THE CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM GETS READY FOR THE CYCLOCROSS SEASON
Ottawa, ON (October 21, 2022) – As the leaves begin to fall and the temperature begins to drop, the National Team has turned its attention to the 2022-2023 Cyclo-cross season. The program will continue to provide Canadian Junior and U23 athletes with opportunities for development and experience on the international stage.
The National Team will kick off the season with two World Cups in Tabor, Czech Republic and Maasmechelen, Belgium before taking on the Koppenberg Cross on November 1st.
Following their great performances at the 2021 World Championships in Arkansas and coming off strong showings at the first World Cups of the season, Juniors Ava and Isabella Holmgren, as well as Ian Ackert will be representing Canada this coming week in Europe. They will be joined by Filipe Duarte, Jayden McMullen, Christiane Bilodeau and Alexander Woodford to round out the team.
“As always, the National Team’s focus is on development and providing young upcoming athletes with opportunities to race internationally,” said National Team Coach- Cyclo Cross Lead Rob Holmgren. “We’re excited to race hard, to learn and to continue to progress. The season will culminate in January in Hoogerheide, Netherlands for the World Championships where our juniors are all capable of improving upon from last year’s performances and all have a great shot at standing on the podium”
Elite athletes who will representing the Maple Leaf on the world stage include World Cup medallist Maghalie Rochette, Michael van den Ham and Sidney McGill, who is fresh off a top-15 at the second World Cup round in Fayetteville.
The team heads back to Belgium in late December to take part in the annual Christmas Cross period, which will see the team contest multiple international races as well as World Cups. Following this, the Canadians will converge on Hoogerheide, Netherlands for the 2023 Cyclo-Cross World Championships, which take place from February 3 to the 5th.
