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CYCLING CANADA NAMES 18 ATHLETES TO THE 2018 GOLD COAST TEAM

Ottawa, ON, January 24, 2018 – Commonwealth Games Canada and Cycling Canada announced today the nine women and nine men who will represent Canada in the cycling events at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on April 5-14, 2018.

Canadian cyclists have a long tradition of medal-winning performances at the Commonwealth Games, including three medals at the Glasgow Games in 2014. At the Gold Coast Games, athletes will compete in Track, Mountain Bike and Road cycling events.

“The Commonwealth Games is a really special event,” said Team Leader for cycling Kris Westwood. “On the one hand it’s a highly competitive event that gives our veteran athletes a shot at career highlight performances; on the other hand it’s an opportunity to give valuable major Games experience to our future Olympians — this will be the first Games experience for nearly half our delegation. In track cycling, with Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand competing, the field will be world-class, so it’s really exciting to return to the Commonwealth Games and see the progress we’ve made since Glasgow in 2014. Four years ago, the men’s Team Pursuit program was just getting off the ground; now, we’re heading to the Games with a seasoned, competitive squad. Meanwhile, the addition of the women’s Team Pursuit to the program gives us an event to shine in, and we can expect strong results in Mountain Bike as well.”

The cycling competitions will begin with the Track events, where a total of 20 gold medals will be awarded. The Team Pursuit and Team Sprint are new additions to the Games program for women and for the first time in Games history there will be the same number of cycling medal events for men as for women. Canada is particularly strong in the women’s Team Pursuit, winning bronze medals at the past two Olympic Games, as well as a gold medal in World Cup competition this season. The team will be anchored by Calgary’s Allison Beveridge, a member of the World Cup winning squad, as well as the reigning national road champion. The men’s program, while much newer, finished second to the world champion New Zealand squad in World Cup competition this season.

“I’m really looking forward to my first Commonwealth Games,” said Beveridge. “The Games are quite close to the world championships, which are always a major goal and will provide some challenges, but preparation for both are coming along well and the team is getting closer on and off the bike. It’s a good mix of events with the Team Pursuit now in the Games for women, so it’ll be a lot of fun to prepare for. Hopefully, the team will also be able to have some individual strengths shine through in the various events.”

“I’m thrilled with our Games team line up,” said Women’s Track Endurance Coach Craig Griffin. “It’s a great balance of youth in Ariane [Bonhomme] and Kinley [Gibson], and experience with Steph [Roorda], Allison [Beveridge] and Annie [Foreman-Mackey]. These Games provide an important opportunity to embrace and experience a major Games environment as we continue to build and strengthen our squad for Tokyo. I’m confident we can deliver medal winning performances on the track and also be in the mix for the road events.”

The Sprint events on the track will see Canada boast two World Cup medalists; Hugo Barrette of Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, and Stefan Ritter of Edmonton.

Canada has been a dominant force in Mountain Biking at the Commonwealth Games since it was introduced at Manchester in 2002; having won every gold medal in the women’s competition and a total of 8 of 18 medals awarded. Three Canadian riders will represent Canada at the Gold Coast, led by Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ontario, the silver medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games champion in 2015 and fourth at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Batty will be joined by rising star Haley Smith of Uxbridge, Ontario, for the women’s race, and Rio Olympian Leandre Bouchard of Alma, Quebec, for the men’s competition.

Emily Batty, currently at a pre-season training camp with the national team, said “With the 2018 race season looming on the horizon, I come into the season with new motivation, and the Commonwealth Games will be a great race to begin with. I’ve made some major changes this year, and it will be interesting to see how some of those changes translate to racing and, in particular, a significant Games event. To represent Canada on the international stage is an absolute honour as always, and one I will never take for granted.”

The Road events will close out the cycling competition, with the track endurance athletes filling the roster for the women’s and men’s road races and time trials.

“Whether it’s on the road, on the velodrome track, or down the mountain, the fast-paced sport of cycling is always captivating,” said Chef de Mission Claire Carver-Dias. “With three medals four years ago, and a returning medalist in Emily Batty on the team, our 18 Canadian athletes are bound to contend for top spots at the Commonwealth Games once again in Gold Coast.”

Women’s Track Endurance & Road
Allison Beveridge – Calgary, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, Quebec [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Annie Foreman-Mackey – Kingston, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Kinley Gibson – Edmonton, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Stephanie Roorda – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Alternate: Devaney Collier – Edmonton, Alberta

Men’s Track Endurance & Road
Aidan Caves – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Michael Foley – Milton, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Derek Gee – Ottawa, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Adam Jamieson – Barrie, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Jay Lamoureux – Victoria, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Alternate: Bayley Simpson – Lindsay, Ontario

Women’s Sprint
Tegan Cochrane – Kelowna, BC
Amelia Walsh – Ayr, Ontario
Alternate: Lauriane Genest – Levis, Quebec

Men’s Sprint
Hugo Barrette – Iles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Stefan Ritter – Edmonton, Alberta
Patrice St-Louis Pivin – Sherbrooke, Quebec
Alternate: Joel Archambault – St-Christine, Quebec

Women’s Mountain Bike
Emily Batty – Brooklin, Ontario
Haley Smith – Uxbridge, Ontario
Alternate: Sandra Walter – Coquitlam, BC

Men’s Mountain Bike
Leandre Bouchard – Alma, Quebec
Alternate: Peter Disera – Horseshoe Valley, Ontario

January 24, 2018/by Communications

3rd ANNUAL BEAR MOUNTAIN BIKE FEST AND FIRST RACE OF THE 2018 CANADA CUP MTB SERIES COMING TO BC

Langford, BC, January 23, 2018 – The Westin Bear Mountain Resort will play host once again to the 3^rd annual Bear Mountain Bike Festival presented by the City of Langford from March 31 – April 1 2018. This year’s festival will expand on the successes of the inaugural event last year bringing world-class mountain bike racing to the Eastern Vancouver Island Region.

In collaboration with Cycling Canada, the City of Langford and Tourism Victoria, the event will showcase long distance and short track cross country racing, challenge events for enthusiasts, dedicated activities for kids and an on-site bike expo showcasing the top mountain bike brands in the industry. New for 2018 is the addition of a food truck concession area where participants and spectators will have an excellent selection of warm food and drinks.

Kicking off the festival will be the UCI Bear Mountain Canada Cup MTB Race powered by Powerade on March 31, featuring three-time world champion and 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist, Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team).

As the defending Bear Mountain Canada Cup event champion, Pendrel is very motivated to start the year on a high note. “I’m really looking forward to the Bear Mountain Canada Cup. I love having such high level racing in BC to start the season and really enjoy the riding and atmosphere at this race”.

Last year’s 2^nd place finisher, Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing), will be looking to make a strong first impression as reigning national champion for the 2018 season, and attempt to take her first Bear Mountain Canada Cup win. Defending Canada Cup champion, Soren Meeuwisse (Trek Canada), who showed consistency year-round during the 2017 season will also be looking to defend her title as well.

In the Elite Men’s race, Raphael Gagné has made it his routine to win the first Canada Cup of the season and is looking to make it three-for-three at Bear Mountain on March 31. Raph will have to compete against a tough men’s field, including 2017 Canada Cup winner Evan Guthrie and national champion, Peter Disera (Norco Factory Racing).

Spectators can expect a strong field of young men and women in the UCI Canada Cup Junior series. The race will be wide open for the Junior Women as last year’s winner, Gwendalyn Gibson from Team USA and 2nd place winner Sidney McGill have moved on to the U23 category. For the first time ever, U17 men and women will be able to participate as an official Canada Cup category, and will be awarded a leader’s jersey as well as an official Canada Cup ranking.

“The Bear Mountain Canada Cup is an amazing event that brings together the local mountain bike community and some of the world’s best riders,” said Dan Proulx, head coach for the Canadian National Team. “It’s a fun atmosphere and a fast and challenging course. For our athletes, it’s a kick off to our North American race campaign and everyone looks forward to this one!”

On Sunday, spectators are invited to come out to watch the Russ Hay’s XC Short Track Race. Each race will be 20 minutes long and will take place on a fast and flowing 1.5 kilometer course. Lap prizes or “primes” will be awarded to heighten the excitement and keep the race pace high. Racing will be available for the following categories: beginner, intermediate, expert, masters, and youth cyclists.

Kid-friendly activities will also be offered on Sunday as part of the Kids Bike Day presented by Oak Bay Bikes Westshore. Families with kids aged between 6 and 10 are invited to take part in some fun skills training with former Canada Cup champion and certified coach Adam Walker from the Cycling Co. Children will learn the basics of mountain bike riding, try their skills on the obstacle course, and enjoy free snacks and prizes as a reward. Entry is free and is capped at 150 participants.

Complimenting the entire race weekend will be food trucks and free coffee/hot drinks courtesy of McDonalds McCafé®. In addition, North America’s top brands will be showcasing the latest and greatest mountain bike models. Demo rides will be available on Sunday, April 1^st.

January 23, 2018/by Communications

CANADA WINS TWO MEDALS AT MINSK TRACK WORLD CUP

Minsk, Belarus, January 21, 2018 – Canada had a strong showing at Round 5 of the UCI Track World Cup in Minsk, Belarus, with athletes winning silver and bronze medals on Saturday. Stefan Ritter of Edmonton, Alberta, won the silver medal in the Men’s Keirin, while the NextGen women’s Team Pursuit squad took bronze.

For Ritter, a former Junior world champion, the podium result came after a long recovery from a crash in 2017 that kept him out of competition for the earlier part of the 2017-2018 World Cup season. Ritter had to go through the ‘second chance’ repechage race to qualify for the semi-finals, but won his semi-final race to make it into the medal final, where six riders competed for the medals. In the Final, Ritter finished second to Matthijs Buchli of the Netherlands. Ritter also competed in the Sprint, qualifying fourth but getting beaten in the 1/8th final by eventual bronze medalist Theo Bos of the Netherlands.

“Overall I’m really happy with how the Keirin went,” said Ritter. “I couldn’t have asked for more, to be honest. Considering this is the first time I’ve raced the Keirin at a World Cup, I’m really happy with silver. Except for the first ride, all my rides went really well; tactically, I feel like I made good decisions.”

The NextGen team of Erin Attwell (Victoria, BC), Maggie Coles-Lyster (Maple Ridge, BC), Devaney Collier (Edmonton, Alberta), and Laurie Jussaume (Contrecoeur, Quebec) qualified third on Friday in the 4000 metre event and set the third fastest time again on Saturday morning to make it into the bronze medal race against France in the evening. Canada was leading France after the halfway mark when the French team crashed out of competition. The United States won the gold medal ahead of Italy.

“We started out really smooth,” said Attwell, “and the plan was to focus on the technical aspects of our ride; executing well, staying on the black line and communicating. We did a really good job of working together as a team. It’s the first time that we have executed everything perfectly; we had such a smooth ride for all three [races], and every ride got better technically and we got faster in every ride. It’s exciting for the future.”

Jacques Landry Chief, Technical Officer – Head Coach for Cycling Canada, and Project Manager in Minsk, commented: “Saturday was a good day for the team. Our NextGen TP squad rode three great rides, on schedule, every time. The strategy was easy for them – it was to focus on their own race, communicate and strive for flawless execution. They met the strategic goals which led to a bronze medal; a bronze medal that may not have happened without the great preparation from NextGen coach, Jenny Trew, along with on-point in the field input from our physiologist, Emily Wood.”

“To cap off the day, Stefan rode a great Final which could have yielded a gold. Though his qualifier could have been better, with his legs firing on all cylinders, he rode a great repechage to put him back into the running. In the Sprint competition he had a strong qualifier but just came up against a more experienced rider in the heats.”

In other competition, Devaney Collier of Edmonton competed in the four event women’s Omnium, finishing 14th overall, while Maggie Coles-Lyster competed in the Points Race but did not finish, and in the Madison with Laurie Jassaume, where the duo was 13th.

“The Madison was definitely a new experience,” admitted Coles-Lyster. “I think Laurie and I learned a lot; it was one of the fastest races I’ve ever done. It showed us everything we need to work on, and I know that we will get there. This was the second Madison we have done together, so we’ve made big progress since the [Junior] world championships, and I can see us making more progress now.”

Landry summarized the project: “The girls [NextGen Track endurance] really came into their own during this project; it’s a testament to their talent and the work done in the background from coaches and staff like Jenny and Emily Wood. They’ve not only learned a lot in the Team Pursuit, but also in the individual events like the Points Race, Omnium and Madison. Although Stefan Ritter may have made some mistakes in the 1/8th final, he definitely has shown he is world class. This is the Stefan we expect to see more of in the coming months and years.”

January 21, 2018/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA INTRODUCES NEXTGEN PARA PROGRAMS

Ottawa, ON, January 16, 2018 – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce a significant expansion to the national Para-cycling program with the establishment of dedicated NextGen programs in both Eastern and Western Canada. Canada’s Para-cycling athletes are among the best in the world, winning an incredible 11 world titles on the road and track in 2017, and the NextGen initiative will ensure Canadian riders continue to perform at the highest level for years to come.

“Cycling Canada is delighted to receive financial support from the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, Own the Podium and Sport Canada for both Para-cycling NextGen programs,” said Arnaud Litou, High Performance Manager for Para-cycling at Cycling Canada. “The addition last fall to the Para coaching task force of Phil Abbott represents a unique opportunity to have a physical presence in the Western region. Guillaume Plourde, who leads the Eastern program, will continue developing HP athletes who shine on the international scene, as well as introducing new athletes to cycling.”

The NextGen East program will be centered in Bromont, Quebec, where nine athletes will work with Guillaume Plourde, the NextGen Para-cycling Coach (East). Athletes will also use the Mattamy National Cycling Centre Velodrome in Milton, Ontario, on a regular basis.

“For the 2018 season, the eastern branch of the Para-Cycling NextGen program has a core group of nine athletes, including four newcomers,” says Plourde. “While some are working hard to be selected at multiple World Cup events and world championships through the summer, the main focus for the group will be to have strong performances at Road Nationals in June and at the Road World Cup to be held in Baie-Comeau in August. After the first training camp, which is at the end of February in California, athletes in the group will be training on a regular basis at the National Cycling Center in Bromont, for both track and road events. The other main purpose of the program remains to recruit and develop new talents, with the help of a continuously growing network of key partners in the local clubs and provinces.”

The Western program will be based in Calgary with Phil Abbott as the NextGen Para-cycling Coach (West), and is very much a partnership with the Alberta Bicycle Association and Canadian Sport Institute Calgary. Athletes will also use the Mattamy National Cycling Centre Velodrome in Milton, Ontario, on a regular basis.

“We have identified a group of five talented Para athletes in Western Canada,” says Abbott. “In the past month since the programs began, we have been working to establish a strong training environment for this group of athletes. Over the next eight months we have planned a series of camps and competitions to develop this core group of riders. The long-term objective is to have the athletes progress onto the elite national team. In addition to developing the current group of athletes, we will also be looking to identify new talent across the Western Provinces.”

NextGen East Athletes
Myriam Adam [Women’s H3] – St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Annie Bouchard [Women’s Tandem] – Baie-St-Paul, Quebec
Anais Courteille [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Gatineau, Quebec
Joey Desjardins [Men’s H3] – Hawkesbury, Ontario
Matthew Kinnie [Men’s H2] – Riverview, New Brunswick
Evelyne Gagnon [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Quebec City, Quebec
Keely Shaw [Women’s C4] – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Cindy Morin [Women’s Tandem] – Levis, Quebec
Michael Shetler [Men’s T2] – Kirkland, Quebec

NextGen West Athletes
Kara Douville [Women’s H4] – Calgary, Alberta
Lachlan Hotchkiss [Men’s C4] – Surrey, BC
Erin Ruttan [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Calgary, Alberta
Carla Shibley [Women’s Tandem] – Calgary, Alberta
Lowell Taylor [Men’s Tandem] – Lethbridge, Alberta

January 16, 2018/by Communications

CANADA SENDS NEXTGEN TEAM TO FINAL TRACK WORLD CUP

Ottawa, ON, January 15, 2018 – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team of six athletes who will represent Canada at the fifth round of the Track Cycling World Cup on January 19-21 in Minsk, Belarus. The team will consist of five women and one man, and will be led by two world champions – 2017 Junior Points Race women’s world champion Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple Ridge, BC, and 2016 Junior 1000 metre Time Trial men’s world champion Stefan Ritter of Edmonton.

The five women are all members of Canada’s NextGen track endurance development program, and will compete in the Team Pursuit, as well as individual events.

Jenny Trew, Women’s NextGen Track Endurance Coach at Cycling Canada, said, “The women have been training hard and are ready to have their first crack at World Cup racing. Inspired by the strong performances of the Elite program, specifically this season, the athletes are ready to maximize this learning opportunity as we pave the way to future Canadian success.”

Ritter, who is returning to competition after injury derailed the early part of his season, will be competing in the Sprint and Keirin events, as he builds towards the world championships at the end of February.

Jacques Landry, Chief Technical Officer – Head Coach at Cycling Canada, said, “The fifth and final Track World Cup before world championships in Holland will be one where we will witness the fruits of the great work done with our NextGen athletes. The present World Cup format enables us to focus on acquiring podium performances through some events, and amassing valuable racing knowledge in others. In Minsk, it is anticipated that our Women’s Track Endurance NextGen riders, along with sprinter Stefan Ritter, use this event to gain experience whilst striving to reach their individual performance goals.”

Erin Attwell – Victoria, BC [Team Pursuit]
Maggie Coles-Lyster – Maple Ridge, BC [Team Pursuit, Points Race, Madison, Alternate – Omnium]
Devaney Collier – Edmonton, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Omnium, Alternate – Madison]
Sara Giovannetti – Mississauga, Ontario [Alternate – Team Pursuit]
Laurie Jussaume – Contrecoeur, Quebec [Team Pursuit, Madison]

Stefan Ritter – Edmonton, Alberta [Sprint, Keirin]

January 15, 2018/by Communications

BEVERIDGE, CHERNOVE, DAL-CIN & WOODS TOP 2017 CANADIAN CYCLIST AWARDS

Ottawa, December 30, 2017 – The 21st edition of the Canadian Cyclist of the Year awards saw three newcomers and one repeat winner for 2017, in these Peoples Choice awards. Three-time national champion Allison Beveridge of Calgary, Alberta, was chosen as the Female athlete of 2016, while Top-10 Vuelta a Espana winner Mike Woods of Gatineau, Quebec, is the Male cyclist and five time world champion Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, took the Para award. Matteo Dal-Cin of Ottawa, Ontario, won the Best Individual Performance award for his win at the National Road Championships.

The Canadian Cyclist Awards are the oldest and most recognized cycling awards in Canada, voted on by thousands of cycling enthusiasts from across Canada and around the world. Voting took place between December 9th and 23rd.

Beveridge, a member of the Olympic bronze medal Team Pursuit squad in Rio, came back from pre-season surgery for a blood clot to have the best season of her career in 2017. A member of the U.S.-based Rally Cycling team, Beveridge sprinted to the national road title in June. On the track, the 24 year old won the national Omnium and Team Pursuit titles, and won three medals in World Cup competition – gold and silver in the Team Pursuit, and silver in the Omnium. Beveridge took 49.5% of first place votes cast, with Team Time Trial world champion Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, Manitoba) receiving 28% and Downhill world champion Miranda Miller (Squamish, BC) receiving 23%.

“It’s an honour to be chosen by the cycling community to be Female Canadian Cyclist of the Year,” said Beveridge, “especially given the ever growing talent of female cyclists in Canada! 2017 was a comeback year for me following surgery, and it was a rough start, so this is confirmation that I’m making my way back to where I need to be. Thank you to everyone who voted, and to Rally Cycling and my Canadian track cycling family for getting me back on track! The support of the cycling community and the role that Canadian Cyclist plays in showcasing our sport is greatly appreciated! I know that Canadian cycling will continue to excel in 2018 and I look forward to (hopefully) being a part of that.”

Mike Woods had a breakout year in 2017. One of only a handful of Canadian men to race at the WorldTour – the highest level of professional road racing – Woods began his season at Cannondale Drapac with a ninth place in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and 11th at Fleche Wallonne; two of the Spring Classics. In May, he finished fifth in Stages 6 and 8 of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy), one of the Grand Tours of cycling. However, it was in September when he really shone, finishing seventh overall in the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain), the final Grand Tour of the season – the best-ever result for a Canadian at this race. He also finished third on Stage 9, and is the only Canadian to make the top-100 in the world rankings. Woods took 43% of first place votes cast, with national road champion Matteo Dal-Cin (Ottawa, Ontario) receiving 30% and Tour of Utah champion Rob Britton (Regina, Saskatchewan) receiving 17%.

“It is an honour to be selected as Male Canadian Cyclist of the Year,” said Woods, who is already preparing for the 2018 season. “I know that this title is voted on by fans spread throughout Canada, which makes this that much more special. 2017 was a great year for me, and I could not have had that success without the help and support of my wife, my family and friends, my coach Paulo Saldanha, my team (Cannondale-Drapac), and B2Ten. Much love to everyone and Happy New Year!”

Last year, Tristen Chernove became the first Canadian Cyclist of the Year in the new Para category after winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He didn’t slow down in 2017, winning an incredible five world championship titles – two on the road and three on the track. Chernove is currently ranked Number 1 in the world for both road and track for his C2 category. Chernove received 55% of first placed ballots cast, followed by Shelley Gautier (Toronto, Ontario), a two-time world champion on the road in the T1 category, and Ross Wilson (Edmonton, Alberta), a three-time track world champion in the C1 category, both with 18%.

Canadian cyclists had a strong year in 2017, and voters had ten performances to chose from in the Best Individual Performance category, in disciplines ranging from Road to Para, Cyclo-cross, Downhill and Cross-country Mountain Bike. In the end, Matteo Dal-Cin of Ottawa, who races for Rally Cycling, was the top vote-getter for his national title win in the men’s road race, in his home town, coming a year after he crashed in the final corner while in the lead. Dal-Cin won with 17% of first place votes, just ahead of Team Time Trial world champion Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, Manitoba) at 14% and Tour of Utah winner Rob Britton (Regina, Saskatchewan) at 13%.

“It’s an honour to have my ride recognized as one of the best performances, with so many other people doing amazing rides this season,” said Dal-Cin. “Thanks so much to everyone who voted for me in recognizing my ride! I’m sure my Mom was on there voting non-stop.”

December 30, 2017/by Communications

TEN CANADIAN RIDERS TO TAKE PART IN THE EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS CROSS PROJECT

Ottawa, December 23, 2017 – Cycling Canada and the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Working Group are pleased to announce the ten athletes that will take part in the European Christmas ‘Cross project to prepare for the World Championships at the end of January.

The project will include five races in Belgium, beginning on December 26th with the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Heusden-Zolder, and conclude on January 1st at the GP Sven Nys.

“This is Cycling Canada’s third annual Christmas Cross Camp and it is our largest yet,” said Scott Kelly, Program Manager for the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Working Group. “We’re excited that we are able to continue introducing developing athletes to international competition, while providing support to our Elite athletes.”

Four Junior Men, three Under-23 Men, two Under-23 Women and one Elite Woman will participate in the Christmas Cross Camp, including Christel Ferrier Bruneau, the Elite Women’s national champion, and Tyler Clark, the Junior Men’s national champion.

“Increased exposure to quality racing is an essential step in ensuring Canadians are able to compete with the best in the world and there is no better opportunity to do this than during the Christmas Cross period in Belgium.”

Selection:
Colton Woods [Junior Men]
Dylan Kerr [Junior Men]
Conor Martin [Junior Men]
Tyler Clark [Junior Men]
Brody Sanderson [U23 Men]
Nicholas Diniz [U23 Men]
Trevor Donnell [U23 Men]
Siobhan Kelly [U23 Women]
Magdeleine Vallieres Mille [U23 Women]
Christel Ferrier-Bruneau [Elite Women]

Races
December 26 – UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Heusden-Zolder
December 28th – DVV verzekeringen trofee- Azencross
December 29th – Cyclo-cross Bredene
December 30th – Telenet Superprestige Diegem
January 1st – DVV verzekeringen trofee- GP Sven Nys

Donations
Cycling Canada does not receive government funding for Cyclo-Cross programs, which means all projects are funded through sponsorships, private donations or by the athletes themselves. Any amount donated has a direct impact on the development of this sport in Canada. To donate, please visit https://hoponcanada.ca/product/cyclo-cross-donation/. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities please contact Scott Kelly at scott@dundasspeedshop.com.

About the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Working Group
The Canadian-Cyclo-cross Working Group is made up of various stakeholders from the Canadian Cyclo-cross community. The objective of this initiative is to improve communications and planning around the Canadian Cyclo-cross program. The working group has been tasked with developing a sustainable cyclo-cross program, exploring funding opportunities and identifying and engaging leaders in the Canadian Cyclo-cross community to help drive these initiatives.

December 23, 2017/by Communications

PAN-AMERICAN CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING TO ONTARIO IN 2018-2019

Midland, Ontario, December 20, 2017 – Cycling Canada, in collaboration with CykelHaus Race Promotions and the Pan-American Cycling Confederation, is happy to announce that the Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships will be held in Canada in 2018.

The Pan-American Championships were awarded to Midland, Ontario, for the 2018 and 2019 race seasons. The Championships have previously been held in Kentucky and Ohio, but this marks the first time ever that Canada will host the championships. “Our team is incredibly excited to invite the Americas to Midland. It is a fantastic opportunity, and the benefits will go well beyond cycling for our rural community. We have partnered with the local Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation to raise funds through the event,” said Silver Goose Event Director, John Hauser.

Pan-American champions will be selected in 5 categories of racing: Junior Men, U-23 Women and Men and Elite Women and Men. The Championships provide an opportunity for racers to gain valuable UCI points for international seeding, in addition to winning the coveted Pan-Am Champion’s jersey. A Masters Pan-American Championships will also be held for the first time for 10 year age groups, aged 35 and above.

The Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships are open to racers from the 44 nations included in the Pan-American Cycling Confederation (COPACI), spanning the continents from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. Chairman of the Pan-American Cyclo-cross Commission, Brook Watts said, “The announcement is further proof of the continued globalization of our sport as the Championship begins to draw interest and host bids from other nations.”

“Cyclo-cross continues to be one of our country’s most sought-after racing disciplines,” said Josh Peacock, Competition Coordinator for Cycling Canada. “Welcoming the Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships to Canada will be a testament to the strong level of organization and competition that our country has become known for in recent years.”

A full weekend of racing is scheduled including a UCI C2 race and the Masters Pan-American Championships on Saturday. On Sunday the racing continues with the Elite Pan-American categories as well as racing for all other categories.

The complete international Cyclo-cross calendar, including the Pan-American Championships, will be formally announced in early February after ratification by the UCI Management Commission. Complete event details, including racer info, registration info, hotel info and sponsorship opportunities will be available soon on the event website: www.silvergoosecx.ca.

December 20, 2017/by Communications

BARRETTE & CAVES TOP-10 AT SANTIAGO WORLD CUP

Santiago, Chile, December 12, 2017 – Canada sent a small squad of three riders to compete at the fourth round of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Santiago, Chile, on December 9-10.

In the men’s sprint events, Hugo Barrette finished sixth overall in the Sprint, after getting knocked out of the competition in the quarter-final round. In the Keirin, Barrette was tenth.

Aidan Caves finished ninth in the men’s four-event Omnium, one place higher than a week earlier at Round 3 in Milton, Ontario. Caves was fifth in the Scratch Race, tenth in the Tempo Race, tenth in the Elimination and eighth in the final Points Race, to finish with 87 points.

In the women’s Sprint, Amelia Walsh qualified 15th and won her 1/16th race to move on to the 1/8th finals, where she was defeated and did not advance.

Kris Westwood, High Performance Director at Cycling Canada, explained, “We went into the Santiago round of the World Cup aiming to pick up some points in individual events for world championships qualification. Hugo Barrette got the job done with a solid sixth-place finish in the sprint tournament, and tenth in the Keirin.

“Aidan Caves also picked up some good points with ninth in the men’s Omnium – it will be tight, but hopefully that will be enough to get him into the Worlds. Considering it’s only his fourth race back from a serious concussion the result is encouraging. Amelia Walsh is still building on her international race experience. Just 18 months ago she was a BMX racer, so it’s great to see her in the mix at this level.”

December 12, 2017/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES BMX PROGRAM ATHLETES FOR 2018

Ottawa, ON, December 12, 2017 – Cycling Canada has selected the BMX athletes that will form the National and NextGen training group programs for 2018.

Athletes within these programs will benefit from an optimized Daily Training Environment that includes personalized and periodized coaching and integrated support services, with a focus on performances at international events. The NextGen Program will continue as West and East programs based at the SX tracks in Abbotsford, BC, and Toronto, ON.

“2017 was a year of refining and delivering the new structure we developed in early 2017,” said Adam Muys, National BMX Program Coach. “At the High Performance level it was our most successful year with Tory Nyhaug and James Palmer both making World Cup main events and both finishing the year ranked in the top 25 in the world. On the Women’s side we have two women in the top 30 in Drew Mechielsen and Daina Tuchscherer, but we also had Junior Athlete, Avriana Hebert, qualify for three Elite UCI Women’s mains, so we are very excited about the next year with this young and up-and-coming group.”

“Last year was a very exciting year with the World Championships in Rock Hill where our development riders showed they are world-class with two riders reaching the podium and three others reaching the semi-finals,” said National BMX NextGen East coach Brendan Arnold. “It’s a process to produce high level athletes and we understand that and we must be patient and calculated in our approach if we are to have these athletes someday compete at the Elite level for Canada. Among this year’s NextGen athletes, we have Worlds standouts Ben Leslie and Josh Samells both entering the Elite ranks. In the 16x category, we have two of the fastest in the world in Ryan Tougas and Curtis Krey, both riders coming off fantastic international results this year.”

“With Olympic qualifying starting in 2018 we are confident we have the right group of athletes in the program to contend for Olympic spots,” said Adam Muys. “We also believe we have some of the best development athletes on the planet and we will continue to encourage those athletes to train hard and develop through the correct development opportunities.”

The 2018 squad consists of:

National Program
Tory Nyhaug – Coquitlam, BC
James Palmer – North Vancouver, BC
Drew Mechielsen – Langley, BC
Alex Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
Daina Tuchscherer – Calgary, AB
Gaby Melanfant – Drummondville, QC
Avriana Hebert – Edmonton, AB

NextGen West Program (Abbotsford, BC)
Ben Leslie – Nanaimo, BC
Aidan Webber – Comox BC
Riley Lavarato – Lethbridge, AB
Alison Grecht – Parksville, BC
Ryan Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
Nick Berarducci – Airdrie, AB
Molly Simpson – Red Deer, AB
Alex Grecht – Parksville, BC

NextGen East Program (Toronto, ON)
Meg Belanger – Oka, QC
Josh Samells – Milton, ON
Felix Maltais – Drummondville, QC
James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON
Curtis Krey – Etobicoke, ON
Colson Bates – Pickering, ON
Britney Hovencamp – Amherstview, ON
Cole Zufelt – Trenton, ON