ROAD TO RIO 2016 BEGINS IN TORONTO WITH CELEBRATION OF CYCLING SUCCESS
Cycling Canada embarks on new quadrennial plan with hopes of topping the Olympic podium in 2016
(Ottawa, ON – October 5, 2012) Cycling Canada, the governing body of cycling in Canada, is kicking off the new Olympic Cycle in style, hosting a celebration of cycling successes in Toronto on October 26th that will feature some of Canada’s top athletes, coaches and cycling alumni.
Dozens of Canada’s cycling stars and alumni are expected to meet in Toronto on October 26th for an exciting evening that aims at celebrating the successes of Canadian Cycling teams on the international scene over the last four years, and kick off the next Olympic-cycle in which Canada aims to increase its medal-performances from the 2012 Games in London.
“We are excited to kick off our road to Rio 2016 with what promises to be a magnificent event in Toronto, ON, this upcoming October 26. Cycling fans from across Canada, especially in the greater Toronto area, will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mingle with Canada’s top cyclists, Canadian team coaches and alumni – all under a single roof. These last Olympic Games in London inspired our great nation, and has confirmed that we are definitely on track to become one of the top cycling nations in the World by 2020 and beyond,” said Greg Mathieu, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of Cycling Canada.
Among the confirmed guests to date are World Champion Catharine Pendrel, three-time World Champion Tara Whitten, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Women’s Team Pursuit squad comprised of Whitten, Jasmin Glaesser, Gillian Carleton and Laura Brown, two-time Olympic medallist in cycling and legendary Olympian Clara Hughes, 2012 Paralympic Gold Medallist and two-time World Champion Robbi Weldon, 2012 Paralympic Bronze medallist Marie-Claude Molnar, four-time UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup and UCI Para-cycling Road World Champion Marie-Ève Croteau, track cycling Olympians Monique Sullivan and Joseph Veloce as well as Paralympians Shelley Gautier, Brayden McDougall, Jaye Milley, Robert Labbé, pilot Emilie Roy and Dominique Mainguy.
Prominent coaches are also expected to be present, such as Canada’s top cycling coach and High Performance Director Jacques Landry, former Track World Champion Tanya Dubnicoff, who led Canada’s Women Team Pursuit to a bronze medal at the recent Olympic Games, BMX guru and Canadian team Head Coach Adam Muys, as well as the Canadian Para-cycling Head Coach Eric Van Den Eynde.
More athletes and high-profile alumni are expected to add their names to that list in the next couple days adding to this event that will bring most of Canada’s top stars under one roof for an exciting evening of celebration.
Added Mathieu: “Without the support of our cycling community as a whole, including our athletes, world-class coaches, administrators, officials, financial partners and aspiring partners, as well as with the ongoing support from the Cycling Canada Club and the Vision 2020 group, our ambitious objective of becoming a world-leading cycling nation wouldn’t be possible. We are very grateful for their continuous support.”
The event will be held on October 26th at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto. Tickets are only $ 50 and can be purchased here: http://www.issmembership.com/oca/events/2012-10-26_Celebration_of_Excellence_October_26/register.asp?volunteer=0
For more information on the event, please visit cyclingcanada.ca.
