July 20, 2023

On July 14, 2023, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced the adaptation of its rules on the participation of transgender athletes in international competitions (UCI Regulations 13.5.001). From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.

Effective July 17, 2023, the new Eligibility Regulations for Transgender Athletes will be recognized at all UCI-sanctioned events in Canada. These regulations will only apply to UCI-designated race categories at those events.

For Cycling Canada events and race categories not sanctioned by the UCI, including non-UCI categories at the Canadian Cycling Championships, athletes may participate in the gender category identified on their current applicable licence/membership for the full 2023 calendar year.

Moving forward, Cycling Canada will work closely with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization partners and other key stakeholders to develop a framework for transgender inclusion and participation at nationally sanctioned events in non-UCI categories for the 2024 season.

For questions related to the application of these regulations at events, contact:

Josh Peacock
Director of Marketing and Events
Cycling Canada
josh.peacock@cyclingcanada.ca

For other questions or feedback concerning transgender participation in cycling, contact:
Vanessa Desjardins
Director of Operations and Inclusion
Cycling Canada
vanessa.desjardins@cyclingcanada.ca

Ottawa, ON (July 13, 2023) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the opening of the annual nomination process for positions on its Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is elected by Cycling Canada’s members (Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations) and is comprised of seven Director-at-Large positions, a National Team athlete representative plus one optional Director that can be appointed at the discretion of the Board.

The role of Cycling Canada’s Board of Directors is to provide strategic direction, leadership and stability for the organization. The Board establishes the overall mission and purpose for the organization and is responsible for a number of key governance-related activities including approving the appointment of and providing direction to the CEO and senior management team, the development and adoption of organizational policies, financial oversight and approval of the annual budget.

Board members meet by video conference once per month, meet in person twice per year and are also expected to participate on Board committees on a regular basis. Cycling Canada is looking to build upon the expertise within its existing Board and is seeking to include a range of diverse voices and skills that will enable the growth and development of the organization and the sport in Canada.

For the upcoming September 2023 elections, the Nominations Committee is seeking nominees with diverse backgrounds, abilities and perspectives who possess the skill sets and competencies outlined below, as established as priorities for the organization:

• Governance and policy expertise
• Fundraising and strategic partnership development
• Risk management

Specifically, Cycling Canada is looking for female applicants as well as those from the Indigenous community, Black Canadias, LGBTQ2S+, persons with physical impairment and representatives from marginalized communities.

Ideally, candidates will also have prior corporate or non-profit board experience. However, experience in cycling is not necessarily required.

In 2023 there are four (4) Director-at-Large positions open for nomination, each for two-year terms. Board elections will occur at the Cycling Canada Annual Meeting to be held by video conference on Sept. 12, 2023. Nominations for these Board positions will close Aug. 4, 2023.

For additional details please refer to the Nomination Form available for download here and the Cycling Canada by-laws and governance policies, available here.

Ottawa, ON (June 15, 2023) – Cycling Canada is proud to announce that MAPEI Canada, a leading company in the building field of adhesives, sealants and chemical products, has signed on as an Official Partner. The three-year contract will continue through MAPEI Canada’s sponsorship of the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, QC.

“Together with MAPEI’s global sponsorship of the International Cycling Union (UCI), we are excited for this opportunity to showcase amateur cycling here at home,” said MAPEI Canada General Manager Marco Roma. Referring to the company’s motto, “never stop pedaling”, he continued, “As we say at MAPEI, cycling is in our DNA. And with Montreal set to host the upcoming 2026 UCI Road World Championships, hopefully our sponsorship today can help spur success for our national team when they compete at home and on the world stage.”

Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada Director of Marketing and Events, added, “We are thrilled to add MAPEI Canada to a growing network of Official Partners that provides a strong foundation for us to build the cycling community in Canada. MAPEI aligns with Cycling Canada in several of its core principles, including the development of local communities and innovation, and we feel that this will contribute to a meaningful partnership for many years to come.”

MAPEI has a historic association with cycling: the Italian-based corporation sponsored a road racing team that facilitated international success for several athletes from 1993 to 2002, including World Road Race Champions in 1995 (Abraham Olano), 1996 (Johan Museeuw), 1998 (Oscar Camenzind) and 2001 (Óscar Freire).

Cycling Canada’s partners provide essential support to the nationwide development of cycling from grassroots to the high performance level. To learn more about Cycling Canada partners and opportunities for collaboration, click here.

Ottawa, ON (March 30, 2023) – Cycling Canada has selected 27 cycling clubs to receive Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) funding, which will facilitate improved affordability, availability and accessibility towards the goal of cycling for all.

Cycling Canada will distribute a total of $398,479 to support the implementation and development of HopOn programming nationwide. Particular focus was given to applications aimed at removing barriers to increase cycling participation for underrepresented groups, particularly Black, Indigenous, newcomers to Canada and persons with a disability.

“Support for community sport reinforces the Government of Canada’s commitment to building stronger and healthier communities. Sport plays an important role in building self-esteem and leadership skills, which allow people to grow and thrive physically, emotionally and socially,” said the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. “It should be accessible to all. Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity.”

Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport, added, “Sport, physical activity and recreation are catalysts to a healthier lifestyle, happier people and better-connected communities. Opportunities to play, move and learn new activities should be available for absolutely everyone. We are committed to supporting initiatives that will help us realize our goal of a more inclusive sport system that benefits all Canadians. This Community Sport for All partnership with Cycling Canada will support that ambition.”

The CSAI funding recipients are:

More information on the recipients can be found on the HopOn website.

The clubs, which are each affiliated with their respective Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO), received a maximum amount of $20,000 to be used towards:

• Training National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified Instructors and Learning Facilitators
• Program subsidies (e.g., registration fees)
• Equipment needs (bikes, helmets, trailer, maintenance, insurance, etc.)

“This funding is a step towards removing barriers for underserved and underrepresented groups,” said Cycling Association of Yukon Director, Steven Biss. “By subsidizing programming, we allow equity-deserving groups an equal opportunity to access these programs. By training Instructors from the communities, we increase representation so participants see themselves reflected in their instructors. HopOn can become an annual community event where families and youth are encouraged to start the journey of lifelong active participation through cycling.”

The funding is made possible by the Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) component of the Sport Canada Sport Support Program, which seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented groups. More information on the HopOn program can be found here.

Ottawa, ON (Feb. 21, 2023) – Following the announcement of the award winners for events and commissaires, Cycling Canada is please to recognize the remaining award winners for 2022.

New for 2022 is the Community Coach of the Year Award. The inaugural recipients, Nicolas Masbourian and Camille Desjardins-Leduc, were nominated by their community with the support of their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO). Desjardins-Leduc has developed a day camp that allows young people learn about cycling activities and involves U17 and Junior cyclists as leaders. She has also developed a Canadian para-cycling program for children 17 and under to promote accessibility to people with disabilities.

Masbourian is a youth cycling club coach, HopOn Learning Facilitator, National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Instructor and developer of a bicycle safety education program delivered in Quebec.

Earning the title of 2022 Coach of the Year are Pierre Hutsebaut and Christine Gilliard. Gilliard coaches athletes to reach their full potential through the Sport-Études program, which she has managed since 2006. In 2022, several of her students participated in Canadian National Cycling Team projects, including Road World Championships.

In his decades-long involvement with cycling, Hutsebaut has earned a reputation coaching both elite and up-and-coming road cyclists to perform their best on the international stage. Among the Canadian cyclists he coached in 2022 were Hugo Houle, Simone Boilard, Nickolas Zukowsky and Paralympian Marie-Claude Molnar.

The Presidents’ Trophy recognizes the best performance in World Championship competition as voted on by members of the Canadian National Cycling Team. Dylan Bibic claimed the honour in recognition of becoming the first Canadian in history to win gold in the scratch race at the Track World Championships at just 19 years old.

Also decided by National Team athletes is the Russ Copeland Award for best junior rider, which Jackson Goldstone received for the second consecutive year. His win of the UCI men’s junior Downhill World Cup Overall was a result of an impressive string of first- and second-place finishes throughout the season.

Finally, Cycling Canada has awarded the Builder of the Year Award to Nicolas Legault, General Manager of the Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont (CNCB). Led by Legault, the CNCB initiated a transformative project that culminated in September, when the Vélodrome Sylvan Adams-Centre Multisports Desjardins was unveiled to the public. In December, the CNCB was officially named as a UCI World Cycling Centre Continental Satellite. In addition to being an invaluable facility for athlete development, the centre bolsters Canada’s prominence on the international cycling stage and play an instrumental role in Cycling Canada and the FQSC’s efforts to build and support the cycling community via grassroots programming and high profile events.

2022 Community Coach of the Year
Camille Desjardins-Leduc
Nicolas Masbourian

2022 Coach of the Year
Christine Gilliard
Pierre Hutsebaut

2022 Presidents Trophy
Dylan Bibic

Russ Copeland Award
Jackson Goldstone

2022 Builder of the Year
Nicolas Legault