Para-Cycling – Page 15 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

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.

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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

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June 8, 2016/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA MOURNS PASSING OF JOCELYN LOVELL

(Ottawa, ON – June 4, 2016) On Friday, one of the giants of cycling in Canada passed away – Jocelyn Lovell. Cycling Canada joins the rest of the cycling world in mourning the passing of this icon, at age 65.

John Tolkamp, President of Cycling Canada, said, “On behalf of Cycling Canada, we would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of one of Canada’s greatest cyclists, Jocelyn Lovell. Throughout his career, that was cut short, he was a fierce competitor who enjoyed international acclaim for both his style and accomplishments.‎ Canada has lost one of our most formidable and respected cyclists.”

Jocelyn Lovell won more than 35 national titles, on road and track, at every distance. He represented Canada at three Olympic Games (1968, 1972 and 1976), and won six Commonwealth Games medals, include four golds, as well as a world championship silver medal (1978) and gold medals at two Pan Am Games (1971, 1975). Lovell set records that stood for decades, and inspired generations of Canadian stars, including Steve Bauer, Curt Harnett and Gordon Singleton. Last Fall, Jocelyn became a member of the inaugural induction to the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame.

Tragically, Jocelyn Lovell’s career was cut short when he was hit by a dump truck on August 4, 1983, while training near his home. The accident resulted spinal cord injuries and Lovell became a quadriplegic. For the rest of his life, Jocelyn became a tireless advocate for spinal cord research.

Former team mates on the national team have spoken to his skill, determination and sense of humour.

Gordon Singleton, the 1982 Keirin world champion, won a gold medal with Lovell at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, in Edmonton. “Jocelyn’s storied career had many moments of bright shining stars. His determination to win came from deep within his personality. Sometimes this driving force got him into a little trouble, LOL. Putting that aside, Jocelyn was one of the pioneers in Canadian cycling that paved the way internationally for people like myself, Steve Bauer and Curt Harnett. Jos was absolutely one of the best bike handlers I have ever seen. Today, I’m sad to hear of his passing yet humbled to have the memory of winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Tandem sprint riding as his partner.”

Steve Bauer, Olympic silver medalist and holder of the Tour de France Yellow Jersey for 14 days, rode with Lovell at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and many other events, and considers him a mentor, “It’s impossible to capture in a few sentences the great experiences I enjoyed as a young cyclist by Jocelyn’s side. I learned from JL as he went about his unique ways. We had a great connection and I am fortunate to have been close to Jos in that time. It was fun to be around JL but we knew when racing our bikes it was time to be serious.”

“Never idle, JL had a brilliant innovative mind and was superb athlete who knew how to perform. His bike handling skill and timely speed were abilities I tried to mimic. My memories are full of great moments Jos, a team mate, a friend. RIP, the suffering has come to an end.”

June 4, 2016/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP LOCATIONS

Ottawa-Gatineau, Panorama, Canmore, Calgary, Sherbrooke and Milton to host Canadian Championship Events

(Ottawa, ON – June 2, 2016) Cycling Canada has announced the dates and host locations for its 2017 Canadian Championships series. Canada’s top cyclists across all cycling sports will be treated to top-notch venues and experienced organizers throughout the entire series.

Alongside the confirmation of the 2017 Canadian Championship host venues, Cycling Canada has announced a new multi-year partnership with Lexus Canada, which will see Lexus become the official presenting sponsor of all Canadian Road and Track Cycling Championships events. The partnership will present Lexus with unique and exclusive customer engagement opportunities at each of these major events.

The Global Relay Canadian Road Championships presented by Lexus will return to Ottawa (ON) and Gatineau (QC) from June 24-28, 2017. Organizers will build on their experience from 2016 as riders from across the country are welcomed to the National Capital Region during Canada’s 150^th anniversary celebrations. The 2017 Road Championships will showcase the para-cycling, junior and elite categories over five consecutive days of racing in both provinces.

Panorama Resort (BC) will provide the ultimate backdrop for downhillers looking to clinch the Canadian Championship title at the 2017 edition of the Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships. The 2017 event, scheduled for July 15-16, will bring riders to one of Canada’s most iconic mountain villages, offering accommodation, restaurants and entertainment just minutes from the chairlift. With Panorama serving as a recent staple in the Canada Cup DH Series, riders should expect the same level of fast, technical courses they have come to expect for the big event.

Canmore (AB) will make a triumphant return to Canada’s National Mountain Bike calendar as host town of the 2017 & 2018 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championships. The Championships will take place from July 22-23 at the iconic Canmore Nordic Centre in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Taking place just one week before the 2017 Canada Summer Games, this event will provide an excellent opportunity for some of the country’s best athletes to test their form before heading to Winnipeg.

BMXers will once again gather in Calgary (AB) for the 2017 edition of the Canadian BMX Championships. The event will take place from August 25-27 and will also serve as the Canada Cup BMX Series Finale. Building on the excitement of the 2016 Canadian Championships, this event promises to be one of Canada’s marquee BMX events for 2017, attracting the nation’s top athletes. The track in Calgary is located just minutes from the city’s vibrant downtown, abundant amenities, as well as the Calgary International Airport.

Sherbrooke (QC) will return as the host of the 2017 Canadian Cyclocross Championships. Hosted by the Club Cycliste de Sherbrooke, the 2017 event will take place in beautiful Jacques-Cartier Park in the heart of Sherbrooke. With many years of provincial race organizing experience under their belt, organizers promise to provide a circuit that will challenge the nation’s best in one of the province’s most vibrant cities.

Milton, Ontario’s Mattamy National Cycling Centre will once again play host to two exciting weekends of racing for the 2017 Canadian Track Cycling Championships presented by Lexus. Junior and U17 riders from across Canada will gather in Milton for an early-season Championship event scheduled for spring 2017 while Elite, Master, and Paracycling athletes will hit the boards in fall 2017. Having played host to a largely successful Pan American Games in 2015, the track cycling legacy venue will provide a world-class stage for athletes of all ages to showcase the best in Canadian track cycling.

The 2017 Canadian Championships for Road Masters and Marathon Mountain Bike will be announced at a later date.

SUMMARY OF 2017 CANADIAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES

2017 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus

Ottawa, ON/Gatineau, QC

June 24-28, 2017

Organizers: Doug Corner & John Large

2017 Canadian Mountain Bike DHI Championships

Invermere/Panorama, BC

July 15-16, 2017

Organizer: Stephen Exley & Panorama Mountain Resort

2017 Canadian Mountain Bike XCO Championships

Canmore, AB

July 22-23, 2017

Organizer: Rundle Mountain Cycling Club

2017 Canadian BMX Championships

Calgary, AB

August 25-27, 2017

Organizer: Calgary BMX Racing Association

2017 Canadian Track Cycling Championships p/b Lexus

Milton, ON

Juniors: Spring 2017 (date TBD)

Elite, Masters & Para: Fall 2017 (date TBD)

Organizer: Cycling Canada

2017 Canadian Cyclocross Championships

Sherbrooke, QC

Date TBC

Organizer: Club Cycliste de Sherbrooke

June 2, 2016/by Communications

CANADA CONCLUDES PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP WITH 9 MEDALS

(Ostend, BEL – May 23, 2016) Team Canada scored an impressive nine medals over the weekend at the second round of the Para-cycling World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, including five gold medals. Canada also finished fourth overall in the nation standings.

The objective for Canada at this international competition was to assess the competitiveness of the Canadian athletes in the international field as they begin final preparations for the Paralympic Games.

Tristen Chernove dominated the Men’s C2 category, winning the Time Trial by nearly 14 seconds, and the Road Race by almost three minutes.

“Getting to race our bikes in the epicenter of cycling is fantastic,” said Tristen Chernove. “It was a really great time trial for me. The [time trial] course was an interesting mix of technical and difference surfaces, with fairly narrow roads and tight corners, and some wind, made for a challenge. The result was exactly what I was looking for. There are still elements of my ride that I can improve upon. This has been a really great event, and I look forward to coming back in the future.”

World champion Shelley Gautier, who was the only competitor in the Women’s T1 for both the time trial and the road race, nonetheless recorded strong times as she prepares for the Paralympics.

Charles Moreau also won gold, in the Men’s H3 Time Trial, and finished fourth in the road race, as he sprinted for silver. “It’s a great win! It’s fun to have such a result early in the season, because last year I had several glitches,” said Moreau, who won the first World Cup of his career. “It confirms that I’m in the game and I continued to progress. The world champion, Italian Podesta, was not there, but the guys that will be in the Paralympics were present.”

In other medal performances, Nicole Clermont won bronze medals in both the Women’s C5 Road Race and Time Trial, Marie-Claude Molnar took bronze in the Women’s C4 Time Trial, and Michael Sametz won bronze in the Men’s C3 Time Trial.

The Canadian tandem teams came very close to medal performances also, with Robbi Weldon and Audrey Lemieux finishing fifth at the same time as the winners, in an eight-way sprint for the Women’s Road Race title, while the men’s tandem team of Daniel Chalifour and Jean-Michel Lachance were fourth after a sprint for the bronze medal.

“With a little over one hundred days to the opening of the Paralympic Games in Rio, it is great to see where our athletes’ fitness is,” stated Jacques Landry, High Performance Director at Cycling Canada. “This World Cup was well represented by all top nations and so it’s reassuring to see that our program is on the right track as far as preparation is concerned. Thanks to hard working, professional and experienced staff, there is no doubt that on-going athlete assessments and continued monitoring will lead to our athletes prepared for optimal performances come September.”

May 23, 2016/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES WORLD-CLASS TEAM FOR PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP

(Ottawa, ON – May 16, 2016) Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that 19 riders will be representing Canada at the second round of the Para-Cycling World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, on May 20-22. Ostend is the last major competition for the para-cycling squad before the Paralympic Games, and the final selection event for the team.

The team will be led by 2012 Paralympic champion Robbi Weldon of Ottawa, ON, plus Shelley Gautier of Toronto, ON, and Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, both multi-time world champions. The team includes riders from the tandem, tricycle, handcycle and bicycle divisions.

While most of the athletes will participate in both the time trial and road race events for their categories, the objective of the project is to achieve podium results in the time trials, as well as assess the competitiveness of the Canadian athletes in the international field as they begin final preparations for the Paralympic Games.

PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP #2, OSTEND, BELGIUM – MAY 20-22

Shelley Gautier (Toronto, ON) Time Trial/Road Race, WT1
Marie-Eve Croteau (Quebec, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, WT2
Marie-Claude Molnar (Montreal, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, WC4
Nicole Clermont (St Denis de Brompton, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, WC5
Robbi Weldon (Ottawa, ON) Time Trial/Road Race, WB
Audrey Lemieux (Montreal, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, WB
Shawna Ryan (Saskatoon, SK) Time Trial/Road Race, WB
Joanie Caron (Rimouski, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, WB
Mike Sametz (Calgary, AB) Time Trial/Road Race, MC3
Tristen Chernove (Cranbrook, BC) Time Trial/Road Race, MC2
Louis-Albert Jolin-Corriveau (St-Claire, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, MT2
Rico Morneau (St-Liguori, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, MH3
Daniel Chalifour (Mont-Laurier, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, MB
Jean-Michel Lachance (Quebec, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, MB
Alexandre Carrier (Bromont, QC) Road Race, MB
Aroussen Laflamme (St Augustin des Maures, QC) Road Race, MB
Charles Moreau (Victoriaville, QC) Time Trial/Road Race, MH3
Ross Wilson (Sherwood Park, AB) Time Trial, MC1
Alex Hyndman (Morpeth, ON) Time Trial/Road Race, MH3

May 19, 2016/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA AND LOUIS GARNEAU LAUNCH 2016 CYCLING TEAM COLLECTION

(Ottawa, ON – April 08, 2016) At the upcoming Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Canadian cycling team uniforms from Louis Garneau Sports will blend cutting-edge technology with a nod to tradition.

This year, Team Canada will continue to sport the traditional light blue jersey with white sleeves and red maple leaves that dates back to the 1960s. This is the same iconic design as the one worn by Hall of Famers Alison Sydor, Jocelyn Lovell, Curt Harnett, Steve Bauer and Gord Singleton. Louis Garneau wore the kit himself in the 1984 Olympic Games and has been the producer of the Canadian National Cycling team kits ever since. The national symbol, the maple leaf, is visible on the rider from every angle, creating a strong visual impact.

The simple design disguises the forward-thinking technology associated with Garneau apparel, encompassing fabric construction, performance features, and moisture management. The 2016 edition will be the fastest and most comfortable Team Canada kit ever made thanks to extensive development work between apparel manufacturer Louis Garneau Sports and the aerodynamic expertise of Alphamantis Technologies. Directly involved at each stage of this collaboration were athletes and staff from Cycling Canada’s high performance programs. Canadian National Team athletes also underwent numerous fit sessions with Garneau to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.

“I could not be more proud of the tremendous development work that has been done with Cycling Canada,” said Founder and President Louis Garneau. “For months we have collaborated relentlessly in order to create the best-performing apparel for our cyclists at the Rio Games. We’ve put all of our expertise at the service of the team, and the result speaks for itself: state-of-the-art apparel that will allow our athletes to compete at the highest level and concentrate on their performance, not on the reliability of their equipment.”

“Cycling Canada is committed to providing our athletes with the best possible tools required to perform at the highest international level,” said Cycling Canada High Performance Director Jacques Landry. “We are proud to work with partners like Garneau who share this commitment and we are grateful for all the research, development and passion that has gone into delivering a world-class product to our world-class athletes.”

For the first time, authorized exact replica versions of the Team Canada jersey will be available for sale at select retailers that carry the Garneau product line at the end of May. A portion of the proceeds of each sale goes back to support the Canadian Olympic Team as well as Cycling Canada’s National Team programs.

ABOUT LOUIS GARNEAU

Louis Garneau Sports, a global company with its head office located in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC, is an international leader in the design and manufacture of sports clothing and accessories. The company has over 400 employees and is ever growing. Thanks to the sponsoring of high-profile international athletes and teams, and to the sale of its products in over 40 countries, the company is in constant progress and relentlessly centers its efforts on development and innovation. More than ever, athletes all around the world stand out and perform in outstanding fashion thanks to the Louis Garneau brand. For more information please visit www.louisgarneau.com.

April 8, 2016/by Communications

CANADA FINISHES PARA TRACK WORLDS WITH 2 GOLD, 1 SILVER & 1 BRONZE

(Montichiari, ITA – March 20, 2016) Canada closed out the 2016 Para-cycling Track World Championships on Sunday, in Montichiari, Italy, with a seventh place in the Men’s C1-2-3 Scratch Race by Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC. While Chernove was seventh overall in the multi-category race, he was second among his fellow C2 competitors.

“That was so much fun!,” exclaimed Chernove. “Not my best result of the Worlds but definitely the best time of any of the races. An exciting race and active every minute. Tactically, I launched too early, but I learned a lot. I got schooled; I got beat by some of the most talented athletes in the world. I got a bit too excited when I was at the front and saw three laps to go. I didn’t have enough in my legs to lead the group and still have fresh enough legs to close in the final sprint. But I’m going to take that lesson and improve on it.”

Chernove, a NextGen Para athlete attending his first track world championships, had an exceptionally strong Worlds, winning gold medals and world champion rainbow jerseys in both the Individual Pursuit and 1000m Time Trial events. Canada also took a silver medal and a bronze medal at these championships, the final qualifying event for the track competition at the Rio Paralympics later this year.

Chernove, who works full time in the airline industry, discovered he suffered from CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth), a degenerative nervous system disorder, in 2009. “When I retired from racing in Paddlesports in 2009, I never imagined that I’d spend the following years training harder than ever, but now in cycling. The hereditary neuropathy that I have is degenerative, I’m adapting to my changing body all the time and enjoying hard training more than ever before. I absolutely love cycling, all aspects of the sport.”

“My wonderful and gorgeous wife (Carrie) supports me in all that I do, which puts a lot of added parenting stress on her as I spend so much of my time training. There’s no ‘life balance’ when you’re reaching for the pinnacle of what you can do in sport. I’m driven to make my fabulous daughters [Bronwyn 8 and Morgan 5] proud and to show them that it’s always worth chasing your dreams, pushing yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone. I’m also very happy that I have the opportunity to raise awareness of the disease that I have (the most common hereditary neuropathy in the world yet most people haven’t heard of it).”

“In savouring this moment I think of the people around me that have also had to make huge compromises and sacrifices to allow me to train and compete; my colleagues who’ve been forced to do more work, my wife and kids that give up holidays and forgive missed family time while putting up with my added stress and single-mindedness and of course the coaches and support staff that create the environment to make it all possible. Oh man, do I ever love this life I’m living.”

Arnaud Litou, the High Performance Manager for Para at Cycling Canada, stated, “Cycling Canada was expecting to repeat with the silver medal from last year’s Worlds, and our athletes ended up by achieving an outstanding Para-cycling Track World Championships with 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, plus Personal Bests in almost every event. Special thanks have to go to Mattamy Homes, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Own the Podium for their continuous support.”

March 20, 2016/by Communications

MOLNAR 5TH IN C4 INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT AT PARA TRACK WORLDS

(Montichiari, ITA – March 19, 2016) Marie-Claude Molnar of Montreal, QC, was the top Canadian rider on Saturday at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy.

Molnar finished fifth in the Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit, recording a time of 4:10.184 for the 3000 metre time trial. Molnar’s time was 2.714 seconds behind fourth, which would have put her in the medal round. Molnar also raced in the C4-5 Scratch Race, finishing 12th.

“The Pursuit is always an interesting race for me,” said Molnar. “It is the race that I train for. I was sick [before the Worlds], unfortunately; it’s something that happens. My coach was there to push me and it helped tremendously. I had a personal best at sea level, and I’m really glad about that. The objective for me in the Scratch Race was to gain some experience in the pack, because we were racing C4 and C5 combined. I think I did a good job in that race.”

The only other Canadians competing were the Men’s Tandem team of Daniel Chalifour (Mont-Laurier, QC) and Jean-Michel Lachance (Quebec, QC), who finished 15th in the Men’s 1000 metre Time Trial, with a time of one minute and 5.172 seconds. Chalifour and Lachance were 0.673 seconds out of the top-10.

The world championships conclude on Sunday with only one Canadian rider competing – Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, in the Men’s C1-2-3 Scratch Race Final. Chernove has already won two gold medals at these championships, in the C2 category.

March 19, 2016/by Communications

CANADA ADDS TWO MORE MEDALS ON SECOND DAY OF PARA TRACK WORLDS

(Montichiari, ITA – March 18, 2016) Canada followed up its double medal opening day at the Para-cycling Track World Championships, in Montichiari, Italy, with two more medals on Day 2, including a second world title for C2 rider Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C. The tandem team of Daniel Chalifour (Mont-Laurier, QC) and Jean-Michel Lachance (Quebec, QC) added a bronze medal to Canada’s total.

Chernove, a member of the Para NextGen program competing at his first world championships, won the Individual Pursuit title on Thursday. On Friday, his time of one minute and 13.279 seconds for the 1000 metre Time Trial was over two seconds faster then second place Xie Hao of China, the defending champion. Louis Rolfe of Great Britain took the bronze medal. Chernove also qualified for Saturday’s final in the Scratch Race, after avoiding a crash and finishing fourth in his qualifying race.

“The Kilo [doesn’t have] a lot of strategy,” explained Chernove, “you just go out and push yourself as hard as you can and hope for the best. The Scratch Race is all about being switched on and paying a lot of attention. You want to move through [to the Final] and be safe at the same time. It’s hard to be here and not be blown away by the level of athleticism. Every athlete works to overcome challenges, but here the challenges are so visible, and you see how adaptive people have to be. It’s awe-inspiring.”

In the Men’s Tandem Pursuit, the Canadian squad qualified fourth, setting up a race against third fastest qualifier Great Britain for the bronze medal. Chalifour and Lachance took the bronze medal race with a time of 4:17.409, 1.26 seconds faster then Great Britain. Australia took the gold medal over Spain. The Canadian time was nearly six seconds faster then their previous best time, and a new Canadian record.

“Today we did two times the best time that we have ever done, which was amazing,” said Chalifour. “I would like to thank Jean-Michel, who has just joined me in this adventure after my previous pilot Alex [Cloutier] could not participate. You need to have two athletes dedicated to this job 100%. I would like to dedicate this to my father, who has fought against cancer for the last two years – this is for you Dad.”

“It was a very nice ride,” said Lachance. “We qualified fourth and had a personal best by almost six seconds. It was a hard race because against the Italians [in qualifying] we caught them but could not pass them [properly] and lost almost two seconds which could have cost us a ride in the [gold medal] final. In the [bronze medal] final we replicated that effort and won the bronze medal, so we are pretty happy.”

Ross Wilson of Edmonton, AB, just missed taking his second medal of the championships when he finished fourth in the Men’s C1 1000 metre Time Trial with a time of 1:21.851. Jaye Milley of Calgary, AB, finished tenth in the same event. Michael Sametz of Calgary, AB, finished 14th in the Men’s C3 1000 metre Time Trial.

“The race went very well today,” said Milley. “It was absolutely phenomenal to race among the best para-cyclists in the world. World records were broken here today. My ride went well, but it wasn’t a personal best, unfortunately, but I had a personal best in the Pursuit yesterday, which was my main focus. I want to say a personal thank you to the Cycling Canada staff – you are the backbone of the team, and we would not be able to do what we do without you.”

National Para Coach, Eric van den Eynde, also commented on the success of the team in the first two days of competition: “Today, like yesterday, was another good day. The tandem was more of a surprise today; they are a new team, and the only expectation was to beat the Canadian record of 4:23. I thought that there were three teams that were untouchable, and that we were in the next group. But then we finished fourth [in qualifying] and were into the race [for bronze].”

“Tristen was a professional athlete before [he became a para athlete], so he knows how to train and that really pays off. What we see now is only the beginning of what he will be.”

Canada now has two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in two days of competition.

March 18, 2016/by Communications

CANADA OPENS PARA TRACK WORLDS WITH GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS

(Montichiari, ITA – March 17, 2016) Canada is off to a strong start at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy. On Thursday, the first day of competition, Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, won the Men’s C2 Individual Pursuit title, while Ross Wilson of Edmonton, AB, took the silver medal in the Men’s C1 Individual Pursuit competition.

These championships are the final qualification event for the track competition at the Paralympics that will take place later this year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Chernove, who is attending his first Track Worlds, was the dominant rider in his category, qualifying first with a time of 3:43.609, almost five seconds faster then the second place rider, Colin Lynch of Ireland. Despite a protest that tried to have him reclassified to C3 between the qualifier and the gold medal final – which was denied by officials – Chernove went on to beat Lynch by over nine seconds to win the world title.

“The race was great,” said Chernove. “Obviously, anytime you accomplish what you were going for it feels great. The whole day was fantastic. This was my first time competing at a world level event, and it’s been a big day of learning. I’m just thankful to all the people who got me here; especially my family and colleagues. Without all those people behind me, I couldn’t have been here.”

In the Men’s C1 competition, Ross Wilson came in as the defending silver medalist. Wilson faced the same athlete who beat him for the world title last year – Zhangyu Li of China. Li proved once again to be the strongest in qualifying, beating second placed Wilson by 2.618 seconds, and then again in the gold medal race, however, Wilson significantly closed the time gap from the previous year, showing strong improvement as he builds towards the Paralympics.

“I think the qualifier went very well,” commented Wilson. “I knew I was on really good form coming into this event; I’ve done a lot of work with my coach, Cam Jennings. Having the chance to work in the Milton velodrome has allowed us to move forward and really develop my track riding skills. I didn’t expect to be within striking distance of a world record. I think it shows that Cycling Canada has really elevated its game.”

In other Canadian action, Marie-Claude Molnar of Montreal, QC, was eighth in the Women’s C5 500m Time Trial, with a time of 43.218 seconds. Michael Sametz of Calgary, AB, was also eighth, in the Men’s C3 Individual Pursuit, with a time of 3:43.040. Jaye Milley of Calgary, AB, also competed in the Men’s C1 Individual Pursuit, finishing seventh, with a time of 4:11.767.

March 17, 2016/by Communications