Mountain Bike – Page 19 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

EMILY BATTY WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRONZE

(Ottawa, ON – July 1, 2016) Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ontario, took Canada’s first medal of the 2016 Mountain Bike World Championships on Saturday in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, finishing third in the Elite women’s cross-country race. Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC, finished fifth. In the Under-23 Men’s competition, also held on Saturday, Marc-Andre Fortier of Victoriaville, Quebec, was the top Canadian, in 36th place.

Batty and Pendrel were part of the lead group of eight riders in the women’s 23.3 kilometre race. The pair were sitting fifth and sixth, respectively, going into the final half-lap, when the riders sitting in second and third both flatted. Annika Langvad of Denmark took the title ahead of Lea Davison of the United States, with Batty having to outsprint Maja Wloszczowska of Poland for the bronze medal, taking the final podium spot by centimetres. Other Canadian results include Sandra Walter (Coquitlam, BC) in 29th, Cindy Montambault (Val-David, QC) in 36th, Rebecca Beaumont (Alma, QC) in 40th and Haley Smith (Uxbridge, ON) in 42nd.

“Coming into the last 300 or 400 metres I saw Maja in the pit with a rear flat,” explained Batty. “I knew I had to leave it all out there, because this is a bronze medal. Maja was able to bridge back up and I knew she was behind me, and getting a draft. But I was running a bigger gear selection than usual, so I was able to lead the sprint out and still win by a few inches. I’m ecstatic, I can’t even describe what this feels like.”

In the Under-23 Men’s race, Fortier moved up steadily all race, after starting from the back of the field with plate number 80. He had moved into the top-40 by mid race, and continued to improve his position until the finish line. Other Canadian results include Peter Disera (Barrie, ON) in 41st, Marc-Antoine Nadon (Timmins, ON) in 52nd and Alexandre Vialle (Prevost, QC) in 68th.

“I was a bit disappointed with my start,” admitted Fortier, “but I just kept going every lap and took positions all race long. It was motivating to keep passing people, and to finish 36th was really good for me. I’m really happy about the result.”

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SEAN FINCHAM FINISHES 8TH ON OPENING DAY OF MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Ottawa, ON – July 1, 2016) Sean Fincham of Squamish, BC, got Canada off to a strong start at the Mountain Bike World Championships on Friday, in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, with an eighth place result in the Junior men’s cross-country.

Two other Canadian men finished in the top-20, with Quinton Disera of Barrie, Ontario, finishing 12th and Gunnar Holmgren of Orillia, Ontario, 16th. Sidney McGill of Edmonton, Alberta, was the top Canadian in the Junior women’s race, finishing 21st at her first world championships. Ida Jansson of Sweden took the women’s title and Thomas Bonnet of France the men’s.

McGill rode consistently around 20th place in the 15 kilometre race, to finish 9:22 down on the winner. In other Canadian results, Sophieanne Samson (Quebec City, QC) was 24th, Erica Leonard (Barrie, ON) 28th and Emily Handford 39th (West Vancouver, BC).

“It was a tough race, but lots of fun,” said McGill. “I came into it sick, with allergies, but it was still amazing to race get the experience of racing with some of the best Juniors in the world.”

The Junior men’s 19 kilometre race saw five riders break away from the rest of the field on the first lap, including race winner Bonnet and Canada’s Disera. Disera faded slightly mid-race to drop back, while Fincham was moving up after a poor start that saw him get jammed into the fencing, to steadily work his way back into the top-10, finishing 2:28 down on the winner and less then a minute and a half out of the medals. In addition to Holmgren’s 16th, Victor Verreault of St-Felicien, Quebec, finished 33rd.

“I can’t believe, I’m so happy to get top ten,” said Fincham. “My goal was top-15 and I beat it; I can’t believe it. I had a bad start and got pushed into the fencing and fell back, but I just kept hammering and picking people off. The climbs are so steep, but there are so many fans cheering you on and pumping you up that you can get through it. This is a highlight, for sure.”

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CANADIAN CYCLING TEAM NOMINATED FOR RIO 2016

19 cyclists chosen to represent Canada

(Aylmer, QC – June 29, 2016) On Wednesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Cycling Canada named the 19 athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in all cycling disciplines at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

Among the elite group of cyclists nominated are Olympic medallists Tara Whitten and Jasmin Glaesser as well as retuning London 2012 team members Catharine Pendrel, Emily Batty, Laura Brown, Tory Nyhaug and Monique Sullivan. The team also includes Georgia Simmerling, who competed in alpine skiing at Vancouver 2010 and ski cross at Sochi 2014. She looks to become the first Canadian athlete to compete in a different sport at each of three Olympic Games.

The team is coached by Craig Griffin (track – endurance), Erin Hartwell (track – sprint), Adam Muys (BMX), Denise Kelly (road – women), Pierre-Henri Sauze (BMX) and Dan Proulx (mountain bike), all of whom are overseen by High Performance Director and Head Coach, Jacques Landry and High Performance Manager, Kris Westwood.

The athletes earned their spots as part of a two-year qualification process during which their accumulated ranking points qualified Canada for the Games in each discipline. After an extensive review of international performances, physiological data analysis and other determining factors, the High Performance Committee selected the nominated athletes to compete at the Games.

All of the Canadian cyclists will participate in various pre-Games preparation camps and competitions. These include the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne (QC), a Track Olympic training camp in Milton (ON), a BMX Canada Cup race in Toronto (ON), and various races for the road cyclists.

The Rio 2016 cycling competitions will take place at various venues. Road cycling will be held on August 6 and 7 at Fort Copacabana and August 10 in Pontal. Track cycling events will be held at the Rio Olympic Velodrome, August 11-15. The BMX competition will take place at the Olympic BMX Centre, August 17-19, followed by the mountain bike races August 20-21 at the Mountain Bike Centre.

At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of more than 315 athletes.

Cycling Canada is the governing body for competitive cycling in Canada. Founded in 1882, Cycling Canada aims to create and sustain an effective system that develops talented Canadian cyclists to achieve Olympic, Paralympic, and World Championship medal performances. With the vision of being a leading competitive cycling nation by 2020 celebrating enhanced international success, increased national participation and world class event hosting, Cycling Canada manages the High-Performance team, hosts national and international events and administers community programs to promote Cycling in Canada.

QUOTES

“I am very excited to participate in the biggest cycling event in the world. It is an honour for me to wear the Canadian colours for both the road race and the time trial. I accomplished my first goal of the 2016 season: to qualify for the Olympics. Now, the attention turns towards the final preparations to arrive in Rio at my peak.”

Hugo Houle, 2015 Pan American Games Time Trial Champion, Road Cycling

 

“I am really excited to represent Canada for a third time at the Olympic Games. I am always proud to wear the maple leaf and will do my best to put it on the podium where it belongs. We have an incredibly strong and cohesive team headed to Rio. I know we will all give our best and make Canada proud!”

Catharine Pendrel, Two-Time World Champion, Mountain Bike

 

“We have proven ourselves to be contenders for the top step of the podium at every competition we have attended since London 2012 and I fully expect us to be ready to challenge for the gold in Rio. Though most will only see the four riders on the start line, this team and our ultimate performance will be a testament to the relentless dedication on the part of our staff and partners that have worked tirelessly to provide us with all the tools and resources necessary to pursue our goals. I couldn’t be more proud to work with such a phenomenal team on and off the bike and it’s because of you that we will be able to take to the boards in Rio confident, knowing that our best is yet to come.”

Jasmin Glaesser, Olympic Bronze Medallist, Track Cycling

 

“Cycling is obviously a sport that is close to my heart. We are incredibly lucky to have medal potential across the board. This group has a wide range of experienced athletes – some that have stood on the podium at every level in international events. Congratulations to everyone involved that has made it possible for us to be here today. We are looking forward to cheering you on.”

Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission

 

“I’m very proud of what our athletes, coaches and staff have achieved in securing the highest number of Olympic quota spots for cycling in recent years. Thanks to our more centralized programs, where we’ve been able to optimize our daily training environments, I am confident that we have the systems and processes in place that will put our cyclists in the best possible position to generate top Olympic performances.”

Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach

 

“Cycling Canada has done a phenomenal job of preparing our athletes to compete for Team Canada and to push for the podium in all four cycling disciplines in Rio. On behalf of the Government of Canada, congratulations to our cyclistsnamed today to represent our country and good luck this summer at the Olympic Games.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

 

The cycling team which will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:

 

ATHLETES

First Last Hometown Discipline
Hugo Barrette Îles de la Madeleine, QC Track Cycling
Emily Batty Brooklin, ON Mountain Bike
Allison Beveridge Calgary, AB Track Cycling
Léandre Bouchard Alma, QC Mountain Bike
Laura Brown Vancouver, BC Track Cycling
Karol-Ann Canuel Gatineau, QC Road Cycling
Antoine Duchesne Chicoutimi, QC Road Cycling
Raphaël Gagné Québec City, QC Mountain Bike
Jasmin Glaesser Vancouver, BC Track Cycling
Hugo Houle Ste-Perpétue, QC Road Cycling
Leah Kirchmann Winnipeg, MB Road Cycling
Kirsti Lay Montreal, QC Track Cycling
Tory Nyhaug Coquitlam, BC BMX
Kate O’Brien Calgary, AB Track Cycling
Catharine Pendrel Kamloops, BC Mountain Bike
Georgia Simmerling West Vancouver, BC Track Cycling
Monique Sullivan Calgary, AB Track Cycling
Tara Whitten Calgary, AB Road Cycling
Mike Woods Ottawa, ON Road Cycling

 

COACHES

Position First Last Hometown
Track, Endurance Craig Griffin Milton, ON
Track, Sprint Erin Hartwell Hamilton, ON
Road, Women Denise Kelly Smithers, BC
Head Coach Jacques Landry Ottawa, ON
BMX Adam Muys Maple Ridge, BC
Mountain Bike Dan Proulx Victoria, BC
BMX Pierre-Henri Sauze Cavaillon, France
Team Leader Kris Westwood Ottawa, ON

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.

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CYCLING CANADA PARTNERS WITH SWAGMAN

(Ottawa, ON – June 24, 2016) Swagman has joined Cycling Canada’s pool of official suppliers with a long-term commitment to provide its line of bicycle racks for National Cycling Team programs as well as select Cycling Canada events across the country.

Based in Penticton, BC, Swagman is a leading brand of value-added bicycle racks and outdoor-oriented sporting products. Founded in the early 90s by Jim and Jan Morris, the company produces and distributes a comprehensive line of rack products including vertical, platform, two arm and single arm and hitch racks.

Now under the leadership of President and co-owner Perry Grago, Swagman’s success is greatly tied to the feedback of numerous high profile brand ambassadors, retailers, performance partners and key staff who regularly use, test, and participate in the development and design of Swagman products.

Swagman products will be highly visible on Cycling Canada’s lineup of Lexus SUVs and team cars across the country as well as on support vehicles at Canadian Cycling Championship events, including the 2016 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships presented by Lexus, to be hosted this weekend in Ottawa.

“The ability to transport expensive and fragile bicycles to and from competitions and training camps safely is crucial to an effective national team program,” said Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach for Cycling Canada. “I’m delighted with our new partnership with Swagman, which ensures we have top-quality racks so we can provide this service to our athletes. This gives us the peace of mind we need to focus on our goals without distractions.”

Being a Canadian-based company it makes sense for us to step up and support our National Team Programs. Swagman is proud to be able to support Cycling Canada’s teams, especially in this Olympic year and onwards. We look forward to years of product feedback to assist with our development process for future products,” said Perry Grago, President of Swagman Racks.

For more information on Swagman Racks please visit http://www.swagman.net/.

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CYCLING CANADA WELCOMES ZIZU OPTICS TO OFFICIAL SUPPLIER POOL

(Ottawa, ON – June 23, 2016) ZiZU Optics has joined Cycling Canada’s pool of official suppliers with a commitment to provide its line of performance eyewear for national high performance programs as well select Cycling Canada events across the country.

The partnership brings high-quality performance eyewear to Cycling Canada, backed by a grass roots, fast-growing Canadian brand.

Based in Ottawa, ON, ZiZU Optics is committed to providing high quality eyewear to elite athletes at affordable prices. The company is now an official supplier to five of Canada’s National Teams (cycling, triathlon, canoe/kayak, cross-country skiing and biathlon) as well as some of the biggest running events across the country.

“We’re delighted to partner with ZiZu Optics as a supplier to our high performance programs,” said Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach for Cycling Canada. “It may seem like a small thing, but having quality eyewear is extremely important in a sport like cycling, where we compete at high speeds in all sorts of weather conditions. It’s a big advantage for our athletes to know they have access to quality eye protection.”

ZiZU Optics will be on-site in the event expo at the upcoming 2016 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships presented by Lexus on June 25th and 26th. Available for purchase will be a special edition line of Cycling Canada branded eyewear.

For more information and to purchase ZiZU products please visit http://www.zizuoptics.com/. Use code CCC20 to receive 20% off any online purchase. Online promo ends July 3, 2016.

ABOUT ZIZU OPTICS

ZiZU Optics, an Ottawa based company, is committed to providing innovative high quality eyewear to all athletes at affordable prices. ZiZU Optics is an official supplier to five of our National Teams. For more information, please visit www.zizuoptics.com

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NATIONAL CYCLING TEAM TO FUEL UP WITH JELLY BELLY SPORT BEANS

(Ottawa, ON – June 17, 2016) Canada’s top cyclists are fuelling up for their drive to the podium this summer thanks to a sports nutritional chew from Jelly Belly, Sport Beans.

Uno Imports has joined Cycling Canada’s supplier pool with a commitment to provide its line of Jelly Belly Sport Beans to the National Cycling Team over the next year.

Distributed in Canada by leading cycling goods importer Uno Imports, Jelly Belly Sport Beans are formulated to help fuel the body during intense exercise. Clinically proven to maximize sport performance, each bean is loaded with carbs for fuel, electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance, and vitamins to optimize energy release and protect cells against oxidative damage. The sports nutritional chews are made with colors and flavors from natural sources, and packaged in convenient re-sealable bags, perfect for carrying in a jersey pocket.

“Cycling is a demanding endurance sport that challenges athletes to maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balance in order to achieve maximum performance,” said Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach for Cycling Canada. “Having access to the proper nutritional products for training and competition is critical for optimal performance across all of our cycling disciplines.”

Uno Imports will supply the National Cycling Team with a wide range of Sport Beans products and will provide product for sampling at select Cycling Canada events in 2017, including Canadian Championships events in road and track cycling.

“We’re very pleased to be supporting Cycling Canada” says Romeo Andretta of Uno Imports. “Our company has been supporting amateurs, pro cyclists and Teams in Canada for the past 20 years. This is the next step, supporting Team Canada at home and internationally”.

ABOUT UNO IMPORTS

Uno Imports, Inc. is a leading importer and distributor of Italian cycling goods for the Canadian marketplace. Based in Hamilton, ON, we have serviced the Canadian bicycle and Outdoor industry for over 20 years. We currently represent the following brands exclusively in Canada: Giordana, Giordana Custom, Pinarello, M.O.S.T accessories, Dario Pegoretti and Jelly Belly Sport Beans. For more information, please visit: www.unoimports.com.

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Lac Beauport, QC native Raphaël Gagné awarded 2016 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund Bursary

OTTAWA (June 14, 2016) – AthletesCAN and Investors Group are pleased to announce that mountain bike national team member Raphaël Gagné has been awarded a $5,000 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary.

In keeping with their commitment to amateur sport in Canada, Investors Group established a bursary fund for Canada’s top high performance athletes. A national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians, Investors Group annually awards twenty $5,000 bursaries to assist Canada’s elite amateur athletes with the costs of training and competition. Selection criteria includes: athletic achievement, financial need and community involvement.

Since its inception in 2000, the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund has provided more than $1.6 million to Canadian athletes. AthletesCAN administers the bursary on behalf of Investors Group.

“Investors Group considers it an honour to help support our nation’s elite athletes with these bursaries,” says Trevor Krahn, Manager, Community Affairs for Investors Group. “Athletes at this level are constantly juggling the demands of work and school with training and competition. For 16 years now, we have been pleased to provided Canada’s athletes with bursaries totalling $1.6 million to make those demands easier to manage so they can get more out of life.”

“AthletesCAN applauds Investors Group’s contributions as a leader in corporate support of Canada’s national team athletes”, says AthletesCAN Executive Director Ashley LaBrie.  “This bursary recognizes the dedication and leadership Raphaël exhibits both on the field of play and in the community.  We look forward to seeing the impact of this bursary throughout his quest for excellence as an athlete and a role model.”

Raphaël’s recent sport accomplishments include a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and a 12th place finish at the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Austrailia.

“It’s very encouraging to receive this bursary, and it’s a great help for the coming competitions and training camps during this Olympic season,” says Raphaël. “Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund will help me cover costs related to training and competitions,” he adds. “Thanks to bursaries like this one, I won the 2015 US Cups circuit with amateur-level support against the majority of athletes who were supported professionally.”

 

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BATTY & GUTHRIE WIN CANADA CUP XC #4 AT HARDWOOD

(Oro Station, ON – June 12, 2016) Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) and Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory Racing) dominated the Elite races on Sunday, at the fourth round of the 2016 Cross-country Canada Cup, at Hardwood Ski and Bike, in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

Although dark clouds and high winds threatened rain at points, the conditions stayed dry and fast for racing. The course made considerable use of the 2015 Pan American Games circuit, on which Batty won the gold medal for Canada. While a major climb was removed, there was more than enough climbing to make the racing challenging.

Batty, fresh off a win in Round 3 of the Canada Cup a week earlier, and a third place in the World Cup two weeks before, quickly took the lead, and won by nearly three minutes. Cindy Montambault (Quebec/Trek GPL) established herself in second on the first lap and maintained a 45 second gap over chasers for most of the race. Behind, Jena Greaser (Women’s Project Pedal) finished third, but only by 22 seconds over Maghalie Rochette (Luna), who had been charging up through the field.

“I would say it is 90% of the same track as the Pan Ams,” commented Batty. “It’s always fun to be back at Hardwood; I know this track really well. It’s a great training race between La Bresse [last World Cup] and the world championships in two weeks time. World championships and Rio start lines depend on the UCI ranking, and there are some points that I was trying to accumulate. Plus, I get to enjoy being home.”

Batty’s second win, plus a second place in the first round, puts her firmly in first in the overall standings, with 575 points. Greaser moves into second at 450 points, and Montambault is third with 415.

The men’s race saw Guthrie charge into the lead on the first lap. The B.C. rider opened up a sizable gap over Derek Zandstra (Scott-3Rox) by mid-race, but the gap began to shrink in the final two laps, with Zandstra closing to within 12 seconds on the final lap, only to fade to 21 seconds back at the finish line. Evan McNeely (Norco Factory), the Canada Cup leader, finished third, holding off a hard-charging Peter Disera (Norco Factory), the winner of Round 3, who had an impressive ride back through the field after flatting on the first lap.

“It’s nice to get a win at Hardwood, I like this course a lot,” said Guthrie. “I felt good this morning in warmup, and the team was talking about it … I was a bit sick during the week so eased off and came into this race fresh, and things worked out quite nicely. I’m going to go home and prep for the second half of the season, and take a lot of confidence from this race.”

McNeely continues to lead the standings after four rounds with 615 points, followed by team mate Andrew L’Esperance at 510. Zandstra is third at 505, with Guthrie at 475.

In the Junior Expert categories, both the women’s and men’s leaders solidified their leads with wins. Emily Handford (Rocky Mountain Factory) won the women’s race by a slim two seconds over Dana Gilligan (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau), with Sophieanne Samson (CVM Sigma Assurances) in third. Quinton Disera (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau) took his second consecutive victory – and third in four rounds – in the men, followed by Sean Fincham (Cycling BC) and Felix Longpré (Quebec / CC Monte-Sainte-Anne). Handford leads the women’s standings with 370 points to Samson’s 290, while Disera has 385 points to Fincham’s 270.

The Canada Cup cross-country series takes a one month hiatus, until Round 5 in Saint-Felicien, QC, on July 23rd. The Downhill series resumes on June 24th, for Round 2 at Blue Mountain, Ontario.

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CYCLING CANADA INVITES COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HALL OF FAME 2016 SELECTIONS

(Ottawa, ON – June 8, 2016) Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that the second induction class for the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame will take place October 1 & 2, 2016 in conjunction with the Milton International Track Challenge being held at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario. The Milton facility now hosts the Hall of Fame area on the ground floor level.

The Hall of Fame allows us to showcase our history and remember those athletes and builders that have brought the sport to its current position. The HOF provides a historical context as well as inspiring current and future athletes to greater accomplishments.

>>> VOTE NOW! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Cycling-Canada-Cyclisme2016

In this second year of the Hall of Fame the intent is to have up to eight (8) members selected including a minimum of one in the Builder category and one early era selection in the Athlete category. The plan is move to a nomination process in the third year.

A working group struck by the Cycling Canada Board of Directors has developed a curated list of retired athletes and builders, some of whom are still active, that comprise the List of 2016 Candidates. The working group has not included currently active athletes on the ballot.

The final selections for 2016 will be made by the Cycling Canada Board of Directors based on the ranking by the working group and the public input provided through an online vote. We encourage members of the cycling community to go to the ballot and vote for the candidates.

The candidates, presented in alphabetical order, are as follows:

EARLY ERA ATHLETES
1908 Men’s Team Pursuit 1908 Olympic Bronze medal – 4000m Team Pursuit: William Anderson, Walter Andrews, Frederick McCarthy, Willie Morton
Lew ELDER 1/4 mile and 25 mile World Records, 1928 Olympic Team

 
Pierre GACHON First North American to ride in the Tour de France (1937), Professional 6-day racer

 
Archie McEACHERN World Champion-1900; 5 mile paced world record-1902

 
Robert McLEOD Gold medal 10 mile mass start 1934 British Empire Games, Muliple international wins and placings

 
Willie  SPENCER 2/3rds mile world record-1923; American championship-1922/23/26; world record-standing start 440 yard; world indoor titles-1922/23/25

 
BUILDERS
Russell COUPLAND Former President Canadian Wheelman’s Assoc. (CCA) – Managed Cycling Olympic Team 1928 & 1932 – Officiated at 6 day races – Race organizer at Grassroots level in Toronto at  the CNE fair grounds
GESTEV 25 years of Mountain Bike World Cup & World Championship production, Hosted MTB Worlds in 1998 and 2010
Brian JOLLY 1968 Olympic cyclist for GB, multi-term CCA President (1993-2002), Board of Hamilton Road Worlds, Board of Hamilton Foundation, UCI Road & MTB Commission, Chairman of Tour of Alberta
Louise LALONDE Pioneering international female commissaire and trainer of generation of commissaires

 
ATHLETES
Lyne BESSETTE Para-cycling Medals / Commonwealth Games gold medal, winner Tour de l’Aude, Pan Am Games silver medal, multiple international wins and placings
Cindy DEVINE (Downhill World Champion-1990, finished top-5 in the first 5 World Championships)

 
Gord FRASER 1996 Olympic Team, Most successful professional sprinter in North America, 15KM ITT record holder for many years, 2 x Tour de France participant

 
Ron HAYMAN Member 1972/76 Olympics teams, Tour of Somerville winner, Coors Classic stage winner, top amateur in Belgium (1979), Tour of Ireland winner, multiple international wins and placings
Linda JACKSON Commonwealth Games silver medal, World Championships bronze, HP International stage race winner, multiple international stage race wins and placings
Marie-Helene PREMONT 2004 Olympic silver, 2 time Olympian, World Cup wins and champion, Commonwealth Games Gold, 6 time Canadian National MTB Champion
Alex STIEDA First North American to wear Tour de France Yellow Jersey, captured five classification jerseys in the TdeF and won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal
Karen STRONG World Championship silver and bronze medals and multiple international wins and placings
Brian WALTON Silver medal-1996 Olympics, Pan Am gold medal, World Cup victories and placings, multiple international victories and placings, won Milk Race
Kelly Ann WAY First Canadian to wear Women’s Tour de France yellow jersey, multiple wins and placings
Eric WOHLBERG Gold medal ITT & Bronze Medal RR at 1998 Commonwealth Games, Winner 2000 Tour of the Gila, Multiple Canadian ITT National Titles

VOTE NOW! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Cycling-Canada-Cyclisme2016

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EMILY BATTY AND PETER DISERA DOMINATE HORSESHOE CANADA CUP

(Ottawa, ON – June 6, 2016) Fresh off strong World Cup performances in Europe, Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) and Peter Disera (Norco Factory) dominated the Elite categories at Round 3 of the Cross-country Canada Cup in Horseshoe Valley, ON, on Sunday.

Batty, fresh off a third place result on the World Cup circuit, came through the end of the first lap with Haley Smith (Norco Factory), but dropped her rival on the second lap of the 27.55 kilometre race, to win by a margin of almost two minutes. Mikaela Kofman (Ridebiker Alliance p/b Sho-Air), the winner of Round 2, had a slow start but began gaining on Smith in the middle of the race, only to fade slightly in the final two laps to take third, 14 seconds behind Smith. Batty takes over the lead in the Canada Cup standings, after her win and second place in the opening round gives her 375 points. Kofman drops to second, 20 points back, with Smith a further 40 points in arrears.

“I’m very happy to have two Canada Cups in Ontario again this year,” said Batty. “I wasn’t expecting to be rewarded with the leader’s jersey after this race, and I’ll wear it proudly again at Hardwood [Round 4]. The Canadian series is our premier domestic mountain bike race series, from which much of our talent pool comes through the ranks and develops. It’s also a great opportunity to connect and engage with local fans and riders within the community.”

In the men’s 32.91 kilometre race, Disera rode the first lap with Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory) and Derek Zandstra (Scott-3Rox), but then pulled away on the second lap to win by 49 seconds. Guthrie and Zandstra battled together until the final lap, when Guthrie was finally able to drop his rival by 11 seconds to take second. Evan McNeely (Norco Factory) continues to hold the lead in the men’s series with 460 points, followed by Andrew L’Esperance (Norco Factory) at 400 points, and Zandstra at 330 points.

“Horseshoe is always a special race,” said Peter Disera. “Living a short 500 metres away from the start-line makes this a stress free race. The course is a true test to some of the area’s best riding. The race went the same as last year: on the second lap I found myself out front and never looked back! Super stoked with my first Elite win of the year and it couldn’t have been at a better venue. Thanks to all my supporters, all the little rippers that came out for the Trillium Trail Blazers and Norco Factory Team.”

In the Junior Expert categories, Emily Handford (Rocky Mountain Factory) opened a small gap in the women’s race on the first lap, holding on to win by 11 seconds over Sophieanne Samson (CVM Sigma Assurances). Handford leads the standings with 270 points, followed by Samson at 220. In the men, Quinton Disera (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau) immediately opened a gap on his rivals, to win by one minute and 48 seconds over Gunnar Holmgren (Team Progressive p/b 3Rox/Maverix). Disera regains the men’s jersey from Sean Fincham (Cycling BC), with 285 points to Fincham’s 185.

Quinton Disera commented: “Racing right outside the front door of my house is always something special. So many family and friends come out just to support us. The course was steep, punchy, and super fast playing right into my strengths. I am very honoured to have landed the top step at the Horseshoe Canada Cup 2 years in a row, along with my brother Peter. Thanks to all the people who came out and have helped me in the process.”

The Cross-country Canada Cup continues with Round 4 next weekend (June 10-11) at Hardwood Ski & Bike Centre, north of Barrie, Ontario.

ELITE MEN

  1. Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team) 1:32:04.21
  2. Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory Team) 1:32:53.54
  3. Derek Zandstra (SCOTT−3 Rox Racing) 1:33:04.36

ELITE WOMEN

  1. Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) 1:31:51.38
  2. Haley Smith (Norco Factory Team) 1:33:50.94
  3. Mikaela Kofman (Ridebiker Alliance p/b Sho−Air) 1:34:05.08

JUNIOR MEN

  1. Quinton Disera (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau) 1:04:08.53
  2. Gunnar Holmgren (Team Progressive p/b 3Rox/Maverix Racing 1:05:56.77
  3. Félix Longpré (Équipe du Québec : cc Mont Sainte−Anne) 1:06:51.93

JUNIOR WOMEN

  1. Emily Handford (Rocky Mountain Factory Team) 1:00:00.39
  2. Sophianne Samson (CVM Sigma Assurances) 1:00:11.77
  3. Juliette Tétreault (Skinouk VDM/Val-Des-Monts, QC) 1:01:12.46

Full results: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/13-2016.html

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