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CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES TEAMS FOR THE GRAND PRIX CYCLISTES DE QUÉBEC AND MONTRÉAL AND THE TOUR DE GATINEAU  

Ottawa, ON (Sept.11, 2024) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the selection of its teams for the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal, taking place on Sept. 13 and 15, as well as for the Tour de Gatineau, taking place on Sept. 20 and 21.

As every year, the GPCQM organization will welcome the Canadian national team as a guest team. This is a golden opportunity for young athletes to develop their experience in an international peloton, all in front of a Canadian crowd. This year, veteran James Piccoli will sign the end of his career in front of family and friends, while Quentin Cowan will be able to put his experience from the 2022 and 2023 editions to good use.

Focused on the development of young female athletes, the team selection for the Tour de Gatineau will feature Canadian athletes who are already proving themselves internationally, including Kiara Lylyk and Lily Plante who represented Canada at the 2024 UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Ontario.

The athletes selected for the projects are:

GPCQM  

James Piccoli
Quentin Cowan
Jérôme Gauthier
Jonas Walton
Léonard Peloquin
Félix Bouchard
Félix Hamel
Alt. Gregory Zapata
Alt. Sasha Renaud-Tremblay

Tour de Gatineau  

Kiara Lylyk
Katja Verkerk
Jenaya Françis
Florence Normand
Ngaire Barraclough
Lily Plante

Information on the GPCQM can be found here, while full details on the Tour de Gatineau can be found here.

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JENN JACKSON WINS THIRD NATIONAL TITLE OF 2024 AT CANADIAN XCM CHAMPIONSHIPS  

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 9, 2024) – New Canadian champions were crowned in Thunder Bay, Ontario, at the Canadian Marathon Mountain Bike Championships (XCM) held on Sept. 7.   

Jenn Jackson, who had completed a double at the Canadian Short Course (XCC) and Olympic (XCO) Mountain Bike Championships, was on a mission to complete a hat trick, a mission she accomplished with brio, completing the 90-kilometre course in four hours, 40 minutes and 47 seconds, more than 10 minutes ahead of second-place Laurie Arseneault. The 2023 Canadian champion in the discipline, Haley Smith, finished third.   

“I tried to do it like I was doing three XCO races, taking it one lap at a time, making sure I didn’t get in the red and staying on course for refueling,” said Jackson. “I don’t have a lot of experience, but I have friends who do, and I did some research. I knew that eating and having fun on the track would minimize suffering.    

In the men’s race, Sean Fincham captured his first national title, completing the course in three hours, 58 minutes and 32 seconds, just one minute 37 seconds ahead of Andrew Lesperance, the 2023 Canadian champion. Tyler Orschel completed the podium, two minutes 56 behind the race leader.   

“The race was impressive,” said Fincham. “I had a good battle, especially with my teammate. This is my first Canadian title and I’m very happy to be wearing the maple leaf next year. I’ll definitely be back to defend it. I loved the passion here and everyone was so excited to be here and happy to race, it made the event so special.   

This was the second edition of the Canadian Marathon Championships, the 2025 edition of which will once again be held in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

The complete list of results is available here. The next national championships on the calendar are the Canadian BMX Freestyle Championships, to be held on October 26 in Bromont, Quebec. The complete calendar of national events is available on the Cycling Canada website. 

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FOURTH PLACE FOR ALEXANDRE HAYWARD TO CONCLUDE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES  

Paris, France (Sept. 7, 2024) – Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, New Brunswick finished fourth in the men’s C1-3 road race, held on Sept. 7, 2024 in Clichy-Sous-Bois, on the outskirts of Paris.  

This is the third consecutive top 5 finish for the 27-year-old, who won bronze in the track individual pursuit on August 30 and finished fifth in the road individual time trial on Sept. 4.   

“Deep down, I really wanted to finish in the top five,” said Hayward. “I knew it would be difficult with all the strong riders that would be there, but I figured my only chance was to follow the British and French wheels as much as possible and try to get into the first move. I had no idea that the first move was going to happen on the first lap. Luckily for me, I managed it and hung on for a handful of laps, until a lack of experience sent me to the back. I’m very happy with fourth place.

At the end of the race, Hayward finished one minute, 50 seconds behind the race lead held by Britain’s Finlay Graham (1:43.19). Frenchmen Thomas Peyroton-Dartet (+0s) and Alexandre Leaute (+24s) took silver and bronze.

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Former swimmer Nathan Clement, who competed at Rio 2016 and won silver in the individual road time trial on Sept. 4, finished ninth, 16 minutes behind new Paralympic champion and time trial winner Jiaxin Chen (1:15:08h) of China. American Dennis Connors (+2:01m) and Colombian Juan Jose Betancourt Quiroga (+2:01m) took silver and bronze. 

“We came to the Paralympics with one goal: to try and win a medal in this time trial,” said Clement. “I was able to do that, get on the podium and fulfill a childhood dream. Coming into the road race today, it was one of those things where, if the opportunity presented itself, I was going to go out there, see what I could do, try to mix it up with the pack. But as the race went on, with the weather, it was one of those days where I had to be careful and enjoy the experience.   

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com 

Bronze medallist in the women’s C4-5 individual pursuit, Keely Shaw finished 15th in the road race, while Charles Moreau, who was competing in his third Paralympic Games after taking part in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, was unable to finish the road race following a crash. He finished seventh in the time trial.   

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Canada ends these Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with a total of four medals, won by Nathan Clement (silver – men T1-2 – road individual time trial), Kate O’Brien (bronze – women C4-5 – track 500m time trial), Keely Shaw (bronze – women C4-5 – track 3000m individual pursuit) and Alexandre Hayward (bronze – men C3 – track 3000m individual pursuit), as well as a world record set by Mel Pemble (4th – women C1-3 – track 500m time trial).   

More information, including event results, can be found on the official Paris 2024 Paralympic Games website. 

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THUNDER BAY HOSTS THE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS MOUNTAIN BIKE MARATHON (XCM) CHAMPIONSHIPS    

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 7, 2024) – Mountain bike athletes from across the country are expected in Thunder Bay, Ontario, for the second edition of the Canadian Marathon Mountain Bike Championships (XCM) on Sept. 7.  

Crowned at the 2023 event held in the Yukon, Haley Smith and Andrew Lesperance will be back to defend their title. They will be joined by Jenn Jackson, whose mission is to add a hat trick to the short-course (XCC) and Olympic cross-country (XCO) titles won earlier this season in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Léandre Bouchard, Canadian elite XCO champion, will also be on hand, alongside Laurie Arseneault coming back from injury.  

Athletes will set off on a 30-kilometer loop, which they will complete three times for a total of 90 kilometers in their quest for the Canadian champion’s jersey.   

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

 

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RECORD MEDAL HAUL FOR CANADA AT THE 2024 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 6, 2024) – Canada won six medals, including a world title, at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, held from August 28 to September 1, 2024 in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, for both cross-country and downhill athletes.

On the first day of competition, August 28, the six athletes selected for the team relay, Ian Ackert (Men’s U23), Félix Antoine Leclair (Men’s Junior), Jennifer Jackson (Women’s Elite), Rafaëlle Carrier (Women’s Junior), Isabella Holmgren (Women’s u23) and Gunnar Holmgren (Men’s Elite) finished fourth, one minute 39 seconds behind first place, occupied by the United States. France and Italy completed the podium.

Olympian Isabella Holmgren, also 2023 Olympic cross-country junior world champion, was able to add two world titles to her collection after winning the short circuit (XCC) event in 20 minutes 31 seconds and the U23 Olympic cross-country (XCO), completing the course in 1:11:12h. She was joined on the XCC podium by her sister Ava (+26s) in bronze, while Great Britain’s Ella MacLean-Howell (+22s) took silver.

It was on the final day of competition that Isabella was able to win the XCO event, where she was joined on the podium by fellow Canadian Emilly Johston (+2:31m). Frenchwoman Olivia Onesti (+1:17m) completed the podium.

Photo Credit:UCI Cycling

“We had an incredible championship, with 10 athletes in the top 10 and five medals,” said Catharine Pendrel, Cycling Canada’s national team coach. Our athletes work so hard, it’s great to see it all come together. Canada leaves this event as the number one nation in the women’s juniors and U23s, as well as with strong performances in our other categories. It’s a really exciting boost for the future.”

16-year-old Beauport native Rafaëlle Carrier, in her first World Mountain Bike Championships, was able to secure a silver medal, 36 seconds behind the race leader Viktoria Chladonova (1:01:24h) of Slovakia. Slovenia’s Tereza Marusa Serkezi (+1:31m) took bronze.

In the downhill, Finn Iles managed to get his hands on the bronze medal in the elite men’s category in extremis, finishing 0.169 seconds behind the race leader, France’s Loris Vergier (2:38.661m). France also took silver thanks to the performance of Benoît Coulanges (+0.148s).

In the elite women’s category, Gracey Hemstreet just missed out on the podium, finishing fourth, 1.601s behind new world champion Valentina Höll of Austria (3:00.212m). France’s Myriam Nicole (+0.520s) and Great Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave (+1.212s) completed the podium.

“The course was fast, direct and you had to be committed,” said Cycling Canada national team coach Chad Hendren. “Gracey had an incredible race that gave him an excellent result among the best in the world. Finn was hungry for victory and a little push propelled him into a spectacular third place. We’re extremely proud of all our Canadians at this World Championship!”

Full results from the Mountain Bike World Championships are available here.

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A FOURTH MEDAL FOR CANADIAN CYCLISTS AT THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paris, France (Sept. 5, 2024) – Nathan Clement, of Vancouver, BC, won Canada’s fourth cycling medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by taking silver in the T1-2 men’s individual time trial held on September 4 in Clichy-Sous-Bois, on the outskirts of Paris.  

World champion in the discipline, Clement finished on the second step of the podium, 1:17.58m behind the new Paralympic champion, Jianxin Chen of China, who clocked 21:35.78m at the end of the 14.1-kilometer race. Belgium’s Tim Celen (+1:51.86) took bronze.   

“It’s special. It’s my life’s work,” said Clement. “Although I’ve worn different hats as a CP seven-a-side soccer player, as a Paralympic swimmer and now as a Paralympic cyclist, I’m very lucky, because many athletes don’t have the opportunity to compete in two Games, let alone two Games in a different sport, let alone stand on a podium and see the Canadian flag raised.” 

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com 

Having both won bronze in the individual pursuit during the track events on August 30, Keely Shaw (WC4), of Midale, SK, and Alex Hayward (MC3), of Quispamsis, NB, both finished fifth in their respective events.   

“I woke up this morning feeling great and super motivated, with the feeling that I was going to have a good day,” said Hayward. “I had a few problems, technical difficulties on the line that forced me to rely a little more on my feel today. And I think because I was feeling so good, I went a bit too fast and paid for it a bit in the end. I’m happy with my result and happy to share it with my friends and family.”  

Hayward finished 1:01.68m behind the race leader, occupied by France’s Thomas Peyroton-Darter with a time of 38:28.80m over 28.2 kilometers, while Spain’s Eduardo Santas Asensio (+43.91s) took silver and Matthias Schindler (+52.55s) of Germany won bronze.    

Shaw finished with a time of 22:09.19, just 29.95 seconds behind winner Samatha Bosco (21:39.24m), who was joined on the podium by Meg Lemon (+4.92s) and Switzerland’s Franziska Matile-Doerig (+5.09s). Her Canadian counterpart Kate O’Brien, of Calgary, AB, who had won bronze in the 500m track time trial, did not finish the race. 

Charles Moreau (MH3), of Victoriaville, QC, and Mel Pemble (WC3), of Victoria, B-C, were also in action on the first day of road racing, finishing seventh and 14th in their respective categories.  

“Seventh place isn’t quite what we hoped and expected, but it was a tough race,” said Moreau, competing in his third Paralympic Games. “It was a longer race than we’re used to, and until the very end, I was still in the race, but I lost some at the end. The others had a better race, that’s how it is. Tokyo was disappointing for me, so I was just hoping that everything would go well with my equipment, and that part went well, so I’m happy, but I would have liked to have been able to keep the pace until the end”.  

Moreau will also be in action on Sept. 5, when he will take part in the road race at 16:05 local time. More information, including results and the full event schedule, can be found on the official Paris 2024 Paralympic Games website. 

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TWO SEASONS, ONE REASON CYCLING CANADA AND NORDIQ CANADA PARTNER TO GET MORE CANADIANS ACTIVE

Calgary, Alta/Ottawa, Ont, Sept. 5, 2024 — Nordiq Canada and Cycling Canada are joining forces to secure new partnerships that will support athletes and programs across the nation. It’s a bold initiative that highlights both organizations’ commitment to innovative solutions for funding.

“By joining forces, we can offer partners year-round exposure through a variety of disciplines, events and programs” explains acting Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher. “This is an opportunity that few NSOs can do on their own.”

The joint proposal is broken into three main areas: grassroots, high performance, and events support, giving potential partners the ability to pick and choose areas they align with best. With a combined 110,000 members and millions more reached through social and mainstream media coverage, the goal is to make any partner synonymous with the two sports, all year long.

“It is no secret that the Canadian Sport System is struggling to keep up with rising costs and increased demands,” said Interim Nordiq Canada CEO Megan Begley.

“We have to find new ways to deliver the resources needed to get all Canadians into sport, and to support athletes representing Canada on the world stage. When the conversation started with Cycling Canada, it only made sense to work together toward the same goal.”

This past March the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee called for an additional $104M in annual federal sport funding to national sport organizations. While the Government of Canada increased certain areas of sport funding, organizations still face an $88M gap.

“There is no doubt that all NSOs have had to adapt to bridge the funding gap, but this challenge has also sparked innovation,” said acting Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher. “These situations make us reassess what our future system looks like, and force us to find solutions rather than dwell on our limitations. Our goal is simple: to inspire Canadians to cycle, and we believe this unprecedented collaboration will help bolster our capacity to do just-that.”

Skiing and cycling have more crossover then most would expect.

“Many of our top athletes not only use cycling as cross-training in the off-season but compete in both sports at the highest international level, especially as juniors.  Cyclists also use cross-country skiing in their training” states Nordiq Canada High-Performance Director Chris Jeffries.

Athletes Pierre Harvey and Jenn Jackson are great examples. Between 1976 and 1988 Harvey represented Canada at four Olympic Games in cycling and cross-country skiing. Jackson represented Canada as a cross-country skier at the 2017 U23 World Championships before switching to mountain biking to win gold at the 2023 Pan American Games.

“It’s common to see families ride together in the summer, and cross-country ski together in the winter. My family is one of them” laughs Jefferies, who has two children ages nine and seven in cycling and cross-country skiing programs.

“It’s an exciting project that is new for both NSOs” explains Bagley. “We’re optimistic about finding new partners who share our vision of more Canadians on skis, bikes, and podiums.”

For the complete Nordiq/Cycling Canada sponsorship proposal, click here.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Josh Peacock
Director Marketing and Events
Cycling Canada
E: josh.peacock@cyclingcanada.ca

Nathaniel Mah
Marketing and Engagement Coordinator
Nordiq Canada
E: nmah@nordiqcanada.ca

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MIKE SAMETZ WITHDRAWS FROM PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES DUE TO INJURY

Paris, September 1, 2024– Para cyclist Mike Sametz (Calgary, AB) will unfortunately be unable to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games due to an injury, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced Sunday.

The 28-year-old crashed in road training earlier this week. The Rio 2016 medallist had been set to make his Paralympic return after missing the Tokyo Games due to injury.

“It’s been a chaotic few days since I had an unfortunate accident on Wednesday,” said Sametz. “I landed awkwardly on my right hip, which resulted in a fracture that required surgery. I am immensely grateful for the emergency responses on all fronts. It’s unfortunate that I will be unable to compete, but I want to congratulate my teammates on their stellar results on the track and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming road events!”

“Our hearts go out to Mike in his rehabilitation,” said Sébastien Travers, national Para cycling team coach. “He made a dazzling comeback after his accident in 2019, and his performances achieved in 2023 and 2024 are proof of his talent and well-deserved place on the team.”

Sametz was a bronze medallist in the individual time trial at the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games and at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

“We are gutted for Mike to not be able to race at the Paralympic Games,” said Josh Vander Vies and Karolina Wisniewska, co-chefs de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “We know how hard he has worked to be back in top form, and to be injured right before the Games is devastating. We wish him all the best with his recovery. He is such a strong competitor, and we look forward to seeing him back racing again in the future.”

Sametz’s six teammates on Canada’s Para cycling team will start road competition at the Games on Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. CEST / 2 a.m. ET with the individual time trial.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

About Cycling Canada: CyclingCanada.ca

Media Contacts:
Ariane Perron
Media Attaché, Canada’s Para Cycling Team
ariane.perron@cyclingcanada.ca / 819-210-3034 (WhatsApp)

Nicole Watts
Senior Manager, Communications & PR
Canadian Paralympic Committee
nwatts@paralympic.ca / 613-462-2700 (WhatsApp)

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MEL PEMBLE SET A NEW RECORD AT THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paris, France (Aug. 31, 2024) – Mel Pemble of Victoria, British Columbia, set a new world record in the women’s C3 category in the 500-meter time trial during her participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on August 31. She finished the competition in fourth place.

With a time of 38.512 seconds in qualifying, Mel Pemble took the world record in her category, as she competed in the combined C1-3 women’s category. The previous world record, set by Australia’s Aniek Van Den Aarssen in 2022, was 39.093 seconds.

“It’s pretty cool to come here and realize I’m at my second Games,” said Pemble. “It felt more real coming into these Games with medal potential.” She added, “The world record is going to make that fourth place sting a little less in the end, but I think it’s going to take a little while for me to get over that. I’m very happy with my times, I got a personal best by a second which is more than could hope for, but it would have been amazing to win a medal, it just wasn’t in the cards this year.”

In the finals, Pemble stopped the clock after 38.610 seconds, just 0.3 seconds from the bronze medal won by Germany’s Maike Hausberger (WC2). China’s Wangwei Qian (WC1) took silver, while Australia’s Amanda Reid (WC2) took top honors, with a factorized time of 36.676 seconds.

Pemble, who competed in para-alpine skiing at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, was participating in her first Summer Games.

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and the full schedule of Paralympic Games events, is available on the official Paris 2024 website, while para-cycling athletes will take part in road events from Sept. 4.

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HISTORIC DAY FOR CANADIAN CYCLING    

Paris, France (Aug. 30, 2024) – Canada collected six podium finishes in three different disciplines on Aug. 30, including two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, thanks to Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, NB, and Keely Shaw of Midale, SK. 

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games  

After finishing third in qualification for the women’s C4 individual pursuit, Shaw, who had won bronze in this event at Tokyo 2020, clocked 3:46.942m in the bronze final, contested against American Samantha Bosco. Australia’s Emily Petricola, the world record holder, was able to catch up with New Zealand’s Anna Taylor, putting her hands on the gold.   

“I had so many doubts before the last round,” said Shaw. “I didn’t think I had what it took. So it was a race of pure mind games. It was about cutting my legs, cutting everything my body was telling me to stop, all the while knowing I couldn’t, and trying to remember that I have a pretty good track record when it comes to bronze medal finals, so I’m so happy to have been able to repeat and to see myself with the world’s best on the podium at the world’s biggest sporting event is a feeling I hope I never forget.” 

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

In his very first Paralympic Games, paracyclist Alexandre Hayward, whose cycling career began in 2021, was able to get his hands on his first medal, winning bronze in the men’s C3 individual pursuit.   

“I was proud of myself before I got here this morning,” said Hayward. “If I think about the feeling that has stuck with me the most over the last few weeks, it’s pride. I’m proud of myself and it’s like this isn’t even in my dreams. I feel like I’ve set my expectations too high. But at the same time, you know, this team, I’m literally surrounded by Paralympic and Olympic legends. It’s easy to imagine when all your teammates are doing it like it’s nothing. I’m really proud of it all.”  

Great Britain’s Jaco Van Gass and Fin Graham won gold and silver.   

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Mountain Bike 

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships were held in Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Olympian Isabella Holmgren was able to add a new world title to her collection, having won the junior title in 2023, by winning gold in the U23 women’s cross-country short circuit (XCC) with a time of 20 minutes 31 seconds, just ahead of her sister Ava (+26s) in bronze. Ella MacLean-Howell (+22s) of Great Britain took silver. They were closely followed by Emilly Johnston (+31s), a U23 podium regular who finished fourth.   

“It was a fun race, very tough, and to see Ava cross the finish line in third place was incredible,” said Isabella. Ava added: “I started last and knew I had to get a good start, but I got a bad start. I just tried to overtake as many people as possible and not go over the limit, which worked out well!”  

In the junior category, Canadian racer Rafaëlle Carrier, in her first Mountain Bike World Championships, took silver in the Olympic cross-country, 36 seconds behind winner Viktoria Chladonova of Slovenia, who completed the course in one hour, one minute. They were joined on the podium by Slovenia’s Marusa Tereza Serkezi (+1:31m).  

Photo Credit:UCI Cycling

Road 

Canadian 2024 champion and Tour de France 2023 stage winner Mike Woods won stage 13 of the Vuelta a España. The win marks Woods’ fourth career Grand Tour stage victory.   

Photo Credit: A.S.O.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of Paralympic Games events, is available on the official Games website, while Mel Pemble will be in action in the individual time trial on Aug. 31.   

More information on the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships is available here. Tomorrow, the Canadians will be in action for the elite downhill finals. 

The Vuelta a España continues until September 8. For more information on this Grand Tour, click here.   

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