CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES ROSTER FOR FIFTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CROSS
Ottawa, ON (December 17, 2019) – Nine riders are heading to Belgium this holiday season to compete as part of Cycling Canada’s annual Christmas Cross camp. Beginning on December 17 and running through to January 2, the National Team will be competing in a total of five cyclocross races in Belgium, punctuated by the UCI Cyclocross World Cup stops in Namur and Zolder.
“The goal of our program is to provide world-class support to our Elite cyclocross athletes, to introduce developing athletes to international competition, and to play a role in developing Canadian cycling staff and coaches who can support our athletes while competing abroad,” said Scott Kelly, Cyclocross Program Manager for Cycling Canada. “Projects like these provide the experiences necessary for these younger athletes to continue to climb the ranks.”
Team Canada will race at the Namur and Zolder world cups before heading to Azencross Loenhout on December 27 and Superprestige Cyclocross Diegem on December 29, with the race program wrapping up at the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee GP Sven Nys on New Year’s Day.
Leading the team will be Canadian Elite champion Michael van den Ham, as well as U23 Pan American champion Ruby West. While Maghalie Rochette will not be racing with the National Team, she will be supporting the project through her CXFever Fund which has grown significantly since its launch in 2017. “What Cycling Canada is doing with their Christmas Cross camp is really amazing,” said Rochette. “I really think what they are doing is one of the best ways to help develop young Canadian talent and I want to support it in whatever way I can.”
You can support the CXFever Fund by purchasing a CXFever Neck warmer for $25. To donate directly to Cycling Canada’s national team, visit shop.cyclingcanada.ca with 100% of the proceeds go towards supporting Cycling Canada’s National team programming during the Christmas season. As a non-funded program, the National Cyclocross Team relies on the generous support of their partners Paris to Ancaster and the CXFever fund, and donors and volunteers to develop the next generation of athletes.
National Team Roster
Michael van den Ham (Abbotsford, BC) – Elite Men
Cameron Jette (Toronto, ON) – Elite Men
Ruby West (Dundas, ON) – U23 Women
Kelly Lawson (Barrie, ON) – Junior Women
Claire Steciuk (Midhurst, ON) – Junior Women
Brody Sanderson (Severn, ON) – U23 Men
Malcolm Barton (Uxbridge, ON) – U23 Men
Matthew Leliveld (Mulmur, ON) – Junior Men
Cody Scott (North Vancouver, BC) – Junior Men
