News – Page 12 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES UPDATES TO 2018 EVENTS CALENDAR

Ottawa, ON, January 31, 2018 – Due to a multitude of factors, Cycling Canada has made important changes to its events calendar for the 2018 season. The changes to the domestic race calendar are as follows:

Mountain Bike

Bear Mountain Canada Cup (Langford, BC)
- Sanction reduced from UCI C1 XCO to UCI C2 XCO for XCO Canada Cup
- UCI C3 XCO event scheduled for Sunday April 1^st has been reduced to a Provincially sanctioned XC Short Track
- The Saturday March 31^st event will continue with a UCI C2 sanction, including the first North American stop of the UCI Junior Series
Baie-Saint-Paul Canada Cup (Baie-St-Paul, QC)
- Moved from June 1-2, 2018 to May 20-21, 2018
- Sunday May 20^th will be a C1 sanctioned XCO Canada Cup, including C1 UCI XCO Junior Series. Sunday will be a C3 event in the Cross Country Short Track format
Vélomotion Canada Cup (Mont Tremblant, QC)
- Has been added to the calendar on May 26-27, 2018
- Saturday May 26^th will be a UCI C2 sanctioned XCO Canada Cup, including C2 UCI XCO Junior Series. Sunday will be a UCI C2 sanctioned DH Canada Cup

Cycling Canada is also excited to announce the addition of U17 Expert Men & U17 Expert Women as Official Canada Cup XC categories beginning in 2018. These categories will compete for their own Canada Cup overall ranking, including leader’s jerseys. The first event to include these new categories will be the Bear Mountain Canada Cup, scheduled for March 31^st in Victoria, BC.

BMX

Toronto BMX Canada Cup (Toronto, ON)
- Moved from July 7-8, 2018 to July 14-15, 2018
- Will remain UCI C1 sanction Canada Cup #2 on Saturday July 14, and National Calendar sanctioned Canada Cup #3 on Sunday July 15
BMX Canadian Championships & Canada Cup (Drummondville, QC)
- Moved from July 14-15, 2018 to July 7-8, 2018.
- Canadian BMX Championships will occur July 7^th, and National Calendar sanctioned Canada Cup #1 on Sunday July 8^th
Abbotsford BMX Canada Cup (Abbotsford, BC)
- Will now host a single UCI C1 event instead of a double C1 weekend. The event will follow the format of a UCI C1 Canada Cup #4 on Saturday August 18^th, and a National Calendar sanctioned Canada #5 Cup on Sunday August 19^th

Cyclo-cross

Toronto CX (Toronto, ON)
- At the request of the UCI, the Toronto CX event scheduled for Saturday September 1^st has been reduced to a UCI C2 sanction, as opposed to the originally posted C1 sanction. This is due to UCI regulations surrounding first year events. The event will remain a double-header weekend, with a second C2 occurring on Sunday September 2

Road

2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus – Elite/Junior/Para (Saguenay, QC)
- Relocation of the 2018 Canadian Elite/Junior/Para Road Championships from Kamloops, BC to Saguenay, Quebec from June 21-24

“As with any other race season, our 2018 events calendar has continued to develop since our original posting in the fall,” said Josh Peacock, Competition Coordinator at Cycling Canada. “The changes outlined above represent both challenges and opportunities we face while building a Canadian race calendar in an ever-changing cycling events landscape. We would like to thank our organizers and racing community for providing their continued feedback and support as we place our final touches on what will promise to be an exciting race season in 2018”.

January 31, 2018/by Communications

ELITE CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS RELOCATED TO SAGUENAY

Ottawa, ON, January 25, 2018 – Due to a lack of anticipated municipal funding and logistical constraints, NTSQ Sports Group and Cycling Canada have made the difficult decision to relocate the 2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus (Elite/Junior/Para) from Kamloops, BC to Saguenay, Quebec. This change in location will not impact competition dates, which are still planned for June 21-24 for Elite, Junior and Para athletes.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, which was cancelled earlier this year due to circumstances out of their control, has agreed to take on the task of organizing the event for the 2018 season. The team behind Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay has numerous years of experience organizing high-level road races and are thrilled to welcome Canada’s top athletes to their region. “We are happy to work with Cycling Canada on organizing the 2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus (Elite/Junior/Para) in Saguenay. Our organizing committee is hard at work making sure that Canada’s top cyclists have access to fun and exciting races and enjoy their stay among us in Saguenay,” said the co-president of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, Sébastien Gagnon.

Josh Peacock, Competitions Coordinator at Cycling Canada said, “The decision to relocate the 2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus (Elite/Junior/Para) was not taken lightly, although we are confident that this will provide the best possible outcome for all parties involved. The organizers at Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay bring a wealth of experience to the organization of this Championship event, and we are excited to continue with the process of delivering this prestigious event in a region that has many years of experience in hosting high-level road cycling events.”

After hosting separate Para Road Championships last year due to a conflict in schedule, para-cycling athletes from all over Canada will be re-integrated back into the Elite/Junior Championships weekend with Championship titles being awarded in both the Time Trial and Road Race disciplines. The Canadian Road Championships for Masters remains unaffected by this change and will still take place in Victoria, BC from June 1-3. Details regarding schedules and registration will be communicated at a later date.

January 26, 2018/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA NAMES 18 ATHLETES TO THE 2018 GOLD COAST TEAM

Ottawa, ON, January 24, 2018 – Commonwealth Games Canada and Cycling Canada announced today the nine women and nine men who will represent Canada in the cycling events at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on April 5-14, 2018.

Canadian cyclists have a long tradition of medal-winning performances at the Commonwealth Games, including three medals at the Glasgow Games in 2014. At the Gold Coast Games, athletes will compete in Track, Mountain Bike and Road cycling events.

“The Commonwealth Games is a really special event,” said Team Leader for cycling Kris Westwood. “On the one hand it’s a highly competitive event that gives our veteran athletes a shot at career highlight performances; on the other hand it’s an opportunity to give valuable major Games experience to our future Olympians — this will be the first Games experience for nearly half our delegation. In track cycling, with Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand competing, the field will be world-class, so it’s really exciting to return to the Commonwealth Games and see the progress we’ve made since Glasgow in 2014. Four years ago, the men’s Team Pursuit program was just getting off the ground; now, we’re heading to the Games with a seasoned, competitive squad. Meanwhile, the addition of the women’s Team Pursuit to the program gives us an event to shine in, and we can expect strong results in Mountain Bike as well.”

The cycling competitions will begin with the Track events, where a total of 20 gold medals will be awarded. The Team Pursuit and Team Sprint are new additions to the Games program for women and for the first time in Games history there will be the same number of cycling medal events for men as for women. Canada is particularly strong in the women’s Team Pursuit, winning bronze medals at the past two Olympic Games, as well as a gold medal in World Cup competition this season. The team will be anchored by Calgary’s Allison Beveridge, a member of the World Cup winning squad, as well as the reigning national road champion. The men’s program, while much newer, finished second to the world champion New Zealand squad in World Cup competition this season.

“I’m really looking forward to my first Commonwealth Games,” said Beveridge. “The Games are quite close to the world championships, which are always a major goal and will provide some challenges, but preparation for both are coming along well and the team is getting closer on and off the bike. It’s a good mix of events with the Team Pursuit now in the Games for women, so it’ll be a lot of fun to prepare for. Hopefully, the team will also be able to have some individual strengths shine through in the various events.”

“I’m thrilled with our Games team line up,” said Women’s Track Endurance Coach Craig Griffin. “It’s a great balance of youth in Ariane [Bonhomme] and Kinley [Gibson], and experience with Steph [Roorda], Allison [Beveridge] and Annie [Foreman-Mackey]. These Games provide an important opportunity to embrace and experience a major Games environment as we continue to build and strengthen our squad for Tokyo. I’m confident we can deliver medal winning performances on the track and also be in the mix for the road events.”

The Sprint events on the track will see Canada boast two World Cup medalists; Hugo Barrette of Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, and Stefan Ritter of Edmonton.

Canada has been a dominant force in Mountain Biking at the Commonwealth Games since it was introduced at Manchester in 2002; having won every gold medal in the women’s competition and a total of 8 of 18 medals awarded. Three Canadian riders will represent Canada at the Gold Coast, led by Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ontario, the silver medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games champion in 2015 and fourth at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Batty will be joined by rising star Haley Smith of Uxbridge, Ontario, for the women’s race, and Rio Olympian Leandre Bouchard of Alma, Quebec, for the men’s competition.

Emily Batty, currently at a pre-season training camp with the national team, said “With the 2018 race season looming on the horizon, I come into the season with new motivation, and the Commonwealth Games will be a great race to begin with. I’ve made some major changes this year, and it will be interesting to see how some of those changes translate to racing and, in particular, a significant Games event. To represent Canada on the international stage is an absolute honour as always, and one I will never take for granted.”

The Road events will close out the cycling competition, with the track endurance athletes filling the roster for the women’s and men’s road races and time trials.

“Whether it’s on the road, on the velodrome track, or down the mountain, the fast-paced sport of cycling is always captivating,” said Chef de Mission Claire Carver-Dias. “With three medals four years ago, and a returning medalist in Emily Batty on the team, our 18 Canadian athletes are bound to contend for top spots at the Commonwealth Games once again in Gold Coast.”

Women’s Track Endurance & Road
Allison Beveridge – Calgary, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, Quebec [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Annie Foreman-Mackey – Kingston, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Kinley Gibson – Edmonton, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Stephanie Roorda – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Alternate: Devaney Collier – Edmonton, Alberta

Men’s Track Endurance & Road
Aidan Caves – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Michael Foley – Milton, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Derek Gee – Ottawa, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Adam Jamieson – Barrie, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Jay Lamoureux – Victoria, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Alternate: Bayley Simpson – Lindsay, Ontario

Women’s Sprint
Tegan Cochrane – Kelowna, BC
Amelia Walsh – Ayr, Ontario
Alternate: Lauriane Genest – Levis, Quebec

Men’s Sprint
Hugo Barrette – Iles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Stefan Ritter – Edmonton, Alberta
Patrice St-Louis Pivin – Sherbrooke, Quebec
Alternate: Joel Archambault – St-Christine, Quebec

Women’s Mountain Bike
Emily Batty – Brooklin, Ontario
Haley Smith – Uxbridge, Ontario
Alternate: Sandra Walter – Coquitlam, BC

Men’s Mountain Bike
Leandre Bouchard – Alma, Quebec
Alternate: Peter Disera – Horseshoe Valley, Ontario

January 24, 2018/by Communications

BEVERIDGE, CHERNOVE, DAL-CIN & WOODS TOP 2017 CANADIAN CYCLIST AWARDS

Ottawa, December 30, 2017 – The 21st edition of the Canadian Cyclist of the Year awards saw three newcomers and one repeat winner for 2017, in these Peoples Choice awards. Three-time national champion Allison Beveridge of Calgary, Alberta, was chosen as the Female athlete of 2016, while Top-10 Vuelta a Espana winner Mike Woods of Gatineau, Quebec, is the Male cyclist and five time world champion Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, took the Para award. Matteo Dal-Cin of Ottawa, Ontario, won the Best Individual Performance award for his win at the National Road Championships.

The Canadian Cyclist Awards are the oldest and most recognized cycling awards in Canada, voted on by thousands of cycling enthusiasts from across Canada and around the world. Voting took place between December 9th and 23rd.

Beveridge, a member of the Olympic bronze medal Team Pursuit squad in Rio, came back from pre-season surgery for a blood clot to have the best season of her career in 2017. A member of the U.S.-based Rally Cycling team, Beveridge sprinted to the national road title in June. On the track, the 24 year old won the national Omnium and Team Pursuit titles, and won three medals in World Cup competition – gold and silver in the Team Pursuit, and silver in the Omnium. Beveridge took 49.5% of first place votes cast, with Team Time Trial world champion Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, Manitoba) receiving 28% and Downhill world champion Miranda Miller (Squamish, BC) receiving 23%.

“It’s an honour to be chosen by the cycling community to be Female Canadian Cyclist of the Year,” said Beveridge, “especially given the ever growing talent of female cyclists in Canada! 2017 was a comeback year for me following surgery, and it was a rough start, so this is confirmation that I’m making my way back to where I need to be. Thank you to everyone who voted, and to Rally Cycling and my Canadian track cycling family for getting me back on track! The support of the cycling community and the role that Canadian Cyclist plays in showcasing our sport is greatly appreciated! I know that Canadian cycling will continue to excel in 2018 and I look forward to (hopefully) being a part of that.”

Mike Woods had a breakout year in 2017. One of only a handful of Canadian men to race at the WorldTour – the highest level of professional road racing – Woods began his season at Cannondale Drapac with a ninth place in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and 11th at Fleche Wallonne; two of the Spring Classics. In May, he finished fifth in Stages 6 and 8 of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy), one of the Grand Tours of cycling. However, it was in September when he really shone, finishing seventh overall in the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain), the final Grand Tour of the season – the best-ever result for a Canadian at this race. He also finished third on Stage 9, and is the only Canadian to make the top-100 in the world rankings. Woods took 43% of first place votes cast, with national road champion Matteo Dal-Cin (Ottawa, Ontario) receiving 30% and Tour of Utah champion Rob Britton (Regina, Saskatchewan) receiving 17%.

“It is an honour to be selected as Male Canadian Cyclist of the Year,” said Woods, who is already preparing for the 2018 season. “I know that this title is voted on by fans spread throughout Canada, which makes this that much more special. 2017 was a great year for me, and I could not have had that success without the help and support of my wife, my family and friends, my coach Paulo Saldanha, my team (Cannondale-Drapac), and B2Ten. Much love to everyone and Happy New Year!”

Last year, Tristen Chernove became the first Canadian Cyclist of the Year in the new Para category after winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He didn’t slow down in 2017, winning an incredible five world championship titles – two on the road and three on the track. Chernove is currently ranked Number 1 in the world for both road and track for his C2 category. Chernove received 55% of first placed ballots cast, followed by Shelley Gautier (Toronto, Ontario), a two-time world champion on the road in the T1 category, and Ross Wilson (Edmonton, Alberta), a three-time track world champion in the C1 category, both with 18%.

Canadian cyclists had a strong year in 2017, and voters had ten performances to chose from in the Best Individual Performance category, in disciplines ranging from Road to Para, Cyclo-cross, Downhill and Cross-country Mountain Bike. In the end, Matteo Dal-Cin of Ottawa, who races for Rally Cycling, was the top vote-getter for his national title win in the men’s road race, in his home town, coming a year after he crashed in the final corner while in the lead. Dal-Cin won with 17% of first place votes, just ahead of Team Time Trial world champion Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, Manitoba) at 14% and Tour of Utah winner Rob Britton (Regina, Saskatchewan) at 13%.

“It’s an honour to have my ride recognized as one of the best performances, with so many other people doing amazing rides this season,” said Dal-Cin. “Thanks so much to everyone who voted for me in recognizing my ride! I’m sure my Mom was on there voting non-stop.”

December 30, 2017/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES MEN’S TRACK ENDURANCE ATHLETES FOR 2018

Milton, ON, December 6, 2017 – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team of athletes who have been selected to the Olympic Performance Pool and NextGen Men’s Track Endurance (MTE) programs for 2018.

Athletes within the program will benefit from a Daily Training Environment, including personalized and periodized coaching and integrated support services, with a focus on performances on the international competition schedule. The Program is designed to offer athletes an optimized preparation with the goal of increasing opportunities for selection onto national program projects and international performances within the national program.

The NextGen MTE program has just finished its third year, and is now an established system to feed athletes to the Olympic Performance Pool. In 2018, for the first time, the Men’s Track Endurance has evolved enough to see a distinction between NextGen and OPP riders. However, the two groups will be working together with the same vision; a world class team pursuit program.

Five riders will make up the 2018 Olympic Performance Pool – Aidan Caves of Vancouver, BC; Derek Gee of Osgood, ON; Adam Jamieson of Barrie, ON; Jay Lamoureux of Victoria, BC; and Bayley Simpson of Lindsay, ON. Caves, Gee and Simpson will be racing under the colours of Cycling Canada’s Trade Team level Team RaceClean for the next season, while Jamieson and Lamoureux will race for respective squads.

Unfortunately, the program will say good bye to Willem Boersma, who has joined his family’s agricultural business, as well as to Will Elliott and Edward Walsh, who will graduate to the Continental Team level on the Europe Tour circuit. “We wish them all the best,” said Luc Arseneau, NextGen MTE Coach at Cycling Canada. “These guys enabled us to develop this program to where it is today.”

The NextGen program will be bolstered by the arrival of six riders from the Junior ranks, for a total of nine athletes, all of whom will be racing under the colours of Team RaceClean for the next season.

“I feel very motivated about the progression of the program,” said Arseneau. “The development of the top guys, along with the transfer of no less than six Junior riders – four of whom were part of the Canadian team at the Junior track world championships – shows the commitment to the goal of becoming a world class program.”

The 2018 NextGen squad consists of:

Adam Attwell – Victoria, BC
Evan Burtnik – Edmonton, AB
Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski – Verdun, QC
Chris Ernst – Kitchener, ON
Michael Foley – Milton, ON
Tristan Guillemette – Trois-Rivières, QC
Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa – Boucherville, QC
Lucas Taylor – London, ON
John Willcox – North Vancouver, BC

The OPP part of the MTE program will be busy in 2018, with the main goals being Track World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and the start of the Olympic qualification process. The NextGen squad will have two road racing blocks in Europe in the Spring and Summer, enabling them to develop their capabilities for future track projects such as T-Town (USA), Fiorenzuola (Italy) and Copa Cuba.

December 6, 2017/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES 2018 NATIONAL CALENDAR

Ottawa, November 10, 2017 – Cycling Canada is pleased to release the national and international events competition schedule for 2018. Beginning in March and running through to December, the competitions calendar spans the country, with events ranging from the Atlantic provinces to the Pacific coast.

Josh Peacock, Competition Coordinator at Cycling Canada, said, “We are very excited to announce our complete 2018 National and International race calendar. Through the support of our provincial partners and event organizers – both new and returning – we are confident that this calendar will provide athletes in all disciplines every opportunity to perform at their best on Canadian soil. We would like to extend a very special thank you to all of our dedicated organizers and host communities who continue to support the sport of cycling across the Nation, and look forward to another great year of racing.”

The Mountain Bike Canada Cup series opens the calendar with what is becoming the traditional start to the XCO season at Bear Mountain in Victoria, BC, on March 31st. The Canada Cup Series concludes after six events at a new venue in Kentville, Nova Scotia, on August 5th. Under-17 Men and Women have been added as official Canada Cup Mountain Bike categories on the XCO side. Riders will be awarded the same points scale as the Juniors and will be required to race the same number of events as the Juniors to qualify for an overall Series ranking. There will be three XCO Junior Series events at Bear Mountain, Baie St. Paul, Quebec, and Trek Store in Oro Station, Ontario. The XCO National Championships will return to Canmore, Alberta, for a second year on July 21-22. And, of course, Mont-Ste-Anne will play host to the UCI World Cup for both XCO and Downhill, on August 11-12.

The Downhill Canada Cup Series has added two new events in British Columbia, at Fernie and SilverStar Resort. Fernie and Silverstar will create a July triple header western race schedule for Downhill, which will conclude with the Downhill National Championships at Panorama, BC, on July 28-29.

The national Road calendar begins at the end of May, with the Hayman Classic in Penticton, BC. Cycling Canada is working towards adding more road stage racing opportunity for Junior and Cadet riders, starting with the Hayman Classic. June is Road month, beginning with the Masters Nationals in Victoria, BC, followed by four UCI-sanctioned events in Quebec – GP Cycliste Gatineau and Chrono de Gatineau for women, and the GP Cycliste de Saguenay and Tour de Beauce for men. On June 21-24, the National Road Championships for Elite, Para and Junior riders will take place in Kamloops, BC.

Road racing continues through the summer, with the Tour de la Relève Rimouski in Quebec at the beginning of July, followed by the UCI-sanctioned Delta Road Race and Global Relay Gastown GP in BC’s Lower Mainland. Of special note is the 50th anniversary of the Tour de l’Abitibi, one of the premier stage races for Junior men in the world, which will take place on July 17-22. The Road calendar concludes in early September with three international events for pro men – the Tour of Alberta and the Quebec City and Montreal WorldTour races.

The BMX national calendar events will take place in July and August. Four Canada Cup events, all with a UCI C1 sanction, will be held in Toronto (July 7-8), Drummondville (July 14-15), Abbotsford (August 18-19), and St. Albert, Alberta (August 25-26). The National Championships will take place in Drummondville on the same weekend as the Canada Cup event. Finally, the FISE BMX Freestyle World Cup will return to Edmonton on August 26-27.

Canada’s national track program will be centered around the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, with four of five events on the calendar taking place there. In the coming months, Cycling Canada will continue to work with organizers in the east and west to finalize dates and locations for 2018 Eastern and Western Track Challenges, building on the success from 2017. These will lead into the National Championships at Milton on April 12-15 for U17, Junior and Para athletes. During that same weekend, Para athletes will participate in a C1 Challenge event open to international competitors. The Elite and Masters riders will have their Championships in Milton on September 28-30, and the UCI Track World Cup will return to Milton in December, although final dates are still to be confirmed.

Cyclo-cross (CX) continues to grow, with eight days of UCI-sanctioned races on the schedule for the Fall of 2018. UCI cyclo-cross racing will return to Toronto with two days of racing on September 1-2, with Sherbrooke following up two years of hosting the Championships with UCI events on October 20-21. Peterborough, Ontario, will host a C2 event in conjunction with the first year of a two year sanction for the Canadian Championships on November 10-11, and the Silver Goose in Midland, Ontario, finishes out the CX season on November 17-18.

Finally, the Para national schedule consists of four events, all on the UCI calendar. On April 14-15 the Para Track Nationals and UCI C1 Challenge event will take place in Milton, followed two weeks later by the Défi sportif AlterGo road event in Montreal. The Para Road Nationals will take place in Kamloops, BC, on June 21-24.

November 10, 2017/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA DISK BRAKE POLICY

Ottawa, November 7, 2017 – Effective immediately, the CC Board, in consultation with the IPC and all relevant committees & stakeholders, has approved the use of disc brakes for all road events across Canada with the exception of UCI sanctioned competitions. Further discussions will take place with the UCI with the hope to obtain an exemption to allow disc brakes for the 2018 Canadian Road Championships.

Members should recognize that the UCI is continuing the disc brake trial at the international level and may set specific standards for disc brakes in the future. Brakes not meeting these standards will then, at some point, become illegal.

Please be aware that it is also by no means guaranteed that disk brakes will be approved, and if the trial period ends without approval from the UCI, this equipment will then become illegal again and will require us to change this ruling.

Also, members should recognize that race organizers may not be able to provide the same level of neutral service for disc wheels early into this change. While this important change in the regulation is in effect immediately, the final decision to allow disc brakes for road events between now and the end of the calendar year is at the discretion of each PSO. If you have disk brakes and go to a jurisdiction that does not allow them or to a race falling under the trial requirement, you will most probably not be permitted to race. We ask that you please check with the race organizers prior to the event.

November 7, 2017/by Communications

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR WOMEN’S NEXTGEN PROGRAM

The Cycling Canada NextGen Women’s Track Endurance Program is now accepting athlete applications for the 2018 season. This program is focused on providing targeted athletes with an elevated level of support to deliver international podium performances and help them transition seamlessly into the elite ranks.

Selected athletes will receive a world-class Daily Training Environment with personalized and periodized coaching from the National coach, and integrated support services such as nutrition, mental performance, physiology and strength & conditioning. New to the program are a an increased focus on road training and competition, and the hiring of our new NexGen coach Jenny Trew, after the departure of former NextGen coach Cameron Jennings in May.

“Taking over from Cam Jennings and working with the group, staff and [women’s elite coach] Craig Griffin has been inspiring,” says NextGen Coach Jenny Trew. “It’s an exciting time for Canadian cycling with increasing alignment and athlete flow between the NextGen group and the Elite program.”

“The women’s endurance program has taken remarkable steps over the years with Cam,” said Cycling Canada’s Pathway Development Manager Jesse Korf. “With Jenny taking over and developing the program further, we have an opportunity to keep integrating the Next Gen and elite program. In addition, an increased focus on developing our junior pool really makes for an exciting dynamic and we feel that we are adding even more momentum to an already outstanding program”.

Applications can be completed online HERE.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 17:00 PDT, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2017.

Any questions can be directed to NextGen Coach Jenny Trew at Jenny.Trew@cyclingcanada.ca

October 11, 2017/by Krisw

CLASS OF 2017 INDUCTED INTO CYCLING HALL OF FAME

Milton, October 3, 2017 – The third annual induction to the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame took place on Sunday at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ontario, with over 150 people attending the luncheon that saw Gary Longhi, Albert Schelstraete-Coulier, Karen Strong and Steve Smith become the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

“To create our history, we need to recognize and celebrate our greats of yesterday,” stated Pierre Lafontaine, CEO of Cycling Canada. “Today was one of those days in life that makes you so proud to be associated with cycling and the quality people it has helped shape. We are about creating world-class people and this day we were surrounded with some of the best of the best that Canada has ever produced. Humbling!”

Prior to the induction ceremony, over 100 cyclists participated in the Lexus-sponsored Ride with Legends event, where they had the opportunity to ride with current members of Canada’s national team, as well as cycling legends Steve Bauer, Curt Harnett, Gordon Singleton and Karen Strong.

At the luncheon, Eleanor McMahon, Ontario Minister for Sport and founder of the Share the Road advocacy group, spoke about the benefits of cycling and how government is improving safety and access for cyclists.

An introduction to the accomplishments of each inductee preceded remarks by each of the new members or their representatives. The class of 2017 includes three athletes and one builder.

Gary Longhi, para-cyclist and multi-time Paralympian led Canadian cyclists at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, winning a gold medal in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) and a bronze in the Road Race. He was a silver medalist in the ITT at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games and was the flag bearer for the Canadian Paralympic Team at the opening ceremonies for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.

Albert Schelstraete-Coulier’s cycling career covered many facets including racing but his recognition as a builder comes about due to his leading role in two specific areas. He served as the President of the Canadian Wheelmen’s Association (1952-1957) and later as the President of the Canadian Cycling Association (1972-1974). In addition to this, he built the Delhi, Ontario, velodrome in 1939 and the first portable track in 1948 and went on to build numerous tracks in North America from 1948 to 1975, as well as designing the 1976 Olympic track in Montreal. Albert Schelstraete-Coulier passed away in 2011 and his award was accepted by his son, Bob Schelstraete.

Karen Strong is a recognized forerunner for many of Canada’s top road and track athletes. As the first Canadian woman to win medals at the Track World Championships her bronze medal in 1977 and silver in 1980 paved the way for future Canadian successes in the discipline. In addition to several international podiums, Karen dominated the Canadian Road Cycling Championships from 1975 to 1982. Following her incredible competitive career she served as the first full-time women’s coach for the national body.

Steve Smith, Canada’s greatest downhill mountain biker, tragically lost his life in May of 2016 as the result of a motocross accident. From 2004 to 2013 Stevie’s legend grew, culminating in being the 2013 World Cup Champion. Included in his three win’s in 2013 was a memorable gold medal run on home soil at Mont-Ste-Anne, QC which contributed to him being named Cyclist of the Year for 2013. After two injury-plagued seasons in 2014 and 2015 he came back in early 2016 with a World Cup podium at Lourdes, FRA to start his final season. Steve Smith’s award was accepted by Mathieu Dupelle – friend and former team mechanic.

October 3, 2017/by Communications

EVENT OF THE YEAR VOTE NOW OPEN

Ottawa, September 26, 2017 – After a very exciting season of racing throughout the country, Cycling Canada invites all cycling fans to vote online over the next few weeks to determine the 2017 Cycling Canada Events of the Year. Fan vote will count for 50% of the overall consideration for Road, Track, Mountain Bike, BMX, Para-cycling and Cyclo-cross events of the year.

2017 Event of the Year winners will be determined by an equal proportion of public voting (this survey) and evaluation of the review of the following criteria by relevant staff & committees:

Communication with Stakeholders
Event Promotion
Event Presentation & Execution
Organizing & Planning

Cycling Canada would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the organizers with whom we have collaborated this season. Great Canadian events contribute to international success and to the growth of the sport in Canada.

The survey will be live until October 10^that 11:59PM EST. Category winners will be announced at the 2017 Cycling Canada Annual General Meeting.

Click here to access the survey.

September 26, 2017/by Communications