showing in the individual time trial on July 27.

Over a distance of 32.4 kilometers through the streets of Paris, starting at Les Invalides and finishing at Pont Alexandre III, passing through the Place de la Bastille, the riders had to endure a rainy day on slippery pavement, causing several falls throughout the peloton.

Fresh from a ninth-place overall finish in his first-ever Tour de France, 26-year-old Gee, competing in his second Olympic Games, clocked a time of 38:28.17m, good for 20th place.

“The conditions were very tricky and I knew my form would be challenged a bit,” said Gee, less than a week after the Tour de France. “It was a tough race for sure. I think that kind of form after the Tour will work better for the road race, because it’s a longer effort and with Mike (Woods) coming up, we’ll have some good options; I think he’ll arrive in good shape. Now I’ll recover a bit to prepare for next weekend.”

He finished 2 minutes 16 behind the new Olympic champion, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel (36:12.16m), who was joined on the podium by fellow Belgian Wout Van Aert (+25.63s) with bronze. Italy’s Filippo Ganna (+14.92s) rounded off the podium with silver.

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

Silver medallist at the Canadian Championships in the discipline, 26-year-old Baril set off on the course of her very first Olympic Games to finish in 20th position, 3 minutes 25 seconds behind the overall winner, Australian Grace Brown (39:38.24m).

“The course was very flat, so it doesn’t necessarily suit me best as the type of rider that I am,” said Baril. “It was quite rainy, but rainy for everybody, it made the streets of Paris very slippery. I’m happy because I stayed upright on my bike, which is important, contrarily to a lot of my competitors who crashed today, unfortunately. The preparation to get here was the best I could do, and I gave it my all today and I couldn’t have asked for better. I’m super motivated now for the road race.”

Britain’s Anna Henderson (+1:31.59) and American Chloe Dygert (+1:32.46) completed the podium.

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 28 with the women’s mountain bike race, where Isabella Holmgren will be in action.

July 27, 2024/by Communications

GET READY TO CHEER ON TEAM CANADA AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS!

The countdown is almost over, and the excitement is building as the Olympic Games in Paris are just around the corner. Our incredible Canadian Cycling Team is ready to take on the world, showcasing years of hard work, dedication, and passion. From the velodrome to the rugged mountain trails, our athletes will compete in a variety of cycling events, each one a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.

We’ve put together everything you need to know to cheer on our team. Below, you’ll find the full schedule of events, along with the names of the athletes who will be proudly representing Canada. Get to know who to watch, when to watch, and how to support our cyclists as they strive for Olympic glory.

How to Watch & Full Streaming Schedule

Take a look at the athletes that will be representing Canada