St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, FRA (Aug. 8, 2024) – Things didn’t go as planned for the Canadian athletes in action at the St-Quentin-en-Yvelines national velodrome for the women’s keirin and men’s omnium events held on August 8.    

With a medal in his sights, Canada’s Dylan Bibic, starting in the men’s omnium, had to be content with a 19th-place finish well below his expectations. Right from the first race of the four cumulative events – the scratch race, where he finished 16th – the Mississauga, Ontario-born rider mentioned that he wasn’t feeling his usual self. The feeling was confirmed at the end of the tempo race, where he finished in 21st place, collecting just one point for the overall total.    

The elimination race being his favorite event, having won the honors at the Milton Nations’ Cup in April, he was only able to obtain twelfth place allowing him to accumulate 18 points, but the damage had been done. His fate was decided by not collecting any additional points in the points race, and he finished 19th, having accumulated only 29 points. 

“This omnium meant a lot to him,” said national team coach Laura Brown. “We still believe in him and we’re proud of the way he fought through this brutal event, where there’s no time to recover. He fought and finished, and we’re proud of that.”  

France’s Benjamin Thomas took the Olympic title, while Portugal’s Iuri Leitao and Belgium’s Fabio van den Bossche took silver and bronze.  

Photo Credit: Kevin Light/COC

On the women’s side, Lauriane Genest, keirin bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020, and her teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who had finished fifth in Japan, were unable to make the final rounds, both losing in the quarterfinals, a disappointment caused in part by tactical errors.  

“It happened very quickly,” said Genest. “In this kind of race, you realize you only get one chance, and I didn’t take it today. I was last with one lap to go and thought I could overtake two girls, but I got stuck in that position. I felt I had the legs, so that was the most frustrating part.” 

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews took gold, accompanied by the Netherlands’ Hetty van de Wouw in silver and Emma Finucane from Great Britain in bronze.    

Further information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 8, when athletes will be in action in the individual events, including the women’s sprint, where we will see Genest and Mitchell and in the Women’s Madison.  

Paris, FRA (August 6, 2024) – Canadian riders officially broke the ice in the track events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as the men’s and women’s team pursuit and men’s and women’s team sprint events took place on August 5 and 6 at the Vélodrome national de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines on the outskirts of Paris.   

The young Canadian quartet of Mathias Guillemette, 22, from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and Ontarians Carson Mattern, 20, from Ancaster, Dylan Bibic, 21, from Mississauga, and Michael Foley, 25, from Milton, clocked 3:49.245 in the first round of the Men’s Team Pursuit.  

“We didn’t really have a choice but to try and get to the bronze final. At the Olympics, you have to at least try,” commented Guillemette. Teammate Foley added: “We wanted to push the level as far as possible. I think we pushed it a bit too far, we all finished with empty tanks, so this is the best way to finish. I think tomorrow we’ll do our best with the time and see if we can beat the Canadian record, and hopefully that’ll be good enough for seventh place.”   

They’ll be back on August 7 for the ranking waves, to determine their final placing between 7th and 8th, where they’ll face Belgium.   

Ariane Bonhomme of Gatineau, Quebec, along with British Columbians Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple-Ridge and Erin Attwell and Sarah Van Dam of Victoria, qualified for the first round of the Women’s Team Pursuit on August 7 with a time of 4:12.205.   

“It was good to get it out of the way, we were all nervous getting into it,” said Attwell. “We faced a lot of adversity this week, so getting through and battling in rounds tomorrow, I think we’re all pleased with that. It doesn’t matter how today’s ride went, no one should count us out. We just need all pieces to come together.” 

The women’s team sprint trio, where Quebec’s Lauriane Genest of Lévis and Alberta’s Sarah Orban of Calgary and Kelsey Mitchell of Sherwood Park were in action on the first day of competition, placed eighth with a time of 46.816s, setting a new Canadian record in the process.  

“We have all the right people, it’s just that it wasn’t prioritized as an event en route to the Games,” said Genest. “We decided to really give it our all on the second run, and that’s what we did. The track is fast, we’re just not competitive in that event.” 

Setting a new world record with a time of 45.338s, Great Britain took gold, while New Zealand and Germany took silver and bronze respectively.    

After qualifying in eighth place in the men’s team sprint on August 5, Ontario’s Nick Wammes, Tyler Rorke and James Hedgecock had the tough task of facing the world’s best in the first round, where the Dutch twice shattered their own world record, with a time of 40.949, becoming the first team in the world to break the 41-second barrier.  

“Nick (Wammes) was the only one of the three of us to compete in Tokyo, James (Hedgecock) and I weren’t even old enough to compete back then,” said Rorke, who is 21. “For our age, I think we have a lot of potential for the next few years. We just need experience; a lot of the teams have been riding together for years and years; we’ve been riding together for two and a half years. The next couple of years, if we can get more experience together, I think we’ve got a good shot at improving.”  

It was in the ranking wave, against China, that Canada fell to eighth place with a time of 43.944s.  The Netherlands took top honors, followed by Great Britain and Australia with silver and bronze. 

More information, including results and the full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on August 7, where the team pursuit rounds will continue, while athletes will be in action in the individual events, including the women’s keirin and men’s sprint.   

Photo Credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com – Women’s Team Sprint: Sarah Orban, Lauriane Genest, Kelsey Mitchell

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 06/08/2024 – Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Track Cycling – National Velodrome, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France – Men’s Team Sprint Final For Places 7-8 – Tyler Rorke, Nick Wammes, James Hedgcock (Canada)

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com | Men’s Team Pursuit: Dylan Bibic, Mathias Guillemette, Michael Foley, Carson Mattern

Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com | Women’s Team Pursuit Qualifying – Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah van Dam, Erin Attwell, Ariane Bonhomme

Milton, ON (April 13, 2024) – Canadian athletes continued to accumulate valuable points towards Olympic qualification on the second day of competition at the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup on April 13, 2024, in Milton, ON.

Dylan Bibic Within Touching Distance of the Podium

Finishing second in the scratch race, ninth in the tempo race and fourth in the elimination race during his participation in the cumulative omnium event, Bibic, who had won gold in the elimination race on Friday April 12, was aiming for a second podium finish. Heading into the final event of the day, the points race, Bibic was in fourth place with a total of 96 points. Although he was able to collect a further 21 points, it wasn’t enough to join compatriots Ethan Hayter (GBR, 163 points), Kazushige Kuboki (JPN, 150 points) and Benjamin Thomas (FRA, 143 points) on the podium.

“I tried to catch them throughout the race and score points, but they were much fitter than me, hats off to these three riders,” said Bibic. “I’m so close and I know that with the right training and preparation, I can get a medal. I’ve never been as confident of getting a medal as I am now.”

A First Nations Cup Final for Wammes

Nick Wammes excelled in the qualification rounds of the keirin, securing his place in the final for positions 1 to 6. He was able to pocket a fifth position, after a hard-fought battle with the discipline’s biggest names, such as reigning world champion Harrie Lavreysen (NED – Gold), Jeffrey Hoogland (NED – Silver) and Jack Carlin (GBR – Bronze).

“Winning the qualifiers and the semi-final is more than I could have asked for,” said Wammes. “I know the form is coming back, and I wanted to focus on the individual events this weekend, so racing well today gave me confidence. I’ve been lucky enough to compete in six home races since joining the national team and it’s always a privilege to be in front of your home crowd, especially this final week when it’s an Olympic qualifying event, so it’s even more special.”

Also taking part in the keirin, Ryan Dodyk made his mark in qualifying, enabling him to compete in the 7-12 final, where he lost out in fifth place, finishing tenth overall. James Hedgcock was unable to reach the final rounds. Both had won bronze in the team sprint the day before.

Hard Day on the Saddle for Women Athletes

The women were also in action in the individual sprint, although none of them reached the final rounds. Lauriane Genest ended her day early after two consecutive victories by rival Ellesse Andrews (NZL, Silver) in the quarterfinals, giving her fifth place. Reigning Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell did not have the day she had hoped for, finishing ninth after a defeat in the round of 16. Sarah Orban and Jackie Boyle finished 17th and 21st respectively. Mathilde Gros (FRA, Gold) and Daniela Gaxiola Gonzalez (MEX, Bronze) completed the podium.

Ariane Bonhomme and Lily Plante took part in the Madison race, where they were unable to finish as they were overtaken by the pack on two occasions. Great Britain took gold, followed by France and the USA with silver and bronze.

Cycling Canada thanks Sport Canada for the valuable support provided by the International Single Sport Events (ISSE) – Hosting Program. The ISSE aims to enhance high performance sport development as well as the profile of Canadian sport organizations through the domestic hosting of international single sport events.

Full results can be found here. For more information on the 2024 Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup Milton, visit www.tncmilton.com.

Ottawa, ON (April 3, 2024) – 29 athletes from across Canada have been selected to suit up in the maple leaf on April 12-14 at the 2024 Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, ON.

This will be the last opportunity for track athletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, to be held from July 26 to August 11.

Canada will welcome over 300 athletes to this final round of the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup, the first two stages of which took place in Australia and China earlier this year.

“We have a strong team for this Nations Cup,” said Dan Proulx, Cycling Canada Head Coach. “We have a performance team and a development team entered: our current best riders and the riders of the future. It’s an honour to race in the maple leaf in front of a home crowd. With Paris 2024 in sight, it’s important for us to do well. It will be an intense competition as many other nations are also trying to secure points.”

The Canadian team, one of the largest delegations at the event, will be made up of well-known athletes such as Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallists Kelsey Mitchell, crowned champion in the sprint, and Lauriane Genest, who won bronze in the keirin. They will be joined by fellow Olympians Ariane Bonhomme, Michael Foley and Nick Wammes. The 2022 world scratch race champion, Dylan Bibic, will also be on hand, along with a development team made up of athletes seeking international peloton experience.

“We are looking forward to hosting over 40 nations for the final round of the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup series here in Milton, for what is about to be an electrifying competition,” said the Event Director, Jolène Dupuis. “Our organizing committee has been working hard to make this event possible, and we are eager to make it another successful international event with the help of our wonderful volunteers joining our workforce. Events like these could not happen without them, and we are so excited to show them off to the world while setting the stage for amazing performances from the athletes!”

Crowned Olympic champions at Tokyo 2020, Harrie Lavreysen (NED), Jeffrey Hoogland (NED), Francesco Lamon (ITA), Katie Archibald (GBR) and Jennifer Valente (USA) will be on hand, promising an electric atmosphere in the velodrome.

Tickets are still available to witness the strength of some of the best cyclists in the world. General admission, family packs and VIP tickets can be purchased here. Important information regarding schedule, program and volunteering opportunities for the event are available here. 

Team Canada: 

Women Track Endurance  

Erin Attwell – Victoria, BC
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, QC
Anika Brants – Strathroy, ON
Devaney Collier – Edmonton, AB
Maggie Coles-Lyster – Maple Ridge, BC
Skylar Goudwaard – Grimsby, ON
Fiona Majendie – Vancouver, BC
Jenna Nestman – Sunshine Coast, BC
Lily Plante – Sutton, QC
Sarah Van Dam – Victoria, BC

Men Track Endurance 

Dylan Bibic – Mississauga, ON
Chris Ernst – Kitchener, ON
Cameron Fitzmaurice
Michael Foley – Milton, ON
Daniel Fraser-Maraun – Anmore, BC
Mathias Guillemette – Trois-Rivières, QC
Carson Mattern – Ancaster, ON
Campbell Parrish – Vancouver, BC
Sean Richardson – Vancouver, BC
Zach Webster – Toronto, ON

Women Track Sprint 

Jackie Boyle – Toronto, ON
Lauriane Genest – Lévis, QC
Kelsey Mitchell – Sherwood Park, AB
Sarah Orban – Calgary, AB

Men Track Sprint 

Cole Dempster – Milton, ON
Ryan Dodyk – Edmonton, AB
Jame Hedgecock – Ancaster, ON
Tyler Rorke – Baden, ON
Nick Wammes – Bothwell, ON

Cycling Canada thanks Sport Canada for the valuable support provided by the International Single Sport Events (ISSE) – Hosting Program. The ISSE aims to enhance high performance sport development as well as the profile of Canadian sport organizations through the domestic hosting of international single sport events.

For more information on the 2024 Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup Milton, visit www.tncmilton.com.

Ottawa, ON (March 28, 2024) – U17, Junior and Para athletes from across Canada are getting ready for the 2024 Canadian Track Championships, to be held in Bromont, QC on March 29-31, 2024.

“Hosting the best young riders and hopefuls of Canadian cycling in our new velodrome means a lot to our team,” says Frédéric Tremblay, Sport Events Coordinator at the Bromont National Cycling Centre. “We want to offer athletes and coaches an extraordinary sporting experience and a warm welcome to our region. For us, this is a good time to organize a colourful show for spectators and new track cycling fans.”

The line-up will include many 2023 Canadian Champions, with Eve Buczkowski (St. Thomas, ON), Alexandra Volstad (Calgary, AB) and Anika Brants (Strathroy, ON) participating again in the women’s category. Having recently joined the junior ranks, reigning champions in the U17 category, Brody Mann (St. Thomas, ON), Antoine Bergeron (Oakville, ON), Charlie Walsh (Toronto, ON), Ben Morin (Spruce Grove, AB) and Ronan Mantle (Waterloo, ON) will fight again for a place on the top step of the podium.

It will be another great battle between sprinters Cole Dempster (Milton, ON), who won a bronze medal at the 2023 Junior Track World Championships and Québec’s Junior Men Champion, Jonathan Hinse (Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC).

Fresh off a successful week in Rio de Janeiro for the 2024 UCI Para-Track Cycling Worlds Championships, medallists Alex Hayward and Mel Pemble will be on hand to defend their Canadian titles in the para categories.

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