News – Page 31 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

26 ATHLETES TO REPRESENT CANADA AT THE 2022 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (January 13, 2022) – Cycling Canada has selected a team of 26 Junior, U23 and Elite athletes to compete at the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Fayetteville, USA on January 29-30. Over the holiday period, riders prepared for the championships by competing at various races in Europe, including two world cups in Belgium and the Netherlands, where several athletes established personal best performances.

The team will be led by two-time Pan American champion Maghalie Rochette, who has had a breakthrough season and has earned her two first European World Cup podiums. She will be joined by Pan American Games silver medallist Ruby West, national cyclo-cross champions Michael van den Ham and Sydney McGill, as well as two-time 2021 Canadian XCO Championships bronze medallist Tyler Orschel.

“I’m really happy with my season so far,” said Rochette. “I had some of the best results of my career and was more consistent than ever. My goal for Worlds is to put all these learnings into practice and to deliver the best possible performance. I think it’s realistic to aim for a podium, but I really want to start this race with an open mind and I don’t want to set any limits for myself. I’ve prepared as much as possible, so my goal is to cross the finish line feeling completely drained, knowing that I’ve done my best.”

On the development side, Pan American Championships medallists Ava Holmgren, Isabella Holmgren, Ian Ackert and Tyler Clark will be on the athlete watch list in the Junior and U23 races. Pan American champion Ava Holmgren will be a top contender for the women’s Junior title after winning multiple races this year and placing 7th at the Namur World Cup. Canadian XCO Championships medallists Owen Clark and Ella Myers will also be looking to compete for a spot on the podium.

“The international race experience we were able to provide for our development athletes this season will be largely beneficial at Worlds,” said Cycling Canada’s Cyclo-cross Lead, Rob Holmgren. “The new skills and experience they were able to acquire will carry them well into this competition and further into their careers. We have a great group of development athletes and veterans, and we look forward to seeing them perform against the best in the world.”

The national cyclocross team is extremely grateful to our partners Paris to Ancaster, the CX Fever Fund and to our generous donors and volunteers. To become a member of Club 1882 and help support Cycling Canada programs and athletes, click here.

Team Canada

Junior Women
Jenaya Francis – Edmonton, AB
Ava Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Kiara Lylyk – Guelph, ON
Ella Myers – Calgary, AB

Junior Men
Ian Ackert – Severn, ON
Theo DeGroote – Orangeville, ON
Sasha Renaud-Tremblay – Blainville, QC
Luke Valenti – Orangeville, ON
Alexander Woodford – Ottawa, ON

U23 Women
Christiane Bilodeau – St.Albert, AB
Kelly Lawson – Barrie, ON
Katelyn Walcroft – Collingwood, ON

U23 Men
Hugo Brisebois – Chelsea, QC
Owen Clark – Mono, ON
Tyler Clark – Mono, ON
Matt Leliveld – Mulmur, ON
Noah Ramsey – Toronto, ON

Elite Women
Siobhan Kelly – London, ON
Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB
Maghalie Rochette – Ste-Adèle, QC
Ruby West – Dundas, ON

Elite Men
Malcolm Barton – Uxbridge, ON
Tyler Orschel – Uxbridge, ON
Brody Sanderson – Severn, ON
Michael van den Ham – Abbotsford, BC

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NIGEL ELLSAY JOINS CYCLING CANADA AS NATIONAL ROAD COACH

Ottawa, ON (January 12, 2022) – Following the announcement of four new National Team coach hires in December, Cycling Canada is happy to welcome former professional road cyclist Nigel Ellsay in the role of National Team Coach – Road Lead. Based out of Victoria, BC, Ellsay’s mandate will include working with clubs, provincial sports organizations, and trade teams in order to sustainably grow Cycling Canada’s development road programming, while increasing our communication and engagement with top athletes and teams.

Ellsay retired in 2020 after racing for six years for teams Silber Pro Cycling and Rally Cycling. Over the course of his career, he won several medals at the Canadian Road Championships, including a title in the time trial as a Junior in 2012. Since stepping away from racing, he has worked as an athlete mentor for Bridge the Gap, a Sports Director for TaG Cycling Team’s U23 team and has led several European projects for Cycling Canada, including the Tour de l’Avenir and l’Étoile d’Or.

“Nigel has raced throughout North America and Europe and represented Canada on numerous occasions,” said Cycling Canada’s Head Coach, Dan Proulx. “We’re incredibly excited to see him build on these experiences in this new role and help us deliver the next generation of champions to the world stage.”

Cycling Canada’s National Team coaches will work together to provide a sustainable performance program across all cycling disciplines that can deliver champions to the world stage and lifelong ambassadors to the Canadian cycling community. Based primarily out of regional training centres and hubs across the country, the coaching team works collaboratively to cultivate aligned and integrated multi-discipline development and performance programming.

“Cycling Canada is committed to providing programming across all disciplines and increasing racing and skill development opportunities for athletes,” said Chief Sport Officer, Scott Kelly. “Despite the continued impact of the pandemic on our programming, we were able to run several successful road projects this past year. It is our intent to build on this, offering an increased amount of development road programming, including spring and summer European projects for both Juniors and U23s. We are focused on offering more opportunities for athletes at a development level and having Nigel on board will allow us to achieve this goal.”

In addition to providing technical and tactical expertise within their respective focus areas, National Teach Coaches help lead, mentor and empower Canada’s network of provincial, club and affiliate coaches to build a robust athlete pipeline and provide racing and skill development opportunities for athletes while increasing coaching knowledge, expertise and capacity across the country.

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CYCLING CANADA TO HOST FIRST CANADIAN ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (January 12, 2022) ­– Following the delivery of a full calendar of virtual events in 2021 and 2022, Cycling Canada is excited to announce that the nation’s first-ever sanctioned Canadian Esports Championships will take place from March 12th to 13th, 2022 on the RGT virtual cycling platform. Hosted in collaboration with Echelon Racing Promotions, the 2022 Canadian Esports Championships presented by Wahoo will award titles across 14 categories, with viewers being able to access free livestream coverage spanning all race categories for both competition days.

Athletes from across the country will compete for the coveted maple leaf jersey, awarded in both physical form and, for the first time ever, in digital form to be applied to their RGT account for a period of 1 year. Presenting partner Wahoo will provide some added incentive, with verified winners in all categories to be awarded an ELMNT RIVAL multisport GPS watch. The event will also be the first to feature a newly refreshed Canadian Championship branding, to be unveiled at all Canadian Championship events beginning in 2022.

“We are thrilled to finally announce this groundbreaking event,” said Josh Peacock, Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at Cycling Canada. “Over the last two seasons, we have taken the time to build our understanding of esports and virtual cycling, and are excited to apply those learnings to this inagural event. With the support of strong partners such as Wahoo, RGT and Echelon Racing Promotions, we’re confident this event will represent the calibre of racing that is known and expected of a Canadian Championship title. Virtual cycling as a discipline is here to stay, and we look forward to recognizing our top Canadian athletes for years to come.”

Using RGT’s “Magic Roads” feature, the 2022 Canadian Esports Championships p/b Wahoo will be a lapped race on the 2022 Canada Summer Games road cycling course – a rolling 14km loop through the Town of Pelham in Ontario’s Niagara Region. Although the inagural event will be open to all Canadian athletes, only those with a valid 2022 Cycling Canada membership will have access to official results and prizing. Participants will be able to experience race simulations prior to the event through Cycling Canada’s weekly race calendar, as well as Cycling BC’s provincial race series, which will be open to all members of provincial/territorial cycling federations.

For more information on the event, including schedule, registration and technical guide, click here.

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CYCLING CANADA TO HOST UCI TRACK CYCLING NATIONS CUP IN MILTON IN 2022 & 2023

Ottawa, ON (January 11, 2022) ­– After successfully hosting three rounds of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 2017 to 2020 at Milton’s Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to host a leg of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup for 2022 and 2023, with a first right of refusal for the 2024 season. With only three UCI Track Nations Cups hosted around the world every year, the event is the highest calibre of international track cycling competition and attracts over 250 athletes from 30 different nations.

“We are proud to announce the return of the Nations Cup in Milton after several months of discussions with the UCI,” said Mathieu Boucher, Chief Development Officer at Cycling Canada. “We are optimistic that this event will be able to go forward as planned and will be a great way for spectators to support Canadian athletes who inspired us by delivering amazing performances in Tokyo while also having a positive economic impact at the local and provincial levels.”

The first event in the two-year commitment will be held from May 12-15, 2022 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre and will showcase all six Olympic events (Sprint, Keirin, Team Sprint, Team Pursuit, Omnium & Madison), as well as the Elimination Race, Individual Pursuit and Time Trial over four days of racing. Spectators can expect to see some of cycling’s biggest stars in action, including Olympic Sprint gold medallist Kelsey Mitchell and Olympic Keirin bronze medallist, Lauriane Genest, both currently based in Milton.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the fact that Cycling Canada will be hosting a Nations Cup!” said Mitchell. “I love racing at home in front of my friends, family and community; the feeling of seeing every waving their Canadian flags and everyone cheering for Canada is hard to describe. I’m already counting down the days, and I hope the excitement around our success at the Olympics will continue at the Milton Nations Cup!”

Event details and ticket information will be available in the coming months. As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, Cycling Canada will continue to operate events in a manner that supports first and foremost the health and safety of all participants, as well as the general public. More information about Cycling Canada events can be found here.

Key Facts:

  • 30 nations
  • 250 athletes
  • 100 accredited team staff
  • Six days of activities (4 days of racing, 2 days of official training)
  • 4000 + spectators
  • Millions of international viewers
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GETTING READY FOR ESPORTS SEASON

 

Photo: Nick Wammes

As temperatures drop and days seem to be getting shorter, it may be harder to find the motivation or time to go for an outdoor ride. Luckily, there are several ways to keep up your fitness while staying in the comfort of your home, one of them being indoor cycling. Contrary to popular belief, esports encompasses much more than just video games; it also includes real-life workouts, particularly through virtual cycling where participants can ride on existing courses and experience real-time resistance during efforts.

If you are interested in giving it a try this season or are curious as to what it entails, here are a few ways to get started and get the most out of your ride!

The Pain Cave set up

You don’t need a huge amount of space to ride indoors. In fact, you can simply use that corner where you usually keep random items or a space that’s been empty like a basement or garage. If you are looking for inspiration, see how para-cyclist Lowell Taylor and dual Olympian Vincent de Haître set up theirs.

 

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A post shared by Vincent De Haitre (@vince_dehaitre)

First and foremost, your set up should include, you guessed it: a trainer (we have a big preference for the Wahoo KICKR) and a bike. You will also need a computer, phone or tablet and a subscription to an indoor cycling app such as Zwift, RGT or FulGaz. Other essentials include riding gear, cycling shoes and a fan to help you cool off during your ride because believe us, indoor riding can be just as hard as riding outdoors.

Here’s a breakdown of some other things you may want to spice up your pain cave:

  • Water bottles – remember to hydrate. A good rule of thumb is to drink whenever your avatar is drinking
  • Towel – as mentioned, you will likely be sweating during your ride so remember to have a towel nearby
  • Speakers or headphones – jamming to music can definitely help you push through those tougher climbs. If podcasts are more your thing, we recommend listening to Canuck Crosscast (Jenn Jackson & Michael van den Ham) Coffee Chatter (James Palmer & Tory Nyhaug) and Obstacles and Opportunities (Lowell Taylor & his wife Julie).
  • Snacks – if you’re going on a longer ride, it’s important to fuel just like you would during an outdoor ride. We suggest keeping a CLIF bar or gel close by in case you get hungry or need some extra energy

Choose your course

One of the many benefits to indoor riding is getting to choose a course that fits your fitness and energy levels on any given day. Zwift offers a wide array of courses, ranging from flat, short loops to steep climbs and even offers the possibility of riding on real Road World Championships courses! RGT cycling offers a basic membership which provides access to a variety of real road courses and offers the ability to take advantage of structured workouts, group rides and races – all for free! Lastly, give the Fulgaz virtual cycling app a try and preview some of the world’s most iconic cycling destinations using real-life footage, including a few from our own backyard.

Whether you want to go for an easy spin or challenge yourself by climbing a virtual volcano, these platforms have something for everyone.

You’re never riding alone

We all have those days where motivation is a little harder to come by, and that’s where our wonderful community comes in.

The amazing thing about esports is that you can ride solo, with friends or join a ride with people from all over the world. An easy way to meet new people is to join our weekly Zwift rides offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays or if you’re feeling a bit more competitive, join us on Wednesdays for our race night series. If you’re looking to connect with other riders, feel free to use the chat function or join our Discord Channel to talk with ride leaders and participants. Every two weeks, participants also get the chance to ride and engage with a featured guest rider, including past and present Olympians and Paralympians such as Leah Kirchmann, Curt Harnett, Tara Whitten and Robbi Weldon to name a few.

Goal setting

Sometimes, we may feel like we need to work towards a goal when we are riding, whether it be achieving a certain distance, elevation gain or time on the trainer.

Setting goals can be an important part of building up your fitness for the summer months and can be as simple as riding X times a week or joining X number of races throughout the season. Whatever your goals may be, indoor rides are sure to be a great complement to your training.

Remember, it’s about having fun

While it’s great to work towards goals, it’s also important to remember to enjoy the ride and to be kind to yourself. Start small, go at your own pace and work your way up to where you want to be. Engage with your community, try new things & make sure to have fun!

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TEN CANADIAN ATHLETES SELECTED FOR 2022 UCI ESPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, Ontario (January 5, 2022) – Ten athletes will be competing under Canadian colours at the second UCI Esports World Championships, scheduled for February 26 on the Zwift virtual cycling platform. Canada was awarded a quota of 4 men and 4 women based on the UCI qualification system, and an additional two athletes qualified directly through invitation-only Continental Qualifier events held in November.

The women’s squad will be comprised of Esports specialist Esta Bovill, road and track athlete Adèle Normand, para-cycling pilot and Parapan American Games medalist Evelyne Gagnon, and Masters Canadian Road Champion Josée Rossignol. They will be joined by Esports specialist Monilee Keller, who qualified through the Continental Qualifier.

On the men’s side, 2016 Olympian and current Canadian Mountain Bike Champion Léandre Bouchard will be on the athlete watch list, as well as professional Esports athlete Thomas Thrall, who qualified through the Continental Qualifier, mountain biker Noah Ramsay and road cyclists Oliver Dowd and Kris Yip. Both teams will be directed by four-time Paralympic medallist Tristen Chernove.

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to showcase my skills at the biggest Esports race in the world,” said Bouchard. “It’s exciting to be racing on a platform where I have spent countless hours training over the last years.”

The women’s and men’s races will take place on Zwift’s New York course for a total distance of 54.9 kilometers and an impressive 944 meters of elevation. The course will be a mixture of rolling and steep terrain and will include the PowerUps that athletes can deploy strategically throughout the race.

Women’s squad
Esta Bovill – North Vancouver, BC
Evelyne Gagnon – Quebec City, QC
Monilee Keller – Redmond, WA
Adèle Normand – Chicoutimi, QC
Josée Rossignol – Victoriaville, QC

Men’s squad
Léandre Bouchard – Alma, QC
Oliver Dowd – Mississauga, ON
Noah Ramsey – Toronto, ON
Thomas Thrall – Nashville, TN
Kris Yip – Prince George, BC

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2021 CANADIAN CYCLO-CROSS & TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED

Ottawa, Ontario (December 21, 2021) – As a result of continuously evolving public health guidelines, Cycling Canada, in collaboration with the Wheelhouse Cycling Society, Ecoasis Developments LLP, Cycling BC, the City of Langford and the Town of Milton, has made the difficult decision to cancel both the 2021 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships and the 2021 Canadian Track Championships for Elite & Masters.

The 2021 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships had initially been postponed from November 27-28, 2021 to January 8-9, 2022 due to the state of emergency in the province of British Columbia and were due to take place in Langford, BC, while the 2021 Canadian Track Championships were scheduled from January 7-9, 2022 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario.

As has been the case since the beginning of this pandemic, Cycling Canada and our national event organizers will continue to operate our events calendar in a manner that supports first and foremost the health and safety of our members and the general public. Participants currently registered for both events will be contacted by the organizers in the coming days regarding options for transfer of registration.

For an up-to-date list of cancelled or postponed events on the national calendar, please consult the event list on the Cycling Canada website or check our news updates.

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CYCLING CANADA HIRES FOUR NEW NATIONAL TEAM COACHES

Ottawa, ON (December 8, 2021) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the addition of four world-class coaches to its National Team staff as the organization ramps up its investment and commitment to developing Canadian technical leadership and coaching expertise. No strangers to international competition, Catharine Pendrel, Laura Brown, Richard Wooles and Tanya Dubnicoff will bring a wealth of experience to their new roles.

Catharine Pendrel recently retired from a prolific mountain bike career which included world titles in 2011 and 2014; winning the 2010, 2012 and 2016 World Cup series; bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games; and gold medals at the 2007 Pan American Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games. Pendrel will build on her years of experience in her new role of National Team Coach, working with endurance athletes. She also recently enrolled in the Commonwealth Women Coach Internship Program and will be at the Birmingham Games this summer alongside Team Canada athletes.

Laura Brown was a member of both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic teams and won a bronze in the Team Pursuit at the 2016 Olympic Games as well as gold medals at both the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games. Brown has spent the past several years in a part-time assistant coach role with the National Team, as well as working with Cycling BC and several road trade teams. Brown will join Cycling Canada in a full-time role as a National Team Coach based in Vancouver, working with endurance athletes.

Richard Wooles is one of Canada’s most experienced and accomplished cycling coaches. His career has included leadership roles with British Cycling, the UCI World Cycling Centre, Cycling Canada and Cycling BC. Wooles spent the past year working with Cycling Canada in a part-time capacity and played a key role in leading last summer’s Junior and U23 road programming in Europe. Wooles will officially join Cycling Canada as a full-time National Team Coach based in Vancouver and will be working with endurance athletes.

Tanya Dubnicoff will be returning to Cycling Canada in the newly created role of Advancement Camp Coach. The Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame inductee’s sprint career includes three Olympics as an athlete, a world title in 1993, four Pan American Games gold medals, and coaching the 2012 Olympic Team Pursuit squad to a bronze medal. Dubnicoff will be responsible for leading Cycling Canada’s Advancement Camp initiatives, contributing to coaching and athlete education programs, and leading talent identification efforts across the country, including through RBC Training Ground.

Led by Head Coach Dan Proulx, Cycling Canada’s National Team coaches will work together to provide a sustainable performance program across all cycling disciplines that can deliver champions to the world stage and lifelong ambassadors to the Canadian cycling community. Based primarily out of regional training centres and hubs across the country, the coaching team works collaboratively to cultivate aligned and integrated multi-discipline development and performance programming.

“The cohort of National Team coaches we have assembled is truly exceptional,” said Proulx. “When you bring good people together like this, it creates an x-factor that raises the bar for everyone. The aim is to continue developing great riders who compete alongside the best on the world stage. At the same time, we want to improve the athlete experience, empowering them to achieve success on the bike and beyond. The coaches we’ve brought together have a track record of bringing out the best in others and this will certainly help the entire system to improve.”

In addition to providing technical and tactical expertise within their respective focus areas, National Teach Coaches help lead, mentor and empower Canada’s network of provincial, club and affiliate coaches to build a robust athlete pipeline and provide racing and skill development opportunities for athletes while increasing coaching knowledge, expertise and capacity across the country.

“One of our goals is to increase the knowledge, expertise and capacity amongst coaches in the Canadian system,” said Cycling Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, Scott Kelly. “It’s important that we continue to invest in and develop Canadian coaches. These additions to our team reflect a commitment on the part of Cycling Canada to do just that.”

Pendrel, Brown and Wooles have already begun their roles with Cycling Canada, while Dubnicoff will start on January 1st and will be based out of Calgary, Alberta.

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HOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CANADIAN CYCLISTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

‘Tis the season of giving, whether that comes in the form of gifts or donating to causes that are near and dear to your heart. If you want to help support Canadian cyclists and programs this year but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few ways to help our athletes while finding the perfect gift:

Rusty Woods Limited Edition Shoes

If you’re looking for the right cycling shoe for those long days in the saddle, Garneau has just the thing for you.

The Custom Course Air Lite XZ shoe was created in collaboration with two-time Olympian and world championship bronze medallist Mike Woods ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The patented technology is designed for two different foot widths and is suitable for any triathlete, road, mountain or urban rider. The shoe allows cyclists to improve their power while helping to reduce injuries, and bonus – it was designed by Mike, so you know it looks cool. Part of the proceeds will be donated to offset Garneau’s carbon footprint, and you can order your exclusive pair here.

If swag is more your thing, check out the Woods Cardio Club Collection in collaboration with The Service Course, with part of the profits going to Cycling Canada’s HopOn program and the Gold Standard, an organization that fights climate change.

 

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Club 1882

Cycling Canada’s Club 1882 (C.1882) was launched in the spring of 2021 and has since raised over $250,000 that have gone towards delivering critical resources to support development programs, initiatives and events that are vital to building a robust cycling nation.

By joining Club 1882, you can help support future generations of athletes through contributions to domestic program development and underfunded athlete programs to help ensure Canadian cyclists perform at the highest level of the sport. Learn more about how you can become a member of Club 1882.

Track Athlete Jackie Boyle’s Seasonal Cards

While it may be great to give a gift during the holiday season, there’s something about a card that makes it that much more personalized.

Team Canada track sprinter Jackie Boyle is here to help round out your gift or convey how much you appreciate someone with her personalized cards. From seasonal cards to birthday cards, she has plenty of great options to choose from.

 

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Roxane Vermette Art

Our National Team athletes aren’t just talented on their bikes. Mountain bike athlete Roxane Vermette has taken her love for sports and nature and transferred it to her paintings, creating different portraits of skiers and cyclists in action.

Her artwork makes for a great gift if you’re looking for something simple yet colourful with varying pieces that are sure to catch your eye.

Cycling Canada Swag

When it comes to jerseys, bibs or hoodies, we’re pretty sure that the limit does not exist. Luckily, Cycling Canada’s online store still has plenty of cycling and casual clothing, including toques and socks that are great for the winter season.

For a limited time only, we’ll also selling skinsuits and vests for $25 only. Make sure to get yours while quantities last.

Barista Coffee

Name a better duo than cycling and coffee, we’ll wait. In partnership with Montreal-based company Café Barista, Cycling Canada is selling a special blend of coffee which contains floral and dark chocolate notes. On top of being delicious, proceeds from the coffee sales go towards supporting high performance programs and athletes.

Be as bold as your coffee and buy your blend here.

 

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General Donations to Cycling Canada

If you want to contribute to specific initiatives such as our HopOn grassroots program or our cyclo-cross program, you can make a one-time donation to Cycling Canada this holiday season. Tax receipts are automatically issued for all donations above $25.

Have more ideas on ways to give back to the Canadian cycling community? Let us know!

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FIVE PODIUMS FOR CANADIAN ATHLETES AT 2021 PAN AMERICAN CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Garland, Texas (December 6, 2021) ­– Over twenty Canadian cyclists competed at the 2021 Pan American Cyclocross Championships in Garland, Texas, over the weekend, with athletes bringing home five medals, including a Junior title for Orillia’s Ava Holmgren.

Ava shared the podium with her twin sister, Isabella, who took home the bronze in the same event. The pair have had a tremendous start to the season, both finishing on the podium across numerous races in mountain bike and cyclocross. On the Elite side, former U23 Pan American champion Ruby West was competing in the Elite field for the first time, where she finished second to clinch a silver medal.

“I had one of my best races ever in 7 years of racing cyclocross,” said Holmgren. “After the pre-ride, I wasn’t feeling very confident about the longer pedalling sections because I know how strong my other competitors are, but my legs were feeling great! All I needed was a good start and to follow through with my plan, which I did. The support from the amazing Team Canada crew, teammates, and my family made everything so much better. I am so happy about this accomplishment as a first-year Junior and I’m looking forward to competing at more international races.”

Two additional silver medals were claimed by Canadian men in the Junior and U23 races, with Tyler Clark sprinting to second place in the highly competitive men’s U23 field, while U17 Canadian XCO Mountain Bike U17 champion Ian Ackert also won silver in the Junior race.

“It felt great to be riding at the front of a big race like Pan Ams,” said Clark. “To be racing for the win with all the Canadians yelling from the side was amazing. I’m super happy to finally make it onto a Pan Am Championship podium and I’d like to give a big shout out to all the other Canadians who put down very good results!”

Other notable results include top-10 finishes by Owen Clark, Matthew Leliveld, Hugo Brisebois, Katelyn Walcroft, Christiane Bilodeau, Luke Valenti, Alex Woodford, Jenaya Francis and Kiara Lylyk. Full results from the weekend can be found here.

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