News – Page 7 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

A TOP 20 FINISH FOR ALISON JACKSON AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (Aug. 4, 2024) – Canada’s four road cycling representatives performed well at the Paris 2024 road races, held on August 3 and 4 on the outskirts of Paris.

After a tight sprint over a 158-kilometre course, Alison Jackson, from Vermilion, Alberta, finished in 19th place, five minutes behind the leader, American Kristen Faulkner.

This is the best Canadian result in road cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while fellow Canadian Olivia Baril, from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, who finished 20th in the individual time trial on July 27, finished this time in 44th position.

QUOTE

A leading trio of Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Hungarian Blanka Vas won the final sprint, 58 seconds behind the leader, giving them silver, bronze and fourth place respectively.

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

On a 273-kilometre course, Michael Woods and Derek Gee, both from Ottawa, Ontario, represented Canada in the men’s road race.

Cheered on by a crowd of over 500,000, the Canadian representatives performed well, positioning themselves strategically in the peloton. Woods broke away with a group of riders, from which Belgian Remco Evenepoel escaped, racing to victory in 6:19:34.

“It got really exciting,” said Woods. “I was in the move that solidified the podium, but I just didn’t have the legs to keep up. I’m disappointed, but my preparation wasn’t ideal for this race and the course didn’t suit me perfectly, as I’m mostly a climber.”

Photo Credit: Candice Ward/COC

Woods and Gee finished the race in 41st and 44th place, after a day of nearly six hours in the saddle, both seven minutes 23 seconds behind the Belgian. France’s Valentin Madouas finished one minute 11 seconds behind first place, followed by fellow Frenchman Christophe Laporte, who took bronze one minute 16 seconds behind the race leader.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 5, for the first day of track racing, where athletes will be in action in the team pursuit and team sprint.

August 4, 2024/by Communications

FIFTH PLACE FOR BMX RACER MOLLY SIMPSON AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (August 2, 2024) – Molly Simpson of Red Deer, Alberta made Canadian BMX racing history with a fifth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games finals on August 2. This is the best women’s result for Canada.

After a near-perfect day in qualifying on August 1, where she posted consecutive top-3 finishes in each of her rounds to accumulate a total of seven points. The 21-year-old, in her very first Olympic experience, was able to finish in fourth place thanks to soaring starts, which put her in good stead for the semi-finals on August 2.

“I’m so excited,” she commented after the first day of competition. “I’m so happy and grateful to be here, this experience is amazing. I’m just following my process, and this is how I can give my best. I’m just trying to soak it all in.”

Finishing second, fourth and fifth in her semi-final rounds, Simpson made it through to the final, finishing seventh in the standings, where the top eight finishers qualified.

It was with another strong start that Simpson climbed to the front of the race, forming the top 4, before being overtaken in extremis by Dutch rider Laura Smulders, just missing out on the podium to finish fifth.

Photo Credit: by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

“I’m overwhelmed with emotions,” commented Molly after her final race. “I’m happy and grateful. Of course, I would have loved to medal, but for my first Games, to be fifth is cool, and getting through those semifinals was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, so to be in the top eight was just amazing. It’s only the beginning for me, I’ve worked so hard. We’re in a good spot and we’ll just keep going.”

Australia’s Saya Sakakibara took top honors, followed by the Netherlands’ Manon Veenstra in silver and Switzerland’s Zoe Claessens in bronze.

With her fifth place, Simpson equaled the best Canadian result in the discipline, while Tory Nyhaug had also come fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the men’s side.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continue on August 3, when Derek Gee and Mike Woods will be in action in the men’s road race.

August 2, 2024/by Communications

CANADA MAKES OLYMPIC DEBUT IN BMX FREESTYLE AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (July 30, 2024) – The Paris 2024 Olympic adventure of Canadian BMX Freestyle racer Jeffrey Whaley, originally from Montreal, QC, came to an end during the qualifying rounds held on July 30 at La Concorde.

The first Canadian representative in the discipline, Whaley’s mission was to qualify among the top nine riders to advance to the final on July 31. Scoring 76.20 in the first run and 80.83 in the second, for a total score of 78.51, the Quebecer finished in tenth place, one place away from the final.

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

“It’s been the hardest four weeks of my life, both physically and mentally,” mentioned Whaley, only a few weeks after shoulder surgery. “Not only did I have to get back on my bike after my injury, but I also had tough practices after two crashes and a collision, which broke both my wheels. It was tough, but I made two full runs and missed the finals by one position. For me, it’s a victory, so I’m leaving with my head held high.”

Britain’s Kieran Darren David Reilly qualified in first place with a score of 91.21. He was followed by American Marcus Christopher (89.48) and Australian Logan Martin (89.39).

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 1, with Molly Simpson in BMX racing action.

July 30, 2024/by Communications

HOLMGREN DUO MAKE THEIR OLYMPIC DEBUT IN MOUNTAIN BIKING AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (July 29, 2024) – The Holmgren duo of siblings Isabella and Gunnar, from Orillia, ON, completed the XCO mountain bike competitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 17th and 30th place respectively on July 28 and 29.

Riding under the sun on the Colline d’Élancourt, just a few kilometers from Paris, Isabella, aged just 19, was not only competing in her very first Olympic Games, but also taking part in her first elite competition.

“I didn’t think I’d be here at the beginning of the year, so competing in the Olympics is great,” said Isabella. “It’s amazing to be here with my brother, it’s our first Olympics and it’s very special to be able to do them together. We have a lot of family who have come to cheer us on, I’m super happy that everyone was able to be here to witness this.”

Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix

The Junior World Mountain Bike and Cyclo-cross Champion completed the seven regulation laps in 1 hour 33 minutes and 43 seconds, seven minutes 41 seconds behind the race leader, French favourite Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The podium was completed by American Haley Batten (+2:57m) in silver and Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (+3:02m) in bronze.

Once again under a blazing sun, Gunnar, 25, set off on the course the day after his sister’s race, to finish the eight regulation laps eight minutes 35 seconds behind Great Britain’s Thomas Pidcock, who scored his second Olympic victory with a time of one hour 26 minutes and 22 seconds.

“It was a very high level, a hot race, a tough course. It was a tough day, but an amazing day,” said Gunnar. ”It was incredible to have the French and Canadian crowds around us to cheer us on.”

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

France’s Victor Koretzky (+0.09s) took silver, followed by South Africa’s Alan Hatherly (+0.11s) in bronze.

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 30 with BMX Freestyle, where Canada will make its Olympic debut, represented by Quebec’s Jeffrey Whaley.

July 29, 2024/by Communications

SEVEN PARA CYCLISTS NOMINATED TO COMPETE FOR CANADA AT PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES

– Roster includes four Paralympic medallists
– Paris 2024 Paralympic Games takes place August 28 to September 8

Ottawa, July 29, 2024 – A team of seven Para cyclists will race for Canada at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced Monday.

Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team – PARA CYCLING

Nathan Clement – West Vancouver, BC – MT1 (classification)
Alexandre Hayward – Quispamsis, NB – MC3
Charles Moreau – Victoriaville, QC – MH3
Kate O’Brien – Calgary, AB – WC4
Mel Pemble – Victoria, BC – WC3
Mike Sametz – Calgary, AB – MC3
Keely Shaw – Midale, SK – WC4

The team includes four Paralympic medallists: Charles Moreau (two bronze at Rio 2016), Kate O’Brien (silver at Tokyo 2020), Keely Shaw (bronze at Tokyo 2020), and Mike Sametz (bronze at Rio 2016).

Moreau is the most experienced of the team, with two Games appearances (2016, 2020). O’Brien, Shaw, and Sametz will participate in their second Paralympic Games (O’Brien has also represented Canada in cycling at the Olympic Games, in 2016). For Sametz, it is a return to Paralympic competition after injury and illness kept him out of the sport for the Tokyo Games.

Nathan Clement and Mel Pemble will be making their Paralympic debuts in Para cycling but are already Paralympians in other sports – Clement in Para swimming (2016) and Pemble in Para alpine skiing (2018). Alexandre Hayward will become a first-time Paralympian in Paris.

“I can’t describe how it feels being selected for the team for Paris 2024,” said Pemble. “It truly feels unreal when I think back on four years ago; restarting this sport and being unsure on where it would lead. Though I’ve been lucky enough to have a Winter Games experience, in a way, this still feels as if it’s my first Games with a different kind of excitement of what is to come and what is possible to achieve in Paris.”

At the 2023 world championships in Scotland, these athletes won nine medals, including two gold – Clement in the men’s T1 road time trial and Pemble in the women’s C3 omnium on the track (which is not a Paralympic event). O’Brien, Shaw, Clement, and Sametz also secured podium finishes.

“Being selected for the Paris Paralympic Games is an honour beyond words,” said Clement. “Wearing the maple leaf at my second Games is incredibly humbling. I’m thrilled for this chance to give it for my community and country. Without my team in Vancouver and the support of the city, this dream would not be possible. Thank you to everyone. I can’t wait to hear that starting siren and see my teammates achieve their goals and race on the biggest stage alongside them!”

Last fall at the 2023 Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Canadian Para cyclists won 12 medals with Hayward leading the way with four (two gold, one silver, one bronze). Pemble added a gold and silver, Clement notched a gold and bronze, and Shaw won silver. Sametz took home two bronze and Moreau contributed his own bronze medal performance.

“Since being introduced to Para sport as a competitive 15-year-old who’d just had his life turned upside down by a hockey injury, the goal of one day representing Canada at the Paralympics immediately played a huge role in my life,” said Hayward. “The feeling of fulfilling that dream 12 years later is hard to put into words and to be heading there with the realistic goal of returning with a medal is a huge cherry on top.”

Qualification slots for Canada for the Games were earned through cumulated results at world championships and World Cup events in 2023 and 2024.

Hayward, O’Brien, Pemble, and Shaw will race in the track events, taking place August 29 to September 1 at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome just outside of Paris.

The road events will take place September 4-7, starting and finishing in Clichy-Sous-Bois, with Clement, Hayward, Moreau, Pemble, Sametz, and Shaw set to compete.

“I am so pleased to welcome to the team the seven Para cyclists nominated for Paris,” said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “Canada’s Para cycling team was so successful at the Parapan Am Games last year, and it was a thrill to watch them race. I can’t wait to do it again in Paris next month!”

“Congratulations to each Para cyclist selected to compete for Canada at the Paralympic Games,” said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “This is such an exciting and accomplished group of racers, with strong recent Paralympic Games, world championships, and Parapan Am results. I know they are ready to do their best in Paris, and I’m looking forward to supporting them at the Games.”

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place August 28 to September 8 in Paris, France. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 130 athletes.

Prior to being officially named to the Canadian Paralympic Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The current list of nominated athletes can be found HERE. The approved final roster will be announced closer to the start of the Games.

July 29, 2024/by Communications

GEE AND BARIL BREAK THE ICE AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

Paris, FRA (July 27, 2024) – Olivia Baril of Rouyn-Noranda, QC and Derek Gee of Ottawa, ON got the ball rolling for cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a strong showing in the individual time trial on July 27.

Over a distance of 32.4 kilometers through the streets of Paris, starting at Les Invalides and finishing at Pont Alexandre III, passing through the Place de la Bastille, the riders had to endure a rainy day on slippery pavement, causing several falls throughout the peloton.

Fresh from a ninth-place overall finish in his first-ever Tour de France, 26-year-old Gee, competing in his second Olympic Games, clocked a time of 38:28.17m, good for 20th place.

“The conditions were very tricky and I knew my form would be challenged a bit,” said Gee, less than a week after the Tour de France. “It was a tough race for sure. I think that kind of form after the Tour will work better for the road race, because it’s a longer effort and with Mike (Woods) coming up, we’ll have some good options; I think he’ll arrive in good shape. Now I’ll recover a bit to prepare for next weekend.”

He finished 2 minutes 16 behind the new Olympic champion, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel (36:12.16m), who was joined on the podium by fellow Belgian Wout Van Aert (+25.63s) with bronze. Italy’s Filippo Ganna (+14.92s) rounded off the podium with silver.

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

Silver medallist at the Canadian Championships in the discipline, 26-year-old Baril set off on the course of her very first Olympic Games to finish in 20th position, 3 minutes 25 seconds behind the overall winner, Australian Grace Brown (39:38.24m).

“The course was very flat, so it doesn’t necessarily suit me best as the type of rider that I am,” said Baril. “It was quite rainy, but rainy for everybody, it made the streets of Paris very slippery. I’m happy because I stayed upright on my bike, which is important, contrarily to a lot of my competitors who crashed today, unfortunately. The preparation to get here was the best I could do, and I gave it my all today and I couldn’t have asked for better. I’m super motivated now for the road race.”

Britain’s Anna Henderson (+1:31.59) and American Chloe Dygert (+1:32.46) completed the podium.

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 28 with the women’s mountain bike race, where Isabella Holmgren will be in action.

July 27, 2024/by Communications

GET READY TO CHEER ON TEAM CANADA AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS!

The countdown is almost over, and the excitement is building as the Olympic Games in Paris are just around the corner. Our incredible Canadian Cycling Team is ready to take on the world, showcasing years of hard work, dedication, and passion. From the velodrome to the rugged mountain trails, our athletes will compete in a variety of cycling events, each one a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.

We’ve put together everything you need to know to cheer on our team. Below, you’ll find the full schedule of events, along with the names of the athletes who will be proudly representing Canada. Get to know who to watch, when to watch, and how to support our cyclists as they strive for Olympic glory.

How to Watch & Full Streaming Schedule

Take a look at the athletes that will be representing Canada

July 25, 2024/by Communications

CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT 2024 CANADIAN MASTERS ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 22, 2024) – The 2024 Canadian Road Cycling Championships concluded with the masters competition, held July 19-21 in Victoria, British Columbia.

The competition began with the individual time trial on July 19. Mark Sherbonneau (Broad Street Breakaway) successfully defended the title for a second consecutive year in Masters B, while John Vanderveen (Riverway Dental Racing), Bruce Bird (Wheels of Bloor), Robert Anderson (Independent), Jennifer Ward (Victoria Wheelers p/b Novus), Debra Parker (Watt Riot Cycling), Heather Simonson (Tripleshot Cycling) and Barb Morris (Comox Valley Cycle Club) took top honours in categories A, C, D, E, F, G and H respectively.

“Everything went well, I’m really happy,” said Bird, who adds to his title from the 2023 time trial and the 2023 Masters Gravel Championships. “I was lucky enough to go to Victoria for the very first time, so I’m happy. It was the weather that surprised me the most, I thought there would be more rain, but it was much easier to navigate the course with all that sunshine. It’s fantastic to be wearing the maple leaf again.”

The following day, road racers battled a blazing sun on a course ranging from 60 to 100 kilometers, forcing several athletes to stop early.

Participating in his very first Masters race, Lee Agur was able to shine in the Masters A. “I took advice from the veterans,” said Agur. “They kind of told me what to do and I listened to them. I attacked on the fifth lap, and we ended up with five riders. On the ninth lap, I went alone, because I didn’t want it to turn into a sprint.”

Building on the momentum of their time trial victory, Ward (Masters E) and Morris (Masters H) regained possession of the unified jersey in the road race, while Nicolas Proulx (Les Rouleurs Polo Vélo) secured victory for the second year running.

Nathalie Champagne (Agowatt), who won the time trial in 2023, took gold in the Masters G road race, while Scott Goguen (United Velo – Masters C), Garth Campbell (Broad Street Breakaway – Masters D) and Carolyn Russell (Independante – Masters F) added their names to the history books.

The event concluded with an exciting criterium on Sunday, allowing Goguen, Champagne, Ward and Russell to add a unified jersey to their collection.

Clayton Hiltz (Victoria Weelers p/b Novus), Jeffrey Werner (Red Kilo) and Horacio Chaves (Independent) raced to victory in the A, B and D masters.

“Today went really well,” said Ward, a local rider. “I wasn’t sure how to feel since my legs were tired after Friday and Saturday’s races, but with the dynamic nature of the criterium and the fact that we’re downtown, I was lucky to have my cycling friends and family here to watch. Carolyn (Russell) and I were often up front, sharing pulls, giving each other a break and cheering each other on.”

The complete list of results is available here. The next stop on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian MTB Downhill Championships, to be held August 10-11 in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. The full calendar of national events is available on the Cycling Canada website.

July 22, 2024/by Communications

RIDERS BRAVE THE ELEMENTS AT CANADIAN XCO & XCC MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 22, 2024) – Mountain bike athletes were treated to all kinds of conditions at the Canadian Cross-Country Championships, held July 18-21 in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

It was in pouring rain that most of the athletes took to the start line of the short circuit cross-country (XCC) on Thursday, July 18, crowning Rafaëlle Carrier (Pivot Cycle OTE) for a second year running, this time in the junior category. Jacob Roy (Ponsse MTB Racing) took top honours in the junior men’s category.

In the combined elite and U23 categories, it was Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) – who had won silver in-extremis at the 2023 edition – who finally got to savor the victory, taking it early in the race. In the men’s race, U23 rider Cole Punchard (Pivot Cycle OTE), who has scored several top-five finishes in World Cups, shone in front of some of the sport’s biggest names. “Throughout the race, I could see that some of the guys were a little tired,” said Punchard. “I got a bit of a lead, then managed to pull away on the last lap and break away solo on the last bend to sprint my heart out and take the win.”

Elly Moore (Team Ontario) and Émilien Belzile (Stimulus Orbea) were able to don the unified U17 jersey, both after a tight sprint.

The July 20 XCO competition saw a number of athletes win back-to-back Canadian titles under a scorching sun, including Jackson (elite women), Punchard (U23 men), Carrier (junior women), Roy (junior men) and Belzile (U17 men), all of whom were able to open up a significant gap on their rivals.

“It’s not something I really imagined (doubling the number of wins),” said Jackson. “A few years ago, I had no idea this is where I’d end up a few years down the line, and I’m really excited to be wearing the maple leaf in the upcoming World Cups.

On the U17 women’s side, it was Éliane Blais (Équipe du Québec) who stood out, with no looking back. Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) claimed her first-ever Canadian U23 women’s mountain bike title. “It was a very good day,” said Holmgren. “The fact that the elites started out in front was extra motivation to be able to catch as many as possible.”

Leading from the start of the race, Léandre Bouchard (Foresco Holding Proco-RL Pro Team) earned himself an eighth career title, having won at elite level in 2021 and donned the jersey on several occasions at U23 level.

Masters athletes were also in action in Nova Scotia, where Peter Glassford (Trek Barrie Aurora – men 35-44), Aroussen Laflamme (Ponsse MTB Racing – men 45-54) and Sue Haviland (Durham Shredders – women 45-54) were once again crowned champions. They were joined by John Westdal (Ontario Bicycle Club – men 55+), Alessandro Polloni (Stimulus Next Wave – men 19-34), Meghan Todd (Crazy Creek Cycling Club 35-44) and Penn Hart (AVMBA – women 55+).

The team relay, presented on Sunday, July 21, saw Cole Punchard and Rafaëlle Carrier, teamed for Pivot-OTE with Zorak Paillé and Simon Ruelland, add a third champion’s jersey to their already impressive collection.

The complete list of results can be found here.

The Canadian Masters Road Championships, held in Victoria, B.C., are still underway. The next Canadian Championships on the calendar will be the Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships, to be held in Sun Peaks, B.C. on August 10 and 11. The complete calendar of national events can be found on the Events page of the Cycling Canada website.

July 22, 2024/by Communications

A DOUBLE WEEKEND OF CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM COAST TO COAST

Ottawa, ON (July 17, 2024) – Preparations for the XCO and XCC Canadian Mountain Bike Championships and the Canadian Masters Road Championships are well underway, as the two events, held respectively in Eastern Canada (Kentville, NS) and Western Canada (Victoria, BC), will crown a host of new champions from July 18 to 21.

Held in Nova Scotia for the second year running, the XCO and XCC mountain bike competitions promise to amaze and delight.

“We’re thrilled to return to Kentville for the XCO and XCC Canadian Championships in what has become a staple of the Canadian mountain bike calendar,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada’s Director of Marketing and Events. “This event continues to showcase the exceptional work done in the Maritime Provinces over the past few years, as the region becomes the cornerstone for high-level cycling and competition.”

In the short track (XCC) competitions, to be held on Thursday, July 18, the elite women will see a new champion crowned, given the absence of defending champion Laurie Arseneault due to a knee injury. Carter Woods, who has just returned from a season-ending illness, will attempt to defend the titles he won in both events in 2023.

All eyes will be on UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championship medallists Ian Ackert (men’s U23), Marin Lowe (women’s U23) and Emilly Johnston (elite women’s), all competing in a new category and who will once again be aiming for a place on the podium, having taken the honours in 2023. Reigning U17 champions, now turned juniors, Rafaëlle Carrier and Nicholas Gauthier, who have already made their mark on the junior Canada Cup circuit, will have their sights set on the maple leaf jersey.

In Victoria, the Masters athletes will be pulling out all the stops to offer high-caliber competition in time trial, road race and criterium.

“This will be our third Canadian championship event, after hosting the Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships in 2018 and 2019 and the Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships in 2022 and 2023,” said Jon Watkins, event director at Panache Cycling. “We are very excited to welcome the Masters back to Victoria and offer participants an exceptional weekend of racing. We want to build on the lessons learned from organizing this event over five years ago and make things even better.”

Title winners in one or other of the events, Bruce Bird, Maxime Forget, Nathalie Champagne, Nicolas Proulx and Dawn Heinemeyer will be back behind the starting line to add titles to their collection.

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

July 17, 2024/by Communications