News – Page 134 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

FIVE CANADIANS TO RACE THE 2015 UCI ROAD PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MEXICO

Whitten to test form in the Elite Women Time Trial as Canada hopes to earn points towards World Championships

(Ottawa, ON – May 5, 2015) Cycling Canada is sending five athletes to compete at the 2015 UCI ROAD Pan-American Championships in Leon, Mexico from May 7-10.

Tara Whitten of Edmonton, AB (The Cyclery-OPUS) will use the event to test herself at the international level in the Elite Women Time Trial, and help Canada qualify spots for the upcoming 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.

Matteo Dal-Cin of Ottawa (Team Silber Pro Cycling) and Pierrick Naud of Amos, QC (Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) will represent Canada in the Elite Men Road Race, suiting up in the National team uniform to score as many UCI points to improve Canada’s World Championships and Olympic rankings.

Alex Cataford of Ottawa, ON (Team Silber Pro Cycling), the 2013 U23 Canadian Time Trial Champion, and Adam De Vos of Victoria, BC (Team H&R Block) will be racing the U23 Men Time Trial race, however both will partake in the Elite Men Road Race alongside Dal-Cin and Naud.

Denise Kelly will be the lead coach for these championships, which begins May 7 with the Time Trial races for all categories. The Women and U23 Men Road Races will take place on May 9, with the Elite Men hitting the road on May 10 for their Road Race.

TEAM CANADA – 2015 UCI PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Tara WHITTEN (Edmonton, AB/The Cyclery-OPUS) Elite Women TT
  • Adam DE VOS (Victoria, BC/Team H&R Block) U23 TT & Elite Men RR
  • Alexander CATAFORD (Ottawa, ON/Team Silber Pro Cycling) U23 TT & Elite Men RR
  • Matteo DAL-CIN (Ottawa, ON/Team Silber Pro Cycling) Elite Men RR
  • Pierrick NAUD (Amos, QC/Team Optum pb Kelly Benefits Strategies) Elite Men RR

BMX SUPERCROSS WORLD CUP TRAVELS TO THE NETHERLANDS

Papendal, NED to host next BMX Supercross World Cup race

(Ottawa, ON – May 1, 2015) Team Canada is set to depart for the second UCI World Cup event of the 2015 campaign to take place at the Olympic Training Center Papendal in the Netherlands.

Canada is pursuing very important qualification points for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and the five Canadian athletes heading to Papendal will be looking to improve on their opening World Cup performance, building their form towards the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games.

Canada is sending three Elite Men to the event in Jim Brown (Airdire, AB), James Palmer (North Vancouver, BC) and Brandon Reid (Victoria, BC). All three Elite Men competed at the 2014 World Championships.

Alex Tougas (Pitt Meadows, BC) is continuing his progression in the Junior Men category, while Drew Mechielsen (Langley, BC) will be competing in the Junior Women category.

The Time Trial SuperFinals will take place May 9, with the BMX Supercross races on May 10.

The 2015 UCI BMX Supercross tour will visit five countries throughout the season with events in Manchester (GBR), Papendal (NED), Engelholm (SWE), Santiago Del Estero (ARG) and Rock Hill (USA). The 2015 UCI BMX World Championships will take place July 21-25 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

Since 2012, BMXLive.tv has been the source for live-streaming the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. With its revamped design, BMXLive.tv will definitely be the place for fans to connect and share their passion for the sport.

TEAM CANADA – 2015 BMX SUPERCROSS WORLD CUP, PAPENDAL

  • Jim BROWN (Elite Men)
  • Drew MECHIELSEN (Junior Women)
  • James PALMER (Elite Men)
  • Brandon REID (Elite Men)
  • Alex TOUGAS (Junior Men)

TEAM CANADA TO RACE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S STAGE RACE

Olympic medallist and former World Champion Tara Whitten makes return to competition

(Ottawa, ON – May 1, 2015) In seven days, Cycling Canada will take part in North America’s biggest stage race for women, the Amgen Tour of California, from May 8-10.

The Canadian National Team will be represented by 2012 Olympian Denise Ramsden, as well as four members of the Women’s Team Pursuit program on the track in Stephanie Roorda, Annie Foreman-Mackey, Kirsti Lay, Allison Beveridge. Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin will complete the six-member team.

For the three-day stage race, the team will be led by Craig Griffin, Canada’s Track Women Endurance coach.

The women’s race will travel through South Lake Tahoe on May 8-9, and conclude in Sacramento on May 10, the same day of the overall start of the men’s race.

TARA WHITTEN RETURNS TO COMPETITION WITH NATIONAL TEAM COLOURS

With her eyes set on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Tara Whitten will make a return to competition with the National Team. Whitten took a break from competition to focus on her doctorate studies, enjoying a well-deserved rest period after a gruelling Olympic cycle.

Whitten has had much success in the time trial, winning multiple Canadian Championships titles and finishing fourth at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships in Denmark.

The invitational Individual Time Trial will be disputed on May 15.

TEAM CANADA – 2015 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

  • Annie FOREMAN-MACKEY
  • Kirsti LAY
  • Allison BEVERIDGE
  • Gabrielle PILOTE-FORTIN
  • Denise RAMSDEN
  • Stephanie ROORDA
  • Tara WHITTEN (Individual Time Trial only)

CANADA CUP CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF RUGGED COMPETITION

Epic season ahead hitting all of Canada’s top mountain bike spots

(Ottawa, ON – April 27, 2015) The Canada Cup – Canada’s premier Mountain Bike series – returns in 2015 for the 25th edition.

Mountain bikers hailing from all regions of Canada will sweat it out elbow-to-elbow in the country’s most rugged regions facing stiff competitors, weather and challenging dirt trails, with the hopes to be crowned Canada Cup Champions as the series comes to an epic end in Whistler, BC during the coveted Crankworx World Tour.

The long-lasting series has been the foundation of Canada’s mountain bike development system throughout its quarter-century history. Countless Olympic and World Championship team members have advanced through its ranks.

Mont-Tremblant (QC) will kick off the series with both cross-country and downhill races. Riders will face new course designs in both disciplines, making the most of the spectator-friendly village at the base of the mountain. The event, to take place May 17-18, is renowned for its tenacity has been presented for the last 21 years, the oldest nationally-sanctioned mountain bike race in the country. A revised Sunday-Monday race schedule will benefit riders with increased practice time in both cross-country and downhill.

Horseshoe Valley (ON), located just minutes from the renowned Hardwood Hills where the 2015 Pan-Am Games will take place, will welcome the cross-country riders for the series’ second stop. Alongside Hardwood Ski and Bike, aspiring Olympic champions will have access to back-to-back weekend racing, with week-long cycling activities following the big day of racing. Those in attendance will get a sneak peak at some of the same single-track to be used for the 2015 Canadian Mountain Bike Marathon Championships to take place this fall.

Cross-country specialists won’t travel far for the third leg of the series, with Hardwood Ski and Bike (ON) hosting week-long cycling activities leading into the Trek Store Canada Cup #3. The event minutes away from Horseshoe Valley features a Tuesday Fun Ride and Social, a Wednesday Midweek race and an Eliminator race on Thursday. A large international crowd is expected with a last chance for riders to preview the official course to be used at the Pan-Am Games later in the summer.

Baie-St-Paul (QC) remains on the Canada Cup calendar for 2015, allowing the organizer to fine-tune any last details prior to hosting the 2016 Canadian Mountain Bike XCO Championships. The course in the beautiful Charlevoix region boasts a proven track record of nationally and provincially-sanctioned events. This race will also be a fantastic opportunity for riders to warm-up for the Canadian Championships, taking place the following weekend.

Downhillers will get another crack at the gnarly Panorama Mountain (BC) Bike Park this year. Many big names are already confirmed for the event, with Troy Brosnan (Specialized), Chris Kovarik (Intense) and Claire Buchar (Intense) already confirmed. The equal prize purse for both men and women winners will be $500. The Canada Cup event will be a part of the Dunbar Cycles Summer Series, also incorporating an exciting Dual Slalom event on Saturday dubbed the “Dunbar Grass Stains Dual Slalom”.

Finally, Whistler Mountain (BC) will welcome Canada’s best riders for both cross-country and downhill in the big finale. The Canadian Open DH is excited to welcomes iXS as its new presenting sponsor. As a part of the Crankworx World Tour, Whistler will welcome some of the world’s top mountain bikers from all disciplines, promising stiff competition across the board. Canada Cup Series Champions will be crowned in Whistler, ending a quarter-century of the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series. 

SUMMARY OF 2015 CANADA CUP MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES

Tremblant (DH/XCO):

May 17: Downhill

May 18: Cross-country

Organizer: Les Enterprises Cykel

Registration XC   |   Registration DH

Horseshoe Valley (XCO)

June 7: Cross-country

Organizer: Superfly Racing

Hardwood Hills (XCO)

June 14: Cross-country

Organizer: Pulse Racing

Registration XC

Baie St. Paul (XCO)

July 11: Cross-country

Organizer: Club Cycliste Charlevoix

Registration XC

Panorama Mountain (DH):

July 18: Downhill

Organizer: SE Racing & Promotions

Registration DH

Whistler (DH/XCO):

August 14: Cross-country

August 16: Downhill

Organizer: Whistler-Blackcomb

Registration XC/DH: Registration will open on June 1, 2015.

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES DATES AND HOST CITIES OF 2016 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa-Gatineau, Calgary, Baie-St-Paul, Sun Peaks, and Horseshoe Valley to host Canadian Championships

(Ottawa, ON – April 22, 2015) Cycling Canada is proud to announce the dates and host cities of its 2016 Canadian Championships series. Canada’s top cyclists of all cycling sports will be treated to top-notch venues and experienced organizers throughout the entire series.

The 2016 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships will take place in Ottawa (ON) and Gatineau (QC). Organizers Doug Corner and John Large have worked in collaboration with organizations from both Quebec and Ontario to bring the Championships to the region.

The 2016 and 2017 Road Championships will showcase the para-cycling, junior and elite categories over five consecutive days of racing, in both provinces. The event will be in the Nation’s Capital for two years – 2016 and 2017 – hosting the Championships in line with Canada’s much anticipated 150th Anniversary celebrations.

A bidding process is now underway for the 2016 Canadian Road Championships for masters. Interested organizers are encouraged to visit Cycling Canada’s website to learn more.

Baie-St-Paul (QC), which has been a longstanding host on the Canada Cup and Quebec Cup Mountain Bike calendars, will welcome the 2016 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championships. The Championships organized by the Club Cycliste Charlevoix is to take place July 14-17, 2016 in one of Canada’s prestigious and scenic region of Charlevoix. Following the Championships will be the Canada Cup race in St-Félicien, which hosts the 2015 edition of the event.

Mountain Bike downhillers will seek thrills and high speeds in the picturesque and challenging trails of Sun Peaks Resort for the 2016 Canadian Mountain Bike Downhill Championships, July 23-24, 2016. The event will be hosted in British Columbia’s mainland for the third straight year. With successful organizer Henry Pejril at the helm, Sun Peaks Resort boasts a solid reputation in downhill racing. The venue offers all the amenities on-site at the mountain base village, featuring over 7000 beds minutes from the chairlift, restaurants, boutiques and artisan markets on the weekend.

BMXers will gather in Calgary (AB) for the 2016 Canadian BMX Championships from September 2-5, 2016. The Calgary BMX Racing Association has a long history of hosting Canada Cup and Alberta Cup races and is home to many talented young riders. The race track in Calgary is just minutes away from the city’s vibrant downtown, abundant amenities, as well as the Calgary International Airport

Calgary is thrilled to welcome the event for consecutive years. “Winning the bid for the 2016 Canadian BMX Championship is one more testament to Calgary’s reputation as a year-round sport city,” said Marco De Iaco, Vice President, Sport & Major Events at Tourism Calgary. “Not only do events like these provide benefits to a growing sport tourism industry, they provide branding and promotional opportunities for the city of Calgary. We look forward to supporting the Calgary BMX Racing Association in the planning and delivery of an exceptional event.”

Canada’s top endurance Mountain Bikers will have the chance to show their talent and skills at the 2016 Horseshoe Hustle Canadian XCM Championships in Horseshoe Valley (ON) on September 11, 2016. The event hosted by SuperFly Racing will celebrate its second consecutive Championships as it is hosting the 2015 edition of the event. The venue is fully serviced, including on-site accommodation and some of Ontario’s best single-track trails. The organizer has been successfully organizing endurance races since 2000.

The 2016 Canadian Championships for Track cycling and Cyclo-cross will be announced at a later date. 

SUMMARY OF 2016 CANADIAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES

2016 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships

Ottawa, ON/Gatineau, QC

June 25-29, 2016

Organizers: Doug Corner & John Large

 

2016 Canadian Mountain Bike XCO Championships

Baie St Paul, QC

July 14-17, 2016

Organizer: Club Cycliste Charlevoix

 

2016 Canadian Mountain Bike DHI Championships

Sun Peaks, BC

July 23-24, 2016

Organizer: Henry Pejril & Sun Peaks Resort

 

2016 Canadian BMX Championships

Calgary, AB

September 2-5, 2016

Organizer: Calgary BMX Racing Association

 

2016 Horseshoe Hustle Canadian XCM Championships

Horseshoe Valley, ON

September 11, 2016

Organizer: Superfly Racing

Peter Lawless Appointed Vice President of Canadian Olympic Committee

Peter Lawless Appointed Vice President of Canadian Olympic Committee

Monday, April 20, 2015 — TORONTO — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced Sunday that Canadian coaching star, Peter Lawless has been appointed as Vice President of the organisation. It was also announced that two-time Olympian and Lake Placid 1980 bronze medallist, Steve Podborski, has been named to the COC Board of Directors after being acclaimed at the COC Annual Session meeting in Toronto.

Lawless has been involved in high performance sport for more than 20 years in the sports of sailing, athletics and cycling. He is a two-time winner of a Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award, and most recently, he has been a staff coach with Team Canada at the UCI Paracycling World Championships and World Cups. Athletes coached by Lawless have had remarkable success, including breaking 17 world records in athletics, and winning more than a dozen Paralympic or World Championship medals.

Lawless replaces Gordon Peterson as Vice President.  Peterson has been a COC member for more than 15 years, a member of the COC Board of Directors since 1998  and has served as a member of the Executive Committee from 2005 to 2009. Additionally, he has served on various COC Committees and Task Forces, including as a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, as chair of the Team Selection Committee and By-laws Committee and as a member of COC mission staff for both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Joining the COC Board of Directors is Podborski who brings with him a wealth of Olympic experience and background. He has been an active member of the COC’s Governance and Nomination Committee, Ethics Committee, Revenue Generation & Marketing Committee, and, as Chef de Mission from the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, is an Ex-Officio Member of the Team Selection Committee.

The following individuals were also re-elected to the Board of Directors for a four-year term ending in April 2019: Wayne Russell – Treasurer; Martha Deacon; Anthony Eames; Gordon Peterson; and Walter Sieber. The following Board members will carry out the remaining 2 years of their 4 year terms which end in April 2017: Marcel Aubut – President; Tricia Smith – Vice-President; Therese Brisson; Charmaine Crooks; Gene Edworthy; Kevin Gilmore; Peter Lawless. IOC Members Richard Pound and Hayley Wickenheiser and Athletes’ Commission representatives Jeff Christie and Adam van Koeverden will also continue as Board Members for a further one year term.

CANADA’S BMX TEAM READY TO ROCK THE 2015 SEASON!

BMXers to tackle the world’s best in opening World Cup Supercross race of 2015 season

(Ottawa, ON – April 15, 2015) Canada’s BMX riders have spent the winter fine-tuning their skills through rigorous training camps, and are now ready to compete at the opening World Cup race of the 2015 season in Manchester, GBR.

Six Canadian athletes have made the trek overseas and are currently in Manchester to represent their country.

Jim Brown (Airdrie, AB), James Palmer (North Vancouver, BC), and Brandon Reid (Victoria, BC) will all race in the Elite Men category, and offer Canada’s top chances of scoring important Olympic qualifications points.

Daina Tuchscherer (Airdrie, AB) and Drew Mechielsen (Langley, BC) will race for Canada in the Junior Women race.

Of note, Alex Tougas (Pitt Meadows, BC) is making his debut in the Junior Men category, racing his career first UCI World Cup Supercross. Tougas is a two-time BMX Challenge World Champion (U15, U16) and has been a dominant force in his age categories.

After a practice session on Friday, Supercross racing begins on Saturday with the qualifications motos and time trials, while final elimination rounds will be presented on Sunday.

Tory Nyhaug (Coquitlam, BC), silver medallist at the World Championships in 2014, will miss the event in Manchester as he is recovering from an injury. Although his return to competition has not yet been dated, recovery is going according to plan and he is expected to return to international action at the 2015 World Championships.

The UCI BMX Supercross World Cups serve as the main qualifying events for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, making 2015 an important year for the sport of BMX.

The 2015 UCI BMX Supercross tour will visit five countries throughout the season with events in Manchester (GBR), Papendal (NED), Engelholm (SWE), Santiago Del Estero (ARG) and Rock Hill (USA). The 2015 UCI BMX World Championships will take place July 21-25 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

Since 2012, BMXLive.tv has been the source for live-streaming the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. With its revamped design, BMXLive.tv will definitely be the place for fans to connect and share their passion for the sport.

TEAM CANADA – 2015 UCI BMX SUPERCROSS WORLD CUP – MANCHESTER (GBR)

  • Jim BROWN [Elite Men] (Airdrie, AB)
  • Drew MECHIELSEN [Junior Women] (Langley, BC)
  • James PALMER [Elite Men] (North Vancouver, BC)
  • Brandon REID [Elite Men] (Victoria, BC)
  • Alex TOUGAS [Junior Men] (Pitt Meadows, BC)
  • Daina TUCHSCHERER [Junior Women] (Airdrie, AB)

HOP ON, CANADA!

Cycling Canada unveils new campaign

(Ottawa, ON – April 13, 2015) Cycling Canada is thrilled to announce the launch of a new campaign. “Hop On” is our rallying cry to encourage people to get on their bikes and contribute to Canada’s reputation as a leading cycling nation.

Learn how you can ride, cheer and support our athletes at hoponcanada.ca. You’ll also find our new commercial, athlete interviews, Cycling Canada merchandise, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wtqnbObhbA

This innovative campaign was developed by Innocean Worldwide Canada Inc. with the support of numerous creative and production partners.  We will be adding stories and information to the site each month leading to the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympic Games.

CYCLING CANADA UNVEILS PROGRESSIVE ANTI-DOPING POLICY

National Cycling body follows Consultation with new policy framework for dealing with Anti-doping Rule Violations

(Ottawa, ON – April 09, 2015) Grounded on the findings of the 2014 National Consultation on Doping in Canada, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce a new and progressive policy on Anti-Doping for cyclists and cycling support personnel in Canada.

Developed in consultation with the CCES and with Cycling Canada’s Athletes’ Council this forward-thinking policy fully complements the 2015 Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) which is more stringent than ever before. Our policy is designed to ensure that Cycling Canada proactively deters cheaters by applying every available penalty towards those who are caught doping.

>>> Complete Policy: Anti-Doping Rule Violation Policy

Highlights include:

  1. Cycling Canada will not hire, employ, subcontract or accept volunteer services from individuals who have received a sanction for an anti-doping rule violation, which results in a period of ineligibility of 12 months or longer.
  2. Participants who have been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation may not be fully funded to participate in future National Team Projects upon return to the sport.
  3. Cycling Canada  will seek financial compensation from persons who have received a sanction for an anti-doping rule violation including:
    1. Recovering Cycling Canada’s costs from related hearings.
    2. Seeking a fine proportionate to the seriousness of the violation. 
    3. Education of our athletes will be ramped up through RACE CLEAN and other programs. All fines collected will be used to support CC’s anti-doping education programs.

Cycling Canada is pleased with this next step in bringing consequences to those caught doping in Canada, and will continue to work with our partners in the fight against doping to strengthen these penalties even further in the coming years.

John Tolkamp, President of Cycling Canada, provided his thoughts on the policy development: “Cycling Canada takes doping very seriously, and we believe this policy shows that. While we are encouraged by this first step, we would like to provide stronger penalties and sanctions in the policy.  Knowing that this is a long fight, and using the CADP as a guideline, we went as far as we could in our first phase. We are passionate about continuing to make these penalties stronger in the coming years and continuing to be at the forefront of the fight against doping in Canada. We want our clean athletes and supporters to have confidence that this policy will carry through in everything we do, and that we are not done in the fight against doping. We are proud to be a leader in Canada in this area.”

Canadian Mountain Bike Cross Country multiple Champion and Member of the Athletes’ Council Geoff Kabush was pleased to provide his perspective on the policy: “Cycling Canada’s new ADRV policy is one step towards changing the culture and increasing the consequences for athletes who choose to cheat. As an athlete whose career was hugely impacted by these athletes I would like even stronger policies that make it clear anyone involved in doping at any level is not welcome in any role at Cycling Canada. These new policy statements however; are an important step towards penalizing individuals and making it clear that doping is not acceptable in Canada. Openly discussing the issues and education are important so I’m proud to see the messages involved in the Race Clean, Own Your Victory program are continuing to be part of Cycling Canada’s anti-doping effort.”

The policy was developed in consultation with the Provincial and Territorial Cycling Associations and the Athletes’ Council with advisory support from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.  This policy further builds upon the work that was done in the National Consultation on Doping Activity in the Sport of Cycling that was released in recent months by Cycling Canada.

CYCLING CANADA PARTNERS WITH SHELLEY GAUTIER PARA-SPORT FOUNDATION

(Ottawa, ON – April 08, 2015) Cycling Canada is pleased to announce its partnership with the “Shelley Gautier Para-Sport Foundation”.

Shelley Gautier is a high-performance athlete of the Canadian para-cycling team in contention for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. She can boast of having won every national and international race she participated in since her beginnings in para-cycling. Double World Champion in the road race and in the time trial from 2010 to 2014, she continues to grow and improve her performances.

Not only Shelley is an athlete with an impressive curriculum, but she remains a leader in the Canadian cycling community. Indeed, the “Shelley Gautier ParaSport Foundation” was created in her name to encourage and provide opportunities for people with disabilities to be active and get involved in sports.

The foundation created in 2014 has already seen much success either through its integration of para-cycling program in the NCCH club (National Cycling Centre of Hamilton), or by establishing a partnership with Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario. This school will allow children from 4 to 16 years old to enjoy access to cycling within their sports program (tandem cycling). The project is a joint venture with the NCCH club to provide guidance from certified coaches and volunteers tandem pilots.

Cycling Canada would like to thank and congratulate Shelley Gautier and her entourage for their involvement, support, and the creation of the foundation. Arnaud Litou, the supervisor of the para-cycling program, points out: “Let’s not forget that only 3% of young people with disabilities is involved in a sport according to Statistics Canada, in contrast to 20% of those able-bodied. Shelley is a model in every way!”

The Ontario Cycling Association, ParaSport Ontario, Cycling Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) joined forces to form a development program for cyclists in Ontario. This partnership provides opportunities for young people and newcomers to learn about Para sports and allow Canada to remain a leading nation in the international arena.

“This is a common goal for all partners involved, and we are fortunate to have a prominent athlete, active, who shares her passion for all of the Canadian cycling community! Congratulations and good training to Shelley as she awaits the start of the 2015 season and the Rio 2016 Games,” concludes Litou.