News – Page 87 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CANADIAN JUNIORS FINISH TOP-20 AT ROAD WORLDS

Bergen, September 19, 2017 – Canada had two Junior women finish in the top-20 on Monday, the opening day of competition at the Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway. Canadian national road champion Laurie Jussaume of Contrecoeur, Quebec, was the top Canadian finisher of the day, with a 19th place in the Junior women’s time trial.

Jussaume improved steadily through her 16.1 kilometre race, moving from the mid-30s at the first time split to recording the 11th fastest time for the final section. Jussaume finished two minutes and 8.42 seconds behind winner Elena Pirrone of Italy. Erin Attwell of Victoria, BC, finished just behind Jussaume in 20th place.

“This was a good test today on a really technical circuit,” said Pascal Choquette, coach for the Junior women. “It was hard to negotiate some of the corners and to know exactly how deep you could dig in every section. This circuit has some features that our Junior women are not used to seeing at races in North America, like technical descents with challenging corners and cobblestone sections. The girls delivered an honest effort. We know now where they will need to pay attention during the road race, where strategy and positioning will play a big role.”

In the Under-23 men’s 37.2 kilometre race, Alec Cowan of Calgary, Alberta, was Canada’s top finisher, in 25th place. Cowan was 49th fastest at the first split and moved up steadily all race, setting the third fastest split in the section between 25.7 kilometres and 32.8 kilometres. Cowan finished two minutes and 58.40 seconds behind winner Mikkel Bjerg of Denmark. Jack Burke, of Squamish, BC, top Canadian at the recent Tour of Alberta, suffered two crashes early in the race and had to switch to his road bike from his time trial bike.

“My ride went okay and I paced myself well,” said Cowan, “however, I didn’t meet my goal of a top-10 finish. I probably should have started a little faster and kept my speed up. You learn every race.”

“We had some misfortune for sure with Jack,” admitted Kevin Field, Road Manager at Cycling Canada. “It was disappointing that he wasn’t able to put out the best ride he was capable of. With Alec, he had a good pacing plan but, ultimately, he just needed to be going faster earlier in the race; he was too conservative.”

September 19, 2017/by Communications

CANADIAN WOMEN TAKE GOLD & SILVER AT ROAD WORLDS TTT

Bergen, September 18, 2017 – Canadian riders got off to a good start on Sunday, the opening day of the Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway. Leah Kirchmann was on the gold medal winning Sunweb squad for the women’s team time trial, while Karol-Ann Canuel won silver with the Boels Dolmans team. In other Canadian results, Alison Jackson was eighth with BePink, and Svein Tuft was fifth in the men’s race with Orica-Scott.

The team time trial is the only trade team event at the Worlds, and both women’s and men’s teams raced 42.5 kilometres. The course was technical and demanding, with narrow, twisty roads, cobblestone sections, fast descents and one extended climb.

Team Sunweb seemed to get stronger through the race, while other teams faltered. Cervelo-Bigla set the early fast splits, to be overtaken by the final starting team – Boels Dolmans, the defending three time champions. However, Sunweb came to the forefront in the final kilometres to win with a time of 55:41.63, 12.43 seconds faster than Boels Dolmans, with Cervelo-Bigla at 28.03 seconds.

“For sure, coming into this Boels was the favourite,” agreed Kirchmann. “We knew we could fight for a podium spot if we rode a really good race, but we didn’t expect to win. It’s pretty cool to be a world champion. Our strategy was just to pace the whole race; not go too crazy right off the start and end up losing time at the end. We knew that the times were close from communications we were getting, but in the end you just have to ride your own race.”

September 18, 2017/by Communications

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE TISSOT UCI TRACK CYCLING WORLD CUP IN MILTON

Milton, September 14, 2017 – The TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup is coming to Milton! Ticket sales and volunteer registration are now open for the Canadian round of the Track World Cup that will be held from December 1-3, 2017 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre. This is your opportunity to participate in a historic event and watch Team Canada take on the world.

Until October 1st, tickets are 20% off (excluding VIP) for all sessions, including the sought-after evening sessions when medals will be awarded. Spectators can choose between single tickets for each session in either general or premium seats, an event pass for all sessions or a family pack (2 adults, 2 youth). For exclusive access, act quickly to obtain one of 50 VIP passes for evening sessions only – these will give access to the infield, premium seats, parking at the velodrome, plus food and beverages.

All prices and links can be found at https://www.twcmilton.com/tickets/.

For information on detailed event schedules and volunteer registration, please visit https://www.twcmilton.com/event-info. Media registration will be available shortly.

“With the growth of Track Cycling across the country and the great performances from our national track teams, the timing could not be better to host the World in Milton for the Tissot UCI Track World Cup,” said Mathieu Boucher, Performance Development Director at Cycling Canada. “Cycling Canada is proud to have the support of the Town of Milton, the Government of Ontario, Sport Canada and an amazing group of dedicated volunteers in delivering this event. We are setting the stage to enable athlete performances and to deliver world class cycling for the community and the cycling fans.”

September 14, 2017/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES ELITE MEN’S SQUAD FOR ROAD WORLDS

Ottawa, September 13, 2017 – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the final members of Team Canada for the Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway. The selection for the Elite men’s competition in both the road race and individual time trial was made following the World Tour races held last weekend in Quebec City and Montreal. The teams for the Elite and Junior women, plus the Under-23 and Junior men, were announced previously.

Four riders have been chosen, with two competing in the individual time trial on Wednesday, September 18th, and three in the road race on Sunday, September 24th.

Rob Britton of Regina, Saskatchewan, will focus on the time trial, and is coming off his strongest season to-date. The professional rider with Rally Cycling won the overall title in the Tour of Utah this season, including a time trial stage win. Britton will be joined in the time trial by Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpetue, Quebec, a member of the AG2R La Mondiale WorldTour team. Houle comes to the world championships from the Vuelta a Espana, one of the three Grand Tours of cycling, and will also compete in the road race.

Joining Houle in the road race will be two more European-based professional riders – Antoine Duchesne of Saguenay, Quebec, and Guillaume Boivin of Montreal, Quebec. Duchesne was the top Canadian finisher at the GP Cycliste de Montreal last weekend, while Boivin was the top Canadian at the GP Cycliste de Quebec last Friday.

Kevin Field, Road Manager at Cycling Canada, said, “We have a really strong squad going into Road Worlds, not only with our Elites but also with our Junior and Under-23 riders. This past weekend at GPCQM [Quebec and Montreal WorldTour races] has been great preparation for our Elite men and we are looking forward to seeing them work together for the road race.”

September 13, 2017/by Communications

MELVIN TO LEAVE CYCLING CANADA FOR JAPAN

Milton, September 13, 2017 – Ian Melvin is departing the helm of Cycling Canada’s Men’s Track Endurance Program to help Japan qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

As of October 2nd, Melvin will join the Japan Cycling Federation as Head Track Endurance Coach. Working from Izu, Japan, home of the track cycling events at the 2020 Olympic Games, Melvin’s main focus will be to lead both Japanese men’s and women’s track endurance programs to 2020 Olympic qualification and to create long term high performance pathways for the country.

“I am incredibly proud of what I have been a part of creating since I joined Cycling Canada. Leaving behind my team of athletes and staff has been the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make professionally. As a program, we have achieved some wonderful performances and results, laying down a strong foundation for this group to continue building upon towards their goal of 2020 Olympic qualification. I count myself privileged to have been a part of Canadian history alongside these riders and will carry with me some wonderful memories for life.”

“I’d like to thank Jacques [Landry, Chief Technical Officer – Head Coach at Cycling Canada] for having the faith in me and supporting me for the last four and a half years. Many Performance Directors wouldn’t have had the confidence, but he let me run with my ideas and continued to back me. With ongoing support from Jacques and Cycling Canada, I am confident that this program can continue to build and impress the world.”

“Lastly, I would like to say a big thank you to my riders; those that I am working with currently and everyone who has come through the program. Despite the challenges and hurdles that we have faced, you have never given up and continue to prove people wrong. You’ve grown so much, not only as athletes but as young men, and the daily camaraderie is something that I’ve never experienced anywhere else before. You are truly an example for the next generations to follow and I am honoured to have shared in part of your journey.”

During his tenure as Men’s Track Endurance Coach at Cycling Canada, Ian Melvin was able to take a program that was hovering around the 4:14 mark in the men’s Team Pursuit Event, and shave off 15 seconds in the span of 3 years. Melvin accomplished this feat by creating a high performance environment underpinned by a solid road program, great technical work on the track and surrounding himself with key support staff.

“Ian came to Cycling Canada in June of 2013 with a white canvas to work from, but with very little funds. It is pretty impressive to see what he was able to accomplish during that 4 year span,” said Jacques Landry. “It’s unfortunate to lose Ian just as our program was gaining real momentum but at the same time, when a program like our men’s track endurance program makes gains like it has, it is normal that other countries want the architect of that program. It’s part of the game. My only consolation with losing Ian is that we must be doing something right if other countries are looking at what we are doing and want to emulate.”

With Melvin leaving his position as Head Men’s Track Endurance Coach, Cycling Canada will be publishing a job posting shortly, with the hope of having a replacement in place for November; one month out from the hosting of a Track World Cup at the National Cycling Centre in Milton.

September 13, 2017/by Communications

DUCHESNE TOP CANADIAN AT GP CYCLISTE DE MONTREAL

Montreal, September 12, 2017 – Antoine Duchesne of Team Canada was the top Canadian rider on Sunday at the GP Cycliste de Montreal WorldTour race, finishing 42nd in a chase group that also included Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy). Italy’s Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) won the 206 kilometre race from a six rider breakaway group.

The race, which featured 17 laps of the classic Mont Royal circuit through the center of Montreal, saw two Canadian riders attack from the gun. Canadian road champion Matteo Dal-Cin (Team Canada) and Benjamin Perry (Israel Cycling Academy) quickly opened a two minute gap, which fluctuated to as much as five and a half minutes over the next seven laps before an attack from the peloton by world champion and GP Cycliste de Quebec winner Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) caused a surge which brought the duo back after 120 kilometres. Both Duchesne and Boivin were involved in attacks, but each was neutralized, with no Canadians making the final break of six. In addition to Duchesne’s 42nd, Boivin was 51st, and Team Canada riders Jack Burke and Bruno Langlois were 90th and 97th, respectively.

Team Canada manager Kevin field commented, “I’m really happy with the collaboration in the field today and with the way the guys rode. I think Antoine and Guillaume did a great job at the front. It was definitely one of the harder Montréal races I’ve seen, but overall it was a great preparation for our Under-23 men before Road Worlds next week.”

September 12, 2017/by Communications

CANADA’S MIRANDA MILLER WINS WORLD DOWNHILL TITLE

Cairns, AUS, September 10, 2017 – Canada concluded the Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, Australia, on Sunday, with a world championship title for Miranda Miller of Squamish, BC, in the Elite women’s category. It is the first Elite Downhill world title for Canada since Cindy Devine won in 1990, the first year of the mountain bike world championships (and the year Miller was born).

The Elite women’s field suffered a blow when defending champion Rachel Atherton of Great Britain broke her collarbone in training. However, this left the door open to a new world champion to be crowned, and it was Miranda Miller, having the ride of her career, who took the rainbow jersey. Starting eighth from last, Miller had a clean run, and that proved to be the key when the favourites ran into problems. World Cup champion Myriam Nicole of France won the silver medal and Tracey Hannah of Australia the bronze. Vaea Verbeeck, Canada’s only other entrant in Elite women, finished 16th.

“It’s pretty crazy,” admitted Miller. “I don’t think it has sunk in yet. I feel like I had some luck on my side, but I’ll take it. It’s pretty cool. I’m sure in a couple days it will feel a bit different. I thought Tahnee (Seagrave) was going to knock me out. But I had some luck on my side for sure. When Myriam (Nicole) came down I thought ‘Oh, this is real’. For Canada, we haven’t had a [downhill] medal since Stevie [Smith, 2013] and Claire [Buchar, 2011], so it is cool. We got a medal in the Junior XC as well, so it’s great for Canada.”

Canada got off to a disappointing start for the day when defending Junior men’s champion and number one ranked Finnley Iles of Whistler, BC, crashed twice on his run to finish tenth. Matt Walker of Great Britain became the Junior men’s champion. Other Canadian Junior results were Kendall Mclean in 23rd, Ben Wallace in 25th, Jacob Stefiuk in 37th, Joshua Fultz-Veinotte in 41st, Anthony Poulson in 46th and Cole Mooney in 47th.

In the Elite men’s category, Canada’s top finisher was Samuel Thibault in 53rd, followed by Mark Wallace, ranked ninth but finishing a disappointing 54th after crashing near the bottom of the course.

Canada finished the world championships with two medals – Miller’s gold and Holden Jones’ bronze in the Junior men’s cross-country.

September 10, 2017/by Communications

BOIVIN FINISHES WITH LEADERS AT GP QUEBEC

Quebec, September 9, 2017 – Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) was the top Canadian finisher on Friday at the GP Cycliste de Quebec, in Quebec City, finishing with the lead group in 29th place. World champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) recorded his 100th professional victory, holding off Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) in a sprint after 201 kilometres of racing.

Bruno Langlois was the top rider for Team Canada in 52nd, finishing 17 seconds back. Other Canadian results were 56th Antoine Duchesne (Team Canada), 77th Jack Burke (Team Canada), 99th Ryan Anderson (Team Canada), 107th Matteo Dal-Cin (Team Canada), 141st Benjamin Perry (Israel Cycling Academy).

Team Canada manager Kevin Field said, “I feel like we achieved about 50% of our plan. The good thing about these races is that it provides an opportunity to give experience to our riders who are not on the WorldTour. For sure, there were some mistakes, but they can be turned into a positive learning experience for the young guys.”

The 12.6 kilometre circuit took riders along the St Lawrence River and through the Old Town of Quebec City, with two climbs on each of the 16 laps. Despite rain during the week, and forecasts of rain, race day was dry and sunny.

A small breakaway of four riders went clear halfway into the first lap. Tyler Williams (Israel Cycling Academy) launched the attack and was quickly joined by Pier-Andre Cote (Team Canada), Baptist Planckaert (Katusha Alpecin) and Tosh Van Der Sane (Lotto Soudal). The gap had grown to over nine minutes after 40 kilometres of racing, when the peloton finally began to chase, but they had only pulled back a minute by the 100 kilometre mark. At 16 kilometres to go the final rider – Planckaert – was caught, with the peloton together at the start of the final lap. Sagan went to the front in the final 150 metres, leading the remainder of the field across the finish line.

September 9, 2017/by Communications

BATTY 7TH AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Cairns, AUS, September 9, 2017 – Cross-country competition at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, Australia, concluded on Saturday with the final three titles awarded. Canada’s top result was by Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ontario, in seventh place in the Elite women’s competition.

Team Canada Head Coach Dan Proulx, summarized the project positively: “We had a great Worlds team this year – new energy and enthusiasm! The highlight was Holden Jones’s bronze medal! The team really impressed me with their effort level. They gave everything. Amongst our team there were several massive improvements in performance – Haley Smith, Marc Andre Fortier, Quinton Disera, Soren Meeuwisse, Andrew L’Esperance. Overall, it was a race where at least one Canadian in every category was strong and competitive. That bodes well for the future. The ones who performed best are just getting started in their careers as high performance athletes.”

Batty and Pendrel were part of the initial lead group in the Elite women’s race, which was eventually won by Jolanda Neff of Switzerland. Batty settled into seventh, which she held to the finish, although a crash on the final descent led to a sprint finish with Corina Gantenbein of Switzerland. Haley Smith continued her strong season since joining the Elite ranks, with a steady climb from the mid-30s to finish 16th. Catharine Pendrel was 27^th, Sandra Walter was 30th, Cindy Montambault 37th and Rebecca Beaumont 41st.

“I don’t know what to think,” admitted Smith. “I’ve never been inside the top-20 before and to do a top-20 … I know it’s not a podium result, but it’s absolutely huge for me, so I don’t know how to process it. But I’m really happy! I had a crappy start loop and actually crashed in the first couple of laps, but I just stayed focussed and moved through people. I couldn’t have hoped for a season this good; this is a big jump for me, and I’m very happy to end the year on this note.”

Leandre Bouchard was Canada’s top performer in the Elite men’s race, finishing 24th. Andrew L’Esperance was 44th, Derek Zandstra 45th, Evan McNeely 46th and Raphael Gagne 52nd.

“I was pretty lucky on the start,” said Bouchard, “I had some space to move up and the start was really important. So I was able to move up quickly and then protect my place. I’m really happy with this race because I had almost no errors; it was the most dusty race of my life! You are just eating dust by the first lap. I did my first top-20 in the World Cup here last year, so I knew I could do well, and so I was looking for a top-25. It’s good to end the season like this.”

In the Under-23 women’s race, Soren Meeuwisse was the top Canadian, in 16th place after moving up steadily all race. Anne Julie Tremblay suffered mechanical problems on the start loop and finished 23rd.

September 9, 2017/by Communications

FORTIER 12TH IN U23 MEN AT MTB WORLDS

Cairns, AUS, September 8, 2017 – Canada had two riders in the top-20 in the U23 men’s cross-country race on Friday at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, Australia, with Marc-Andre Fortier of Victoriaville, Quebec, finishing 12th and Quinton Disera of Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, finishing 17th. Sam Gaze of New Zealand successfully defended his title, with Alan Hatherly of South Africa taking the silver medal and Maximilian Brandl of Germany the bronze.

A group of 14 riders had split from the main field by the end of the start loop, as the riders headed out for six laps of the 4.3 kilometre circuit through the rainforest at Smithfield Park. The group included Quinton Disera, with Fortier eight seconds behind, along with Peter Disera.

Quinton Disera, a first year Under-23 rider, held onto a top-12 place through the first four laps before fading slightly in the final two laps. Fortier worked his way up from a start position on the sixth row to top-20 by the end of the start loop and into the top-15 by the end of the third lap. For the final two laps he was in a three-way battle for tenth.

“It was amazing, I didn’t have any problems all race,” said Fortier. “I started 48th and by the end of the start loop I had moved up a lot; an amazing day for me. Usually I prefer courses with shorter punchy climbs like Mont Ste-Anne, and here it was a long climb. So it was not the perfect course for me, but today it was perfect! It’s a good way to end the season, so for the winter I will have lots of motivation to train.”

Peter Disera was in the top-15 as the race entered the third lap, but suffered a flat, dropping him back to the mid-20s, where he finished in 24th place. Canadian Under-23 champion Sean Fincham of Squamish, BC, starting near the back of the field, moved up steadily in the first half of the race and then maintained 33rd place for the finish. Raphael Auclair of Haute-Saint-Charles, Quebec, had moved up to the mid-30s before a twisted chain forced him into the pits on Lap 2, and he finished 60th.

September 8, 2017/by Communications