News – Page 32 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CANADIAN ATHLETES HEAD TO TEXAS FOR 2021 PAN AMERICAN CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, Ontario (December 1, 2021) – Twenty-one Canadian athletes across Junior, U23 and Elite categories are heading to Garland, Texas, this weekend for the 2021 Pan American Cyclocross Championships, which are set to take place on December 4-5. Fourteen athletes will be competing with their respective teams, while seven development athletes will be competing under Cycling Canada colours.

Two-time Elite women’s gold medallist Maghalie Rochette will be unable to defend her title due to conflicting competitions on the world cup calendar, making room for a new Pan American champion to be crowned. Among the top contenders will be Canadian Elite women’s mountain bike champion Jennifer Jackson, as well as Canadian U23 road gold medallist & current U23 Pan American champion Ruby West who will be making her debut in the Elite category.

“I’m really excited for the Pan Am Championships this year,” said West. “I think it’ll be a dry and fast course based on what I’ve heard about that venue and past races held there. I’m not fully sure what to expect, but I know I’m on good form right now and I’m really thrilled and motivated for this race. This will mark my first race in the Elite category and my first time racing Pan Ams since coming away with the U23 title, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do this time!”

On the development side, six athletes will be competing as first year Juniors, including Canadian XCO Mountain Bike U17 champion Ian Ackert, Junior silver and bronze medallists Ava and Isabella Holmgren, as well as track star Kiara Lylyk, who recently won five medals at the Canadian Track Championships.

“We’re pleased to be able to support a team of development athletes at the Pan American Cyclocross Championships for the very first time,” said Cycling Canada’s Cyclocross Lead, Rob Holmgren. “It’s a big goal for Cycling Canada to increase racing opportunities across all disciplines and this is a great chance to do so. We have a great group of really talented young racers and we’re excited to see them in action this weekend!”

Team Canada
Ava Holmgren (Orillia, ON) – Junior Women
Isabella Holmgren (Orillia, ON) – Junior Women
Kiara Lylyk (Guelph, ON) – Junior Women
Ian Ackert (Severn, ON) – Junior Men
Theo de Groote (Orangeville, ON) – Junior Men
Luke Valenti (Orangeville, ON) – Junior Men
Matt Leliveld (Mulmur, ON) – U23 Men

December 1, 2021/by Communications

RIDING INTO RETIREMENT AND REFLECTING ON WHAT CYCLING HAS GIVEN ME

By Karol-Ann Canuel, former professional road athlete, 3-time TTT World Champion & 2-time Olympian

Cycling has been part of my life since I was a kid and I think it will always be a part of who I am. I love training; I love being on my bike and I don’t think that is going to change.

The sport has allowed me to travel and to see countless corners of the world from the saddle. It has also allowed me to meet wonderful people, make life-long friendships and learn from so many different people throughout my career. But above all, cycling has taught me about myself. I learned a lot about who I am, as an athlete and person, and it has allowed me to grow and to learn to handle the different things life throws at me.

In September, I rode in the final race of my career at the Road World Championships in Flanders. I picked this specific race to be my final one, knowing that it would be one to remember with the rich history and culture Belgium has when it comes to cycling. When the day came, I felt in good shape and all I wanted was to feel good on the bike and not to crash.

Over the course of my career, I had countless small crashes that left me with a few scratches and a bit of pain every time I tried to shower or sleep for the following weeks. Those smaller crashes are the “good crashes” …but then there are the bad ones. In 2014, I broke my neck and had a concussion in the middle of the year. At the end of that season, I broke my pelvis. In 2019, I broke my collarbone. After turning 30, I feel like I stopped taking risks in races because crashing just wasn’t worth it anymore. It was that realization that made me embrace that retirement was coming because I don’t think you can keep racing at the highest level without taking risks. But before retiring, I had one big goal left, and it was to return to the Olympic Games in 2020.

After Rio 2016, I really wanted to go back with more experience and see what I was able to accomplish. However, COVID-19 hitting us in 2020 meant I had to race for an extra year in order to be able to represent Canada at those Games. I raced less in my last year; I was more focused on my training and targeting big events like the Olympics and the World Championships.

Even a few weeks after my last race, I don’t think retirement has sunk in yet. In this current moment, it just feels like an awesome off-season. I have been doing rides that I never had the chance of doing because my training was so specific. I have been exploring new roads in Spain; I did some gravel adventures; I started running; the list goes on. While I’m enjoying all of it, I am also trying to figure out my next step.

A lot of people have been asking me, “What are you going to do now that you are retired from professional cycling?” and the truth is that right now I don’t know, and I think that’s ok.

I want to take my time to figure it out and makes sure that my next goal in life will be something that makes me happy. I want to take my time and try different things and I’m grateful to have this chance to really explore.

While I’m experiencing all these amazing adventures, I’m also reflecting on my career. I had my ups and downs. It was never easy. I remember almost quitting the sport right after finishing 5th at the World Championships as a Junior and it took me a few years to shift things around and come back at a high level. It simply showed me that it’s okay to not always be at the top of your game and the importance of the people who you choose to be in your “village”. Choose wisely.

I also think it’s important to make leaps every year in this sport. You can have a long career, so no need to skip steps but make sure you improve every year. I think a balance between cycling and having a normal life is also paramount. Cycling is a hard sport, and it is especially hard for us Canadians because we have to come to Europe to race at the highest level. I was always jealous of my European teammates who just get to go home to their families after a race. Coming from another continent is even more challenging, but all those challenges were worth being able to represent my country at so many international events. My best memories were my gold medals in the Team Time Trial in 2014, 2015 and 2016…the only event where you get to go on the podium with the whole team!

After all these years racing as a professional, I hope my career can inspire the next generation of athletes, show them that it is possible to make it in Europe and to perform at the highest level of the sport.

November 22, 2021/by Communications

2021 CANADIAN CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED TO JANUARY

Ottawa, Ontario (November 19, 2021) – Cycling Canada, in collaboration with the Wheelhouse Cycling Society, Ecoasis Developments LLP, Cycling BC and the City of Langford, has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships and the Bear Crossing Grand Prix, initially scheduled on November 27-28, due to the current state of emergency in the province of British Columbia.

With highways in the BC Interior and the Vancouver region remaining in various states of closure as a result of massive floods, Cycling Canada and its various stakeholders felt that it was safer for participants to compete at a later date once the situation is under control. The event will be postponed to the UCI-mandated national championships weekend of January 8-9, 2022, pending approval from the UCI. Participants currently registered for the event will be contacted by the organizer in the coming days regarding options for transfer of registration.

“Recognizing the difficult situations that many British Columbians are facing, we felt that it was appropriate to postpone the event while we wait for things to normalize,” said event organizer, Jon Watkin. “As we work through the event logistics, we will continue to keep participants and volunteers updated on next steps and registration.”

Individuals looking to provide support for people impacted by the floods are encouraged to donate to the Red Cross British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal, which provides humanitarian assistance to the people in and around affected areas.

November 19, 2021/by Communications

GOLD MEDAL SWEEP AND CANADIAN RECORD FOR DYLAN BIBIC AT CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

Milton, ON (November 15, 2021) – Canadian athletes from across the country competed at the U17, Junior & Para Canadian Track Championships over the weekend at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON. Among many standout performances, Junior world champion Dylan Bibic from Mississauga, ON, swept all 10 Junior endurance and sprint events and broke the Junior Canadian record in the Individual Pursuit with a time of 3:12.341, only three seconds off the current world record.

Bibic heads into the U23 category after his most successful year yet, having won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Junior Track World Championships in Cairo, Egypt earlier this summer.

“I came into these national championships in bad form with mediocre times […] but when competition hit, I was able to perform better than I did last year and it just makes me feel so good,” said Bibic. “Now, looking at what I just did [winning 10 gold medals], I think I’m more fit than I was at Junior Track Worlds.”

Although athletes were returning to domestic track competitions for the first time in two years, many showed incredible progress, with Nicole Bradbury (Junior) and Ashlin Barry (U17) winning five gold medals each. In the para-cycling categories, Keely Shaw (C4) and the tandem duos of Carla Shibley & Meghan Brown and Lowell Taylor & Ed Veal all won national titles in the Time Trial and Individual Pursuit. Full results can be found here.

The Canadian Track Championships for Elite and Masters athletes will return to Milton from January 7-9 and will feature several prominent athletes, including Olympic medallists Kelsey Mitchell and Lauriane Genest.

November 15, 2021/by Communications

U17/JUNIOR/PARA TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO MILTON VELODROME THIS WEEKEND

Milton, Ontario (November 10, 2021) – Racing will return to the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON, from November 12-14 for the 2021 U17/Junior/Para Canadian Track Championships, marking the first event hosted at the velodrome since the TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup and 2020 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships. From Friday to Sunday, more than 75 athletes will be racing for the coveted maple leaf jersey in the Under-17, Junior and Para-cycling categories across multiple events.

The list of registered athletes includes Canada’s first Tokyo Paralympic Games medalist, Keely Shaw, who claimed bronze in the women’s C4 Individual Pursuit at her inaugural Games. The duo of Lowell Taylor of Ed Veal will also be looking to secure additional Canadian titles after winning the road race and time trial at the Canadian Road Championships earlier this summer. In the youth categories, Carson Mattern and Dylan Bibic will have targets on their backs after both securing a world title at the Junior Track Cycling World Championships in September, with Bibic also winning a silver in the Omnium and the pair winning bronze in the men’s Madison.

“Indoor track cycling has been one of the hardest hit disciplines throughout the pandemic due to extended facility closures and restricted racing opportunities on Canadian soil,” said Cycling Canada’s Events & Officials Manager, Jolène Dupuis. “Knowing that our national team’s international success has inspired our track community, we are thrilled to welcome everyone back to Milton. We are working to make this event as safe as possible for all involved, and we are so excited to see some strong performances over the weekend!”

With health and safety for all participants, coaches, officials and volunteers being our utmost priority, specific event protocols and guidelines will be put in place for the duration of the event. Full safety measures and event information, including technical guide and competition schedule, can be found here.

November 10, 2021/by Communications

LEARNING ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY WHILE PUSHING MY OWN

By: Keely Shaw, 2020 Paralympic bronze medallist and Ph.D. student in Kinesiology & Exercise Science

Most people would likely consider competing at the Olympic/Paralympic level of sport the epitome of physical performance. Those same people would also likely consider pursing a doctorate degree the highest level of intellectual performance. Somewhere along the line, I decided I wanted to do both of those things…at the same time.

Study full time to get a Ph.D. and hopefully be employable one day while also training full time to try to earn my spot on the podium at the greatest sporting event in the world. Most PhD students struggle to work in the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity recommended for health. I have to find 10-20 hours a week to train. It’s not uncommon for some grad students to spend 12 hours in the lab every day and consider 7 hours of sleep a great night. I need 8.5-9 hours every single night. The balancing act of all of these variables, responsibilities, and commitments may be an impossible task to some with two seemingly opposite aspects of academics and athletics.

However, I wouldn’t be telling the whole truth if I didn’t disclose that my Ph. D. is in exercise physiology and sport nutrition- the link between my studies and my athletics is pretty clear. My academic background helps me excel in cycling. My intimate understanding of human physiology and the nutritional needs of an athlete allow me to ask intelligent questions when working with a sports team. My lived experience as a cyclist allows me to bring a unique perspective to the research team. But the link between my schooling and cycling careers goes beyond the “black and white” aspect that might seem intuitive. My schooling allows me to be a better cyclist, and my cycling allows me to be a better student and researcher. Being forced to make time for exercise, for sleep, and for proper nutrition make me a better researcher. Having school and research to focus on allows me to separate myself from cycling a little bit when necessary.

Thinking about the linkage between the two makes it seems like it should be “easy”, or natural to balance these two endeavours. But believe me, it’s not. It requires constant juggling of tasks; it requires constant communication with both my cycling and my academic teams; it requires me trying to manage each of my workloads so that when cycling demands are high, school demands are low and vice versa; it requires me to be ok with failure. I have to make sure that I schedule my life to the minute on days where it seems that time is at a premium. And it’s understanding my body and brain well enough to know when enough is enough. To not try to push through the suboptimal power outputs or the writer’s block, but to take it as a sign that it is time to rest, recover, repair, and try again tomorrow. To cut a training short on occasion.

What I’ve learned is that it’s inevitable that I’m going to drop the ball sometimes. Sometimes I feel like I’m dropping the ball more often than not. But, what I’ve realized is that some balls are rubber and are going to bounce back, unharmed when dropped. Other balls, though, are glass. If these balls are dropped, it irreparable. My life is a constant appraisal of the different balls I have in the air at any given moment and evaluating which are glass and which are rubber. This is not a one-time evaluation, but a fluid one. A ball that is rubber one day could be glass the next.

My husband once told me that my job is to be exceptional. My job isn’t just to ride bikes, or even to try really hard when riding bikes. My job is to compete at the highest level and to bring home medals for Canada. My job isn’t just to read research papers, but to think at the highest level to ask and answer the questions that are going to help improve the health and performance of the next generation. But I don’t do what I do to be labelled as “exceptional”.

Rather, I don’t want a label at all. The reason I study, train, and compete at the highest level is because of the curiosity that I have and that values instilled in me that comes with everything that I do. The ability to push my body and see how fast it can go, while simultaneously learning about the overall ability of a human being to go beyond what is deemed the “norm” using the food we consume every day is what makes not only my life, sports and academic career amazing, but also motivates me to continue to do what I do. While, being a student and athlete is seemingly an impossible juggling act at times, the opportunity to learn about the body, push my own body, and represent my country is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world and has instilled values, experience and memories that will carry me through the rest of my life. Whether I’m inside the velodrome, in the classroom or on the bike, the opportunity cycling has given me has taught me not only about human potential as a whole, but has given me a better understanding of myself and what I’m capable of, not only as an athlete but as a human being.

November 8, 2021/by Communications

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR CYCLING CANADA OPERATIONAL COMMITTEES

Ottawa, Ontario (November 5, 2021) – Cycling Canada is pleased to welcome nominations for volunteer positions on the two following operational committees:

Events Committee
Officials Committee

Detailed terms of reference and desired committee member skills matrix can be found here. Committee size is flexible and will range from four to six people, depending on our ability to find a competent cross-section of skills. The term of each appointment is two years, with approximately half of the committee members selected each year. Expected time commitment for committee members is a few hours per month, mainly for teleconference meetings, with one or two face-to-face meetings required per year.

Individuals interested in submitting their nomination for either committee are kindly asked to complete the Events Candidate Self-Evaluation For m or the Officials Candidate Self-Evaluation Form and to submit their expression of interest via email by November 24, 2021. The email should identify which committee candidates are applying for and may include any relevant supporting information.

November 5, 2021/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF ITS 2021 ANNUAL AWARDS

Ottawa, Ontario (November 3, 2021) – Following the conclusion of its Annual Conference last weekend, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2021 Annual Awards in the following categories: Best Junior Rider of the Year, Best Performance in Competition at the World Championships or Olympic and Paralympic Games and Provincial / Territorial Association of the Year.

Cycling Canada’s Athletes’ Council submitted nominations and in conjunction with the Athletes’ Council Annual Survey, winners were chosen by their peers through a vote, for both the Russ Copeland and President’s Trophy Awards. A similar process with developed for the Torchy Peden Award, where Provincial and Territorial Associations submitted their application and the winner was chosen by the Inter Provincial Council.

“Congratulations to Kelsey and Jackson on their awards,” said Andrew L’Esperance, Chair of Cycling Canada’s Athlete Council. “It is such an honour to be recognized by your peers for your accomplishments. This is the first year that the Athletes’ Council was involved in the process of these annual awards and we hope this continues for years to come.”

The Russ Copeland Award for Best Junior Rider of the Year was awarded to Squamish’s Jackson Goldstone who had a breakthrough first professional season, winning three Downhill World Cups and placing second in an additional three to take the World Cup overall title. He went on to claim the rainbow jersey at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in August, finishing the season on a high note.

The President’s Trophy for Best Performance in Competition at the World Championships went to Olympic Sprint champion Kelsey Mitchell, who recently won her first medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in the women’s Sprint after beating teammate Lauriane Genest in the bronze medal final. Mitchell is also a world record holder and a Pan American Games gold medallist in the event.

Finally, the Torchy Peden Award for Provincial Association of the Year was awarded to Saskatchewan, who took tremendous initiatives throughout the year to help development riders continue to progress in their respective disciplines. The Saskatchewan Cycling Association kicked off the year by organizing the Canadian Junior Virtual Racing Series on the RGT platform and went on to host track, road and BMX development camps in collaboration with Cycling BC, Cycling Canada and 94Forward, as well as several National Team athletes.

November 3, 2021/by Communications

INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF GRACIOUS CHAMPIONS

By Jenny Trew, Head NextGen Track Coach

As the 2021 Federal Election was coming to a close, we heard a knock on our door. Both of my kids jumped up immediately to answer it – I mean, who could it be? A valid question, given that visitors haven’t been commonplace for almost 18 months during this pandemic! At the door was our Liberal MP candidate and four-time Olympic medallist, Adam van Koeverden.

Not only is Adam well-known in the Milton community, but he is a role model for a lot of young kids. On top of representing our community, he has shown what hard work, determination and gratitude looks like over the course of his athletic career, which has now transcended into his professional one. Without the values instilled in him as an athlete, he said he would not be where he is today. His main takeaway was that if anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. So, set a goal and work for it!

As he reflected on how his athletic career impacted him, it forced me to think about how most athletes get into sports and how their careers start. For the most part, they don’t start a sport because a parent is orchestrating a rise of the next Canadian Olympic hero.

Speaking as a parent, kids are generally put in sport to burn off the excess energy they accumulate during hours at a desk, to learn rules and to have fun with friends. For the lucky few, this unlocks a love for movement, a passion for a sport and a dream. In Canadian cycling, we tend to first see these athletes in their mid-teens. By the time they get to the NextGen program, they are knowledgeable, motivated and developed humans. Our job as coaches, is to nurture this potential – to teach skills and encourage behaviours to create champions, both on and off the field of play – to foster our future Gracious Champions, a term outlined in our 10-year strategic plan whereby Cycling Canada will develop a sustainable performance program that will deliver champions on the world stage while simultaneously fostering lifelong ambassadors to our community.

Coaching at the national level is the honours class and I am lucky to work with the best and brightest cyclists in the country. In the four years that I have been a NextGen coach for Cycling Canada, I have seen our development system grow and reach new heights. This past September, I had the privilege of being trackside coaching Dylan Bibic and Carson Mattern as they reached the top step and claimed the rainbow jersey at the Junior Track World Championships in Cairo, Egypt. As they are both located close to the track here in Milton, I have enjoyed working with them both and watching them progress through the sport over the years.

My goal as a coach is to not only see athletes grow in cycling, but also use the sport as a medium to discover their strengths and weaknesses and build the skills to discover their personal limits. Athletes learn many transferrable skills like goal setting, performance on demand, learning to win and learning to lose all through hard work and determination. By extension, my job is to create a safe place to both succeed and fail in order to learn and grow.

The process of helping young adults navigate from high school, through sport and post-secondary education through to an “adulting” life is incredibly rewarding. While the rainbow jerseys are amazing, getting a note from a former athlete who is excelling in another area of life can be just as powerful. I believe that happy athletes are fast athletes. What one athlete needs and can balance is not the same as another. The under 23 category is a time when athletes are really juggling with this equilibrium. In supporting the athletes to see what they can achieve in various avenues in their lives, we are supporting them to excel in sport. Sometimes this can be done concurrently, but sometimes it looks more like a seesaw.

In Canada, we have so many amazing Gracious Champions who have shown us what it is to be unbelievable athletes while being stand up role models for the community. Embodying a wholistic approach to high performance creates athletes who are exceptional people and able to apply these skills once they are no longer pinning on numbers. Maybe they are knocking on doors instead – and out-hustling their opponents just like they did on the bike.

October 26, 2021/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA RETURNS WITH 2021-2022 ESPORTS CALENDAR

Ottawa, Ontario (October 26, 2021) – Cycling Canada is excited to announce the return of its multi-platform virtual cycling calendar for the 2021/2022 winter season after a highly successful first season. The calendar will kick off next week, on November 1^st, with the return of Cycling Canada’s Weekly Tune-Up Ride being hosted on the Zwift platform and open to all Zwift subscribers.

“Following the success of our inaugural esports season, we are thrilled to be back in the virtual realm starting off with the return to Zwift activities,” said Cycling Canada’s Events & Officials Manager, Jolène Dupuis. “We have been able to connect with a larger community of cyclists through our offerings, and we hope that our 2021/22 programming will continue to grow our engagement and reach”.

Weekly Tune-up Ride

Every Monday and Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. EST, Cycling Canada will host 45 minute group rides open to all skill levels and abilities on rotating courses. Monday rides will be co-ed, while Tuesday rides will be exclusive to women. Course offerings will vary from week to week in an effort to provide a well-rounded mix of training opportunities for Zwifters of all backgrounds. The Weekly Tune-up will be a medium-paced social ride (1.5 – 2.0 w/kg), led by community riders across Canada and will feature Cycling Canada athletes on a bi-weekly basis. Participants can expect a fun, interactive community atmosphere with regular efforts to build fitness. The Weekly Tune-up Rides will also serve as a social pre-ride for Cycling Canada’s Wednesday Night Race Series, offered on the same course as each week’s ride.

If you are interested in becoming a ride leader, contact esports@cyclingcanada.ca before November 5^th to get your application in!

Wednesday Night Race Series

Every Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. EST and 8:15 p.m. EST (women only), Cycling Canada will host a public race open to all skill levels on rotating courses in line with our Weekly Tune-up Rides. This series will offer something for everyone while exploring every corner of Zwift’s virtual world. Zwifters will have the opportunity to register in one of four power-based categories in both women’s and men’s fields. This series will not include a ranking or series points but is rather intended as a means of offering a fun weekly challenge for Zwifters of all abilities.

Cycling Canada Saturday Fundo

A new offering this year will be weekend Fundo rides starting at 12:05 p.m. EST every Saturday. These Fondo-style rides will be open to Zwifters of all skills and abilities, with courses sampling some of the platform’s longer distance routes, ranging from 20km to 50km. Participants are invited to join the rides at their own pace, or to challenge fellow riders to race at the front.

For a complete list of Cycling Canada Zwift events, including course maps, click here. Sign up to participate via the Zwift Companion App, or click here for the complete Zwift event listing.

HopOn Ride Fundraiser

The HopOn Ride Fundraiser will be back on February 20^th, 2022 with the objective of raising funds for Cycling Canada’s national grassroots program. The ride will take Zwifters along the 2022 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships course and will feature several notable guest riders. More details will be released in the new year.

RGT

In light of an exciting new partnership between Cycling Canada and RGT Cycling, Cycling Canada members will have even more to look forward to this winter. Beginning in 2022, all Cycling Canada members will have access to a 25% discount on their RGT Premium subscription. In addition, RGT will be running a one-month free trial of RGT Premium for all members in February 2022 as a lead-up to an all-new cross category National event. More details regarding member benefits and race opportunities to be announced in the coming months.

As all event information is finalized, be sure to monitor the Cycling Canada Events Webpage and Cycling Canada’s social media for all relevant details.