News – Page 12 – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES SELECTION FOR JUNIOR TRACK WORLDS

Milton, ON (May 30, 2019) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team of thirteen athletes who will represent Canada at the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships, to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, from August 14-18. The vast majority of athletes will be competing at the world championships for the first time, with Sarah Van Dam, Riley Pickrell and Jackson Kinniburgh returning from last year.

The athletes will be training at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario from July 21 – August 8 before leaving for Switzerland, with the exception of Madison Dempster who will be taking part in the 2019 Junior Track training camp at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.

“Given the history of success that we have built over the last few years it’s truly exciting to be involved with our Junior athletes,” said Jenny Trew, NextGen Track Coach at Cycling Canada. “Over the last year, I have been lucky to get to work with the athletes who will be representing Canada at the Junior World Championships. I am inspired by their talent, work ethic and positive demeanours. As a nation we should be excited and proud of what these athletes are going to accomplish in the month of August.”

Endurance Women [Hometown] – Personal Coach
Sarah Van Dam [Victoria, BC] – Richard Wooles
Ngaire Barraclough [Edmonton, AB] – Alex Ongaro
Adèle Desgagnés [Montréal, QC] – Yannick Bédard
Annabella Stoll-Dansereau [Vancouver, BC] – Tim Sherstobitoff
Lily Plante [Sutton, QC] – Yannick Bédard

Endurance Men [Hometown] – Personal Coach
Riley Pickrell [Victoria, BC] – Richard Wooles
Jackson Kinniburgh [Calgary, AB] – Tanya Dubnicoff
Tristan Jussaume [Contrecoeur, QC] – Pascal Choquette
Mathias Guillemette [Trois-Rivières, QC] – Pascal Morin
Sean Richardson [Vancouver, BC] – Tim Sherstobitoff

Sprint Men [Hometown] – Personal Coach
James Hedgcock [Ancaster, ON] – Joe Veloce
Andrew Scott [Oakville, ON] – Joe Veloce

Sprint Women [Hometown] – Personal Coach
Madison Dempster [Milton, ON] – Joe Veloce

May 30, 2019/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA HIRES NEW WOMEN’S TRACK ENDURANCE COACH

Milton, ON (May 6, 2019) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that Matt Shallcrass will be leading Canada’s Olympic medal-winning women’s track endurance program through the Tokyo Olympics. Shallcrass, who recently left his post as interim men’s endurance coach with Cycling New Zealand, took up his new role as Cycling Canada’s Women’s Track Endurance Coach on May 1.

Canada won Olympic medals in the women’s Team Pursuit at both the London Olympics in 2012 and the Rio Olympics in 2016. Shallcrass will be aiming to repeat this in Tokyo in 2020.

“I’m really looking forward to working with this phenomenally talented group of athletes and help them express their potential in 2020,” said Shallcrass. “The squad is a great mix of younger athletes and Olympic veterans.”

“We are extremely fortunate to have Matt come on board for the critical last 16 months to the Games. Having worked alongside him over the last several years, I know his coaching skills and work ethic are exactly what this team needs to get them to the line in Tokyo in optimal shape,” said Cycling Canada’s Head Track Coach Brendon Cameron.

May 6, 2019/by Communications

RECORD PERFORMANCES AT CANADIAN U17/JUNIOR/PARA TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

Milton, ON (April 15, 2019) – The Mattamy National Cycling Centre hosted a weekend of record-breaking performances for the 2019 Canadian U17/Junior/Para Track Championships that took place from April 12-14 in Milton, Ontario. A record 111 athletes from five provinces took part in the Championships, where five Canadian records were broken in individual and team events.

In addition to winning the prestigious maple leaf jersey of national champion, the Championships served as part of the selection process for the team that will represent Canada at the Junior Track World Championships later in the year.

Nine athletes won multiple titles, led by two Under-17 riders, each with seven titles in the ten events contested. Nicole Bradbury (NCCH Elite p/b MGCC) dominated the U17 women’s category with seven gold medals, a silver, a bronze and a Canadian record in the Individual Pursuit. Bradbury had won the first round of the Mountain Bike Canada Cup a couple of weeks earlier, so admitted she lacked some confidence going into the Track Nationals. “Coming back from mountain biking, I hadn’t been on the track in a couple of weeks, so I wasn’t quite sure how I would perform. My goal was to do well in the IP [Individual Pursuit] and break the record, and I had mostly been training for the endurance races.”

In the U17 men’s category, Dylan Bibic (Ascent Cycling p/b MGCC) also won seven gold, plus two silver and bronze, as well as setting Canadian records in the 200 metre time trial and the Team Sprint. Other performances worthy of note were the four gold medals each for Junior riders Madison Dempster (Team Ontario) in the women’s field and Riley Pickrell (Cycling BC) in the men’s.

In the Para categories, national titles were awarded in the Individual Pursuit and 500/1000 metre time trials. Marie-Claude Molnar (Equipe du Quebec) took both titles in the women’s C4 category, with Megan Miller and her pilot Candice Moote (School for the Blind) winning the women’s tandem events, and Matthieu Croteau-Daigle and his pilot Benoit Lussier (Équipe du Québec) winning the men’s tandem events.

April 15, 2019/by Communications

U17/JUNIOR/PARA TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO MILTON THIS WEEKEND

Milton, ON (April 9, 2019) – The most prominent young track riders and para cyclists in Canada will converge at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario, this weekend for the 2019 Canadian Track Championships for U17, Junior and Para athletes.

A record 111 athletes from five provinces across Canada will participate in the three day event, which begins on Friday afternoon and continues through to Sunday. U17 and Junior (U19) women and men will compete in the Individual Pursuit, Keirin, Scratch Race, Sprint, Points Race, Elimination Race, 500/1000 metre time trials, Madison (Junior only), plus the Team Pursuit and Team Sprint. Para-cyclists will compete across multiple categories for women and men in the Individual Pursuit, as well as the 1000 metre and 500 metre time trial.

In addition to winning the prestigious maple leaf jersey, the Championships will serve as part of the selection process for the team that will represent Canada at the Junior Track World Championships later in the year.

“Every year, this group of talented athletes deliver amazing performances during these Championships. It’s exciting to see the depth and the quality of the riders coming through our provincial systems. The presence of our Para athletes is another guarantee of great performances this weekend, since Canada is one of the strongest para-cycling nations in the world,” said Mathieu Boucher, Head of Development and Operations at Cycling Canada.

April 9, 2019/by Communications

TRACK ATHLETE CHARLOTTE CRESWICKE PASSES AWAY

Ottawa, ON (April 5, 2019) – Cycling Canada and the Ontario Cycling Association extend their sincerest condolences to the Creswicke family. Charlotte was a passionate cyclist and member of Team Ontario during her junior years where she achieved tremendous success in track sprint, including being selected to represent Canada at the 2017 Junior Track Cycling World Championships. Charlotte’s loss is felt deeply within the cycling community and she will be missed greatly by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

https://www.rodabramsfuneralhome.com/charlotte-creswicke/

If you or anyone you know need to talk, please contact Crisis Services Canada.

April 5, 2019/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF CRAIG GRIFFIN

Ottawa, Ontario (March 22, 2019)– Cycling Canada is making changes to the leadership of its women’s track endurance program in the wake of the departure of head coach Craig Griffin.

Griffin joined Cycling Canada in 2013 and led the program to Olympic bronze in the team pursuit in 2016, along with medals at the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, world championships and world cups. The team pursuit squad has not reached the world championship podium since 2016, finishing sixth in 2017, fifth in 2018 and fourth in 2019.

“After reflecting on our performances over the past three seasons leading up to the track world championships in Poland earlier this month, we realized the team needed a fresh approach to reach the podium in Tokyo,” said High Performance Director Kris Westwood. “We have an amazingly talented group of athletes, and we believe strongly in their potential.”

Recently hired track head coach Brendon Cameron will take the reins of the program until Cycling Canada hires a new program coach.

“We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from the team this season – the performances are still in there,” said Cameron. “The timing is right to rebuild our approach as the athletes are just starting the preparation phase for the 2019-2020 season, and we’re in a really good position for Olympic qualification, which gives us some breathing space to make the changes we need.”

Cycling Canada would like to thank Craig for his six years of service at the helm of the program.

March 22, 2019/by Communications

CHERNOVE WINS GOLD AT PARA TRACK WORLDS

Apeldoorn, NL (March 17, 2019) – Team Canada concluded the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships on Saturday in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, with gold and silver medals, bringing the total number of medals for the event to five – one gold, two silver and two bronze.

In the men’s C2 category, Tristen Chernove finished his world championships by winning the Scratch Race, adding to the silver medal he won on Thursday in the Individual Pursuit, and the bronze medal on Friday in the 1000 metre time trial. In addition, Chernove topped the standings in the first ever Omnium; a compilation of points over four events. The Omnium in Apeldoorn is a test event for possible inclusion at the 2024 Paralympics, so no medals were awarded.

“It was a super fun day,” said Chernove. “I always love bunch racing, so this is the event I was most excited about. To come away with a victory in the Scratch, I feel thrilled. It was a great race that finished in a bunch sprint, and to take home the jersey for the Scratch was my goal coming here. And to win the Omnium was a bonus.”

In the women’s C4 competition, Keely Shaw won her first ever world championship medal, finishing second in the Individual Pursuit to Emily Petricola of Australia, who set a world record. Marie-Claude Molnar finished just out of the medals in fourth place for the same event. Molnar finished third overall in the Omnium standings; Shaw did not compete in all four events.

“I really excited for the outcome,” said Shaw. “I don’t think any of us were expecting this, so when I realized I was racing for the world title, I was super excited.”

Ross Wilson was fifth in the C1 men’s Scratch Race, to finish third overall in the Omnium standings.

Sebastian Travers, Para Head Coach at Cycling Canada, said, “It was a very good Worlds for us. If we include the Omnium podiums, we tied our best Worlds ever. This is great to see in our athletes, one year away from the Paralympic Games. Although we haven’t put everything together for peak performances, I happy to see how everyone worked together as a team. I have been relying on personal coaches as well as national coaches to get our athletes ready, and everyone has done an amazing job.We developed a four year mission plan following Rio and we continue to progress according to this plan. We are confident that this will lead to key performances in Tokyo 2020 .”

March 17, 2019/by Communications

CHERNOVE WINS SECOND MEDAL AT PARA TRACK WORLDS

Apeldoorn, NL (March 16, 2019) – Tristen Chernove took his second medal of the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships on Friday, in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. The Cranbrook, BC, rider won the bronze medal in the men’s C2 1000 metre time, after winning the silver medal on Thursday in the Individual Pursuit. Ross Wilson, winner of the bronze medal in the men’s C1 Individual Pursuit on Thursday, finished seventh in the C1 1000 metre time trial.

For the first time, the world championships include a 200 metre flying start time trial event. While not a medal event, the 200m standings for each category count towards an overall Omnium standings, a test event for the 2024 Paralympic Games. Both Wilson and Chernove finished second in their respective categories for the 200m time trial, while Marie-Claude Molnar was third in the C4 women’s competition.

Chernove now leads the C2 men’s Omnium standings after three of four events, while Wilson is second overall in C1 men. Molnar is fourth in the women’s Omnium standings after two of four events.

“It was a challenging day for me,” admitted Chernove. “I haven’t been feeling great, but I’m super happy with the incredible staff support to keep me in the competition today, and I’m glad I persevered. It’s really great to be leading the Omnium and I hope to get the overall win, but it will come down to the Scratch race on Saturday.”

March 16, 2019/by Communications

TWO MEDALS FOR CANADA AT PARA TRACK WORLDS

Apeldoorn, NL (March 15, 2019) – Canada opened the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, on Thursday with silver and bronze medals.

Defending men’s C2 world champion Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, had to settle for silver in the Individual Pursuit. Chernove qualified first, but in the medal final finished behind Australian Darren Hicks, who took the gold medal.

“I tried something I hadn’t tried before and it didn’t work,” said Chernove, “so the game plan will have to change for next time. I went out there trying to win the final by catching my opponent in the first kilometre and that didn’t work out. It’s a well deserved win for Darren Hicks.”

In the men’s C1 competition, Ross Wilson of Sherwood Park, Alberta, qualified third and maintained that position in the medal final, beating Pierre Senska of Germany for the bronze medal.

“I’m happy to see that my riding has improved,” said Wilson, “although the results don’t necessarily show my potential and abilities. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a mechanical in the qualifier [and did not make the gold medal race], but I was able to put in a repeated effort [in the bronze medal final] and it was rewarding to finish the race as strong as I did.”

In other Canadian results, Marie-Claude Molnar and Keely Shaw both competed in the women’s C4 500 metre time trial, finishing 11th and the 12th, respectively.

March 15, 2019/by Communications

BRENDON CAMERON JOINS CYCLING CANADA AS HEAD TRACK COACH

Ottawa, ON (March 5, 2019) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that Brendon Cameron has joined the organization in the newly created position of Head Track Coach. Cameron is a two-time Olympian for New Zealand in the team pursuit. He switched to a successful coaching career after the Sydney Olympics, helping athletes win individual and team medals at the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games. He was most recently the women’s endurance coach for Cycling New Zealand.

The Head Track Coach position was created in response to one of the recommendations in the High Performance Review conducted by Peter Keen over the past few months. Cameron’s primary role will be to oversee our Olympic qualification and preparation strategy; to cast a critical eye on our programs, and to use his wealth of experience to mentor our coaches. The role will initially be part-time, with the intention of making it a full-time position after the Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m excited to come on board at this stage of an Olympic cycle,” said Cameron. “It’s a new position for me, which is exciting but no doubt will be challenging. I think we have some very capable athletes, and with further refinement of the high performance programs, we can help them achieve our performance goals in Tokyo. It’s my first position outside of a New Zealand program and it’s very interesting seeing how another country operates, with a different culture and different approaches.This is a great learning opportunity for me.”

Cameron will be working part-time out of Cycling Canada’s track headquarters at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, as well as spending extensive time with the team on the road.

“We were extremely fortunate to find someone with Brendon’s skills and expertise this close to the Games,” said Cycling Canada’s High Performance Director, Kris Westwood. “The coaches and I have a lot of confidence in Brendon and he’s already had a very positive influence on our programs in the short time he’s been with us.”

March 5, 2019/by Communications