News – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CANADA ADDS TWO MEDALS TO ITS HAUL AT THE PARA-CYCLING AND ROAD CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS  

Ottawa, ON (October 1, 2024) – The Canadian contingent at the UCI 2024 Para-Cycling and Road World Championships, which won two medals in the time trial events, added two medals and an array of top-10 finishes to its tally at the competitions, which took place from September 21 to 29, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland.  

Paracyclist Nathan Clement, who hails from Vancouver, B.C., and became a two-time world champion on September 24, added another world title to his collection after finishing the road race in a sprint against Italy’s Giorgio Farroni. The two riders clocked a time of one hour, one minute and 20 seconds over the 38.1-kilometer course. Uzbekistan’s Aziz Atakhodjaev (+2:47) took bronze.    

“Completing the double rainbow jersey in Zurich feels surreal.” said Clement. “From winning a Paralympic medal at the start of the month and now ending it with a World Championship title in both the Time Trial and Road Race leaves me with immense gratitude towards my teammates, coaches, Cycling Canada staff, and Canadians across the country. This major accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of each and every person.” 

Like his Canadian compatriot, men’s C3 rider Alexandre Hayward won a second bronze medal in the road race, after finishing third in the time trial. The Quispamsis, New Brunswick native finished one minute 28 seconds behind the race leader, Finlay Graham of Great Britain (1:55:24h). Benjamin Watson (+13s), also from Great Britain, took silver. 

Mel Pemble, Kara Douville, Jessica Law and Joey Desjardins reached the top-10 in their races, all in the para categories.   

In her very first year with the U23s, Ava Holmgren, of Orillia, ON, who won bronze in the short circuit at the Mountain Bike World Championships, took fourth place in her category after finishing 22nd in the elite women’s category. Her Canadian teammate Magdeleine Vallières-Mill, from Sherbrooke, QC, was the best result in the elite women’s category, with a 14th place. The junior women also put in a solid performance, placing Alexandra Volstad and Addison Frank in the top 20, finishing 12th and 17th respectively.   

In the other categories, Pier-André Côté (elite men), Adam Smith (junior men) and Michael Leonard (U23 men) achieved the best Canadian results in their respective categories.   

 Full results from the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships are available here. Next up on the UCI World Championships calendar are the UCI Track World Championships, to be held in Ballerup, Denmark, on Oct. 16-20.  

CANADIAN RESULTS

Para
1 – Nathan Clement (MT1) – Vancouver, BC
3 – Alexandre Hayward (MC3) – Quispamsis, NB
5 – Mel Pemble (WC3) – Victoria, BC
6 – Kara Douville (WH4) – Calgary, AB
6 – Maarten Duif (MH1) – Carleton-Place, ON
7 – Jessica Law (WC5) – Vancouver, BC
8 – Joey Desjardins (MH3) – Hawkesbury, ON
DNF – Charles Moreau – Victoriaville, QC  

Elite & U23
4 – Ava Holmgren (WU23) – Orillia, ON
14 – Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (WE) – Sherbrooke, QC
41 – Olivia Baril (WE) – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
44 – Pier-André Côté (ME) – Saint-Henri-de-Lévis, QC
51 – Clara Emond (WE) – Québec, QC
54 – Mike Woods (ME) – Ottawa, ON
64 – Alison Jackson (WE) – Vermillion, AB
77 – Michael Leonard (MU23) – Oakville, ON
87 – Jonas Walton (MU23) – Surrey, BC
DNF – Mara Roldan (WU23) – Whitehorse, YK
DNF – Quentin Cowan – Montréal, QC
DNF – Guillaume Boivin – Montréal, QC
DNF – Derek Gee – Ottawa, ON
DNF – Jérémie La Grenade – Gatineau, QC  

Junior
12 – Alexandra Volstad (WJR) – Calgary, AB
17 – Addison Frank (WJr) – Ottawa, ON
30 – Adam Smith (MJr) – Winnipeg, MB
35 – Jayden McMullen (MJr) – St-Thomas, ON
67 – Mikaël Guilbault (MJr) – Montréal, QC
78 – Naomie Julien (WJr) – Laval, QC
81 – Sidney Swierenga (WJr) – Vancouver, BC
DNF – Tristan Drews (MJr) – Victoria, BC

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES TEAM FOR UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024 

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 18, 2024) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team that will represent Canada at the UCI Road Cycling and Para-Cycling World Championships to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, from Sept. 21 to 29.

Having demonstrated their prowess on the international stage at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, road cyclists including Nathan Clement, silver medallist in the T1-2 men’s time trial, and Alexandre Hayward, who posted a fourth-place finish in the C1-3 men’s road race, will be in action in Zurich, accompanied by Olivia Baril, Charles Moreau, Mel Pemble, Alison Jackson, Derek Gee and Michael Woods.

A host of Canadian champions will also be on hand. In addition to Woods, Baril, Clement and Hayward, national champions, including Mara Roldan, Paula Findlay, Jonas Walton, Pier-André Côté, Maarten Duif, Joey Desjardins, Alexandra Volstad, Jayden McMullen and Jessica Law will be competing on Swiss roads.

Competition begins on Sept. 21, with the team relay for handcyclists, and continues on Sept. 22 with the time trial for elite men and women. The full schedule of events can be found on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) website.

Team Canada

Para 
Nathan Clement (Men T1) – Vancouver, BC
Joey Desjardins (Men H3) – Hawkesbury, ON
Kara Douville (Women H4) – Calgary, AB
Maarten Duif (Men H1) – Carleton-Place, ON
Alexandre Hayward (Men C3) – Quispamsis, NB
Jessica Law (Women C5) – Vancouver, BC
Charles Moreau (Men H3) – Victoriaville, QC
Mel Pemble (Women C3) – Victoria, BC

U23/Elite 
Olivia Baril (Elite) – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Guillaume Boivin (Elite) – Montréal, QC
Quentin Cowan (U23) – Montreal, QC
Pier-André Côté (Elite) – Saint-Henri-de-Levis, QC
Clara Emond (Elite) – Québec, QC
Paula Findlay (Elite) – Edmonton, AB
Derek Gee (Elite) – Ottawa, ON
Ava Holmgren (Elite) – Orillia, ON
Alison Jackson (Elite) – Vermilion, AB
Jérémie La Grenade (U23) – Gatineau, QC
Michael Leonard (U23) – Oakville, ON
Mara Roldan (Elite) – Whitehorse, YK
Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (Elite) – Sherbrooke, QC
Jonas Walton (U23) – Surrey, BC
Michael Woods (Elite) – Ottawa, ON

Juniors 
Tristan Drews – Victoria, BC
Addison Frank – Ottawa, ON
Mikael Guilbault – Montréal, QC
Naomie Julien – Laval, QC
Jayden McMullen – St.Thomas, ON
Sidney Swierenga – Vancouver, BC
Adam Smith – Winnipeg, MB
Alexandra Volstad – Calgary, AB

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES TEAMS FOR THE GRAND PRIX CYCLISTES DE QUÉBEC AND MONTRÉAL AND THE TOUR DE GATINEAU  

Ottawa, ON (Sept.11, 2024) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the selection of its teams for the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal, taking place on Sept. 13 and 15, as well as for the Tour de Gatineau, taking place on Sept. 20 and 21.

As every year, the GPCQM organization will welcome the Canadian national team as a guest team. This is a golden opportunity for young athletes to develop their experience in an international peloton, all in front of a Canadian crowd. This year, veteran James Piccoli will sign the end of his career in front of family and friends, while Quentin Cowan will be able to put his experience from the 2022 and 2023 editions to good use.

Focused on the development of young female athletes, the team selection for the Tour de Gatineau will feature Canadian athletes who are already proving themselves internationally, including Kiara Lylyk and Lily Plante who represented Canada at the 2024 UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Ontario.

The athletes selected for the projects are:

GPCQM  

James Piccoli
Quentin Cowan
Jérôme Gauthier
Jonas Walton
Léonard Peloquin
Félix Bouchard
Félix Hamel
Alt. Gregory Zapata
Alt. Sasha Renaud-Tremblay

Tour de Gatineau  

Kiara Lylyk
Katja Verkerk
Jenaya Françis
Florence Normand
Ngaire Barraclough
Lily Plante

Information on the GPCQM can be found here, while full details on the Tour de Gatineau can be found here.

A TOP 20 FINISH FOR ALISON JACKSON AT PARIS 2024

Paris, FRA (Aug. 4, 2024) – Canada’s four road cycling representatives performed well at the Paris 2024 road races, held on August 3 and 4 on the outskirts of Paris.

After a tight sprint over a 158-kilometre course, Alison Jackson, from Vermilion, Alberta, finished in 19th place, five minutes behind the leader, American Kristen Faulkner.

This is the best Canadian result in road cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while fellow Canadian Olivia Baril, from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, who finished 20th in the individual time trial on July 27, finished this time in 44th position.

QUOTE

A leading trio of Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Hungarian Blanka Vas won the final sprint, 58 seconds behind the leader, giving them silver, bronze and fourth place respectively.


Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

On a 273-kilometre course, Michael Woods and Derek Gee, both from Ottawa, Ontario, represented Canada in the men’s road race.

Cheered on by a crowd of over 500,000, the Canadian representatives performed well, positioning themselves strategically in the peloton. Woods broke away with a group of riders, from which Belgian Remco Evenepoel escaped, racing to victory in 6:19:34.

“It got really exciting,” said Woods. “I was in the move that solidified the podium, but I just didn’t have the legs to keep up. I’m disappointed, but my preparation wasn’t ideal for this race and the course didn’t suit me perfectly, as I’m mostly a climber.”


Photo Credit: Candice Ward/COC 

Woods and Gee finished the race in 41st and 44th place, after a day of nearly six hours in the saddle, both seven minutes 23 seconds behind the Belgian. France’s Valentin Madouas finished one minute 11 seconds behind first place, followed by fellow Frenchman Christophe Laporte, who took bronze one minute 16 seconds behind the race leader.

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 5, for the first day of track racing, where athletes will be in action in the team pursuit and team sprint.

GEE AND BARIL BREAK THE ICE AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL  

Paris, FRA (July 27, 2024) – Olivia Baril of Rouyn-Noranda, QC and Derek Gee of Ottawa, ON got the ball rolling for cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a strong showing in the individual time trial on July 27.   

Over a distance of 32.4 kilometers through the streets of Paris, starting at Les Invalides and finishing at Pont Alexandre III, passing through the Place de la Bastille, the riders had to endure a rainy day on slippery pavement, causing several falls throughout the peloton.

Fresh from a ninth-place overall finish in his first-ever Tour de France, 26-year-old Gee, competing in his second Olympic Games, clocked a time of 38:28.17m, good for 20th place.  

“The conditions were very tricky and I knew my form would be challenged a bit,” said Gee, less than a week after the Tour de France. “It was a tough race for sure. I think that kind of form after the Tour will work better for the road race, because it’s a longer effort and with Mike (Woods) coming up, we’ll have some good options; I think he’ll arrive in good shape. Now I’ll recover a bit to prepare for next weekend.”  

He finished 2 minutes 16 behind the new Olympic champion, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel (36:12.16m), who was joined on the podium by fellow Belgian Wout Van Aert (+25.63s) with bronze. Italy’s Filippo Ganna (+14.92s) rounded off the podium with silver.     

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

Silver medallist at the Canadian Championships in the discipline, 26-year-old Baril set off on the course of her very first Olympic Games to finish in 20th position, 3 minutes 25 seconds behind the overall winner, Australian Grace Brown (39:38.24m).   

“The course was very flat, so it doesn’t necessarily suit me best as the type of rider that I am,” said Baril. “It was quite rainy, but rainy for everybody, it made the streets of Paris very slippery. I’m happy because I stayed upright on my bike, which is important, contrarily to a lot of my competitors who crashed today, unfortunately. The preparation to get here was the best I could do, and I gave it my all today and I couldn’t have asked for better. I’m super motivated now for the road race.”

Britain’s Anna Henderson (+1:31.59) and American Chloe Dygert (+1:32.46) completed the podium.   

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 28 with the women’s mountain bike race, where Isabella Holmgren will be in action. 

CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT 2024 CANADIAN MASTERS ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Ottawa, ON (July 22, 2024) – The 2024 Canadian Road Cycling Championships concluded with the masters competition, held July 19-21 in Victoria, British Columbia.    

The competition began with the individual time trial on July 19. Mark Sherbonneau (Broad Street Breakaway) successfully defended the title for a second consecutive year in Masters B, while John Vanderveen (Riverway Dental Racing), Bruce Bird (Wheels of Bloor), Robert Anderson (Independent), Jennifer Ward (Victoria Wheelers p/b Novus), Debra Parker (Watt Riot Cycling), Heather Simonson (Tripleshot Cycling) and Barb Morris (Comox Valley Cycle Club) took top honours in categories A, C, D, E, F, G and H respectively.   

“Everything went well, I’m really happy,” said Bird, who adds to his title from the 2023 time trial and the 2023 Masters Gravel Championships. “I was lucky enough to go to Victoria for the very first time, so I’m happy. It was the weather that surprised me the most, I thought there would be more rain, but it was much easier to navigate the course with all that sunshine. It’s fantastic to be wearing the maple leaf again.” 

The following day, road racers battled a blazing sun on a course ranging from 60 to 100 kilometers, forcing several athletes to stop early.   

Participating in his very first Masters race, Lee Agur was able to shine in the Masters A. “I took advice from the veterans,” said Agur. “They kind of told me what to do and I listened to them. I attacked on the fifth lap, and we ended up with five riders. On the ninth lap, I went alone, because I didn’t want it to turn into a sprint.” 

Building on the momentum of their time trial victory, Ward (Masters E) and Morris (Masters H) regained possession of the unified jersey in the road race, while Nicolas Proulx (Les Rouleurs Polo Vélo) secured victory for the second year running.   

Nathalie Champagne (Agowatt), who won the time trial in 2023, took gold in the Masters G road race, while Scott Goguen (United Velo – Masters C), Garth Campbell (Broad Street Breakaway – Masters D) and Carolyn Russell (Independante – Masters F) added their names to the history books.   

The event concluded with an exciting criterium on Sunday, allowing Goguen, Champagne, Ward and Russell to add a unified jersey to their collection.  

Clayton Hiltz (Victoria Weelers p/b Novus), Jeffrey Werner (Red Kilo) and Horacio Chaves (Independent) raced to victory in the A, B and D masters.   

“Today went really well,” said Ward, a local rider. “I wasn’t sure how to feel since my legs were tired after Friday and Saturday’s races, but with the dynamic nature of the criterium and the fact that we’re downtown, I was lucky to have my cycling friends and family here to watch. Carolyn (Russell) and I were often up front, sharing pulls, giving each other a break and cheering each other on.”   

The complete list of results is available here. The next stop on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian MTB Downhill Championships, to be held August 10-11 in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. The full calendar of national events is available on the Cycling Canada website. 

A DOUBLE WEEKEND OF CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM COAST TO COAST

Ottawa, ON (July 17, 2024) – Preparations for the XCO and XCC Canadian Mountain Bike Championships and the Canadian Masters Road Championships are well underway, as the two events, held respectively in Eastern Canada (Kentville, NS) and Western Canada (Victoria, BC), will crown a host of new champions from July 18 to 21.

Held in Nova Scotia for the second year running, the XCO and XCC mountain bike competitions promise to amaze and delight.

“We’re thrilled to return to Kentville for the XCO and XCC Canadian Championships in what has become a staple of the Canadian mountain bike calendar,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada’s Director of Marketing and Events. “This event continues to showcase the exceptional work done in the Maritime Provinces over the past few years, as the region becomes the cornerstone for high-level cycling and competition.”

In the short track (XCC) competitions, to be held on Thursday, July 18, the elite women will see a new champion crowned, given the absence of defending champion Laurie Arseneault due to a knee injury. Carter Woods, who has just returned from a season-ending illness, will attempt to defend the titles he won in both events in 2023.

All eyes will be on UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championship medallists Ian Ackert (men’s U23), Marin Lowe (women’s U23) and Emilly Johnston (elite women’s), all competing in a new category and who will once again be aiming for a place on the podium, having taken the honours in 2023. Reigning U17 champions, now turned juniors, Rafaëlle Carrier and Nicholas Gauthier, who have already made their mark on the junior Canada Cup circuit, will have their sights set on the maple leaf jersey.

In Victoria, the Masters athletes will be pulling out all the stops to offer high-caliber competition in time trial, road race and criterium.

“This will be our third Canadian championship event, after hosting the Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships in 2018 and 2019 and the Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships in 2022 and 2023,” said Jon Watkins, event director at Panache Cycling. “We are very excited to welcome the Masters back to Victoria and offer participants an exceptional weekend of racing. We want to build on the lessons learned from organizing this event over five years ago and make things even better.”

Title winners in one or other of the events, Bruce Bird, Maxime Forget, Nathalie Champagne, Nicolas Proulx and Dawn Heinemeyer will be back behind the starting line to add titles to their collection.

The full technical guide and important event information for both Championships can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

RAIN AND DETERMINATION DEFINE THE 2024 CANADIAN ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS (ELITE, JUNIOR, U17 AND PARA)

Ottawa, ON (June 24, 2024) – Canadian talent in the U17, junior, elite and para categories converged on St-Georges, Quebec, from June 21 to 24, to vie for one of 30 coveted titles at the 2024 Canadian Road Cycling Championships. For the first time in history, Canadian titles were also on the line for U17 athletes.

In torrential rain, athletes competed in the road race, time trial and criterium on the hilly roads of Beauce.

A first Canadian title for Woods   

In the elite category, Pier-André Côté made his mark by winning the Canadian time trial title and taking second place in the road race, just behind his Israel-Premier Tech teammate Michael Woods. Although known internationally for his prowess at the Tour de France 2023, among others, this was the Ottawa-born rider’s first-ever Canadian title.

“It’s certainly a life goal, a career goal,” said Woods. “I was lucky enough to have Pier-André Côté in the breakaway with me. It was thanks to him that I was able to win today.  I knew I had to attack in the hard moments, and I chose the most difficult parts of the climbs to attack as much as I could, which resulted in a perfect situation for us.”

In the criterium, victory went to Matisse Julien (Vélo Studio Toguri) in the combined U23 and elite category.

On the women’s side, triathlete Paula Findlay did it again, winning her third consecutive Canadian time trial title, Olivia Baril (Movistar) was 24 seconds behind.

“The course was a little more hilly than last year in Edmonton,” said Findlay. “It works in my favor to have a hilly course that isn’t technical, so I climbed the hills well and was able to relax on the descents. It was interesting to ride in last position, because I could see ahead of me, and I was using the riders in front of me as extra motivation.”

Baril, meanwhile, stood out in the road race, taking top honours in a sprint against silver medallist Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (EF Education-Cannondale), whose powerful attacks were felt throughout the race and whose performance in the criterium was enough to earn her the win.

Roldan triumphs in the U23 category

Taking the top step of the podium in both the time trial and the road race, Mara Roldan (Cynisca Cycling) had a near-perfect weekend in the U23 women’s category, finishing third in the overall road classification combined with the elite women, just behind Baril and Vallières-Mill.

 “This weekend was special; I didn’t expect to take the top step twice,” said Roldan. “Some of these women I’ve watched on TV for the last five years of my life and to be able to run with them is an incredible opportunity.”

In the road race, it was Quentin Cowan (SCO-Dijon) who took the honors, while Jonas Walton (Ecoflo-Chronos) won the time trial title.

Volstad defends junior title

Alexandra Volstad (Team Alberta) once again proved her strength in road racing, winning a second consecutive junior title, her third in her career. On the final day of competition, she made her mark in the criterium, scoring a win in the combined U17 and junior category. She commented: “I was a bit nervous because I know there are strong girls on the hills and climbing is not my strong point, but I trained a lot to try and adapt to the course and it turned out well in the end.”

In both categories, several experienced track athletes, including Canadian track medalists Jayden McMullen, (road race), Sidney Swierenga (time trial), Alexandra Fangeat (road race) and Jake McLean (time trial) won in their respective categories.

Carl Truffer (time trial), Zachari Moreau (road race), Adam Smith (criterium) and Elly Moore (time trial) claimed their first-ever Canadian titles in their respective categories.

International Caliber in Para-cycling  

Para-cycling competitions showcased Canadian talent, many of whom excelled in both time trial and road racing, including Paralympians Joey Desjardins (men’s H1-3) and Shelley Gautier (women’s T1-2), as well as Jessica Law (women’s C4-5), Maarten Duif (men’s H1-2), Katty Abran (women’s H3-5) and Benoît Lalumière-Cloutier (men’s tandem).

“Winning national championships in the time trial and road race is a testament to my dedication and preparation this season,” said Desjardins. “I feel strong and ready to take on all the challenges that lie ahead.”

The full results list can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian BMX Racing Championships, to be held in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC, on July 6. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

ACTION IN BEAUCE FOR CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS (ELITE, JUNIOR, U17 AND PARA)

Ottawa, ON (June 19, 2024) – The Canadian Road Championships for Junior, Elite and Para athletes are heading to Saint-Georges, QC, from June 21-24, where over 350 athletes from all over the country will be looking to secure Canadian titles in the individual time trial, road race and criterium over four days of racing.

“Our main goal is to provide an optimal sporting platform for the athletes to express their full potential and crown the best in Canada, as well as to provide them with an adequate welcome and showcase the region to the rest of Canada,” said Françis Rancourt, General Manager of the Corporation du Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce. “Hosting such an event, a few days after the Tour de Beauce, is a challenge for everyone, but it is also very stimulating,” he added.

For the first time in the Canadian Road Championships history, titles will be awarded to athletes in the U17 category, both in the time trial and in the road race.

The Championships kick off on Friday, June 21, with the individual time trial for all categories over distances ranging from 11 to 34 kilometers.

The road races will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, where athletes in the para categories will race on a 6.1-kilometer circuit, while the U17, junior, U23 and elite categories will race on an out-and-back course to a 27.9-kilometer loop for a course varying between 42.7 and 199.2 kilometers.

On Monday, June 24, riders in the elite and U23 (combined) and junior and U17 (combined) categories will loop around the 1.3-kilometer circuit in a bid for the criterium titles.

The competition promises to be fierce, with some of the biggest names in Canadian cycling expected to take part, including Mike Woods (Israel Premier Tech), stage winner at the Tour de France 2023, and reigning road race champion Alison Jackson (EF-Education-Cannodale), stage winner at the Vuelta España Feminina 2024 and winner of Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023. Evolving internationally, Olivia Baril (Movistar), Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (EF-Education-Cannondale), Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Pier-André Côté (Israel Premier Tech) and Riley Pickrell (Israel Premier Tech) will be looking to make their mark while on Canadian soil for the occasion.

Medal winners at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, Alexandre Hayward (men C3), Charles Moreau (men H3), Mike Sametz (men H3) and Nathan Clement (men T1) will be coming home to show their strength, along with Paralympian and 2022 World bronze medallist Joey Desjadins (men H3).

Many of the reigning Canadian champions, winners of the 2023 edition, will be lining up, in search of a place on the top step of the podium.

The full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

RILEY PICKRELL EARNS TOP-10 ROAD RACE FINISH AT SANTIAGO 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

Santiago, CHE (Oct. 29, 2023) – Cycling at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games in Chile concluded with seven Canadians challenging the road race on Oct. 29, culminating in a top-10 finish for Riley Pickrell of Victoria, BC.

The races were held on a 17.5km circuit that started and finished at the centrally located Plaza de la Aviación. The course featured a selective climb in each lap of 183m uphill through Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, Latin America’s largest urban park, before heading back alongside the Mapocho River.

The men’s race consisted of nine laps for a total distance of 157.5km. Pickrell was able to maintain his pace for 3:41:08hr to secure an eighth-place finish.

Photo Credit: Dave Holland/CSI Calgary

“The crowds were insane, like nothing I’ve ever raced in before,” commented the 22-year-old sprinter, who also won Stage 2 of the Tour de l’Avenir earlier this year. “Up the climb especially, I wasn’t able to hear myself breathe and I was breathing really hard! It’s a crazy experience: there’s drums, there’s flares, there’s smoke, it’s so much fun to race here. The main thing was how early the race starts and to accept that there’s 100k to go and I’m already on my hands and knees, but so is everyone else so you have to keep riding, keep riding, keep riding and it will come through.”

The remaining three Canadians in the men’s race were members of the men’s track pursuit team that won gold two days prior. Chris Ernst, 24, of Kitchener, ON, also finished in the top 20, placing 17th (3:46:24hr). He was followed shortly by Campbell Parrish of Vancouver, BC, who managed an impressive 26th-place finish (3:48:30hr) at the young age of 18. Carson Mattern, 19, of Ancaster, ON, withdrew after successfully completing five laps.

Jhonatan Manuel Narváez Prado (ECU) was awarded gold with a time of 3:37:56hr. Silver and bronze were awarded to Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG) and Antonio Eric Fagundez Lima (ARG), respectively, who both clocked 3:37:57hr.

The women’s race was cut down to six laps from seven, covering 105km in total, due to morning rain. Adèle Normand, 21, of Alma, QC, led the Canadians from the beginning and eventually placed 13th with a time of 2:53:38hr.

“It was a bit tactical, other teams were really watching each other… Quickly, I was by myself for Team Canada, so I was trying to watch every move and burning myself little by little,” said Normand, who’s known as a strong climber. “[On the last lap] I saw a Quebec flag up there and was like, ‘OK, now I’m back in it.’ Every lap I would see a Canadian flags and just hear my name, it was really nice.”

Next on the leaderboard for the red and white was Ruby West, 24, of Dundas, ON, who stopped the clock at the three-hour mark for 21st. Her teammate from the women’s pursuit team that topped the podium earlier in the week, Devaney Collier, 25, of Edmonton, AB, completed four laps before withdrawing. Ngaire Barraclough, 21, of Edmonton, AB, did not start due to illness.

Lauren Stephens (USA) captured gold for the women with a time of 2:51:05hr. Miryam Martiza Nuñez Padilla (ECU) narrowly edged out Agua Marina Espinola Salinas (PAR) for silver: both recorded a time of 2:52:29hr.

“It was a great day for our team, including some excellent performances,” concluded National Team Coach Nigel Ellsay. “Our track endurance athletes rallied around our two road athletes, Adèle and Riley, to deliver them to solid results in both women’s and men’s competition. I think we’d all agree, however, our highlight was the amazing Chilean fans who lined every meter of the course.”

The road race concluded Team Canada’s cycling competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org.