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DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 CANADIAN TRACK & CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (December 16, 2020) – Following the release of our 2021 national calendar for the road, mountain bike and BMX disciplines, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the dates of the 2021 Canadian Track and Cyclo-Cross Championships.

“2020 has been a challenging year for all those involved – directly and indirectly – in the delivery of cycling events across the country,” said Josh Peacock, Events & Partnerships Manager at Cycling Canada. “We are thrilled to continue to work with a dedicated group of local organizing committees and host communities who remain committed to welcoming the highest level of national cycling events to their regions for 2021. Cycling Canada will continue to work within local public health guidelines to ensure that nationally sanctioned events are delivered in the safest possible manner, and remain optimistic that a return to competition remains in sight.”

The Elite, Masters and Para Canadian Track Championships are scheduled to return to the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON, from September 23-26, 2021. Previously included in the U17 & Junior Track Championships event programme, para-cycling categories will now be hosted in conjunction with the Elites and Masters in September. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 trends and the situation in Ontario, we are not in a position to announce spring dates for the U17/Junior Track Championships at this time. Cycling Canada will continue to monitor the effects of the pandemic closely and review all possible options to identify a potential summer or fall date for the safe return of this important event.

Originally slated for the early months of 2021, organizers of the Western Track Challenge have also made the decision to postpone the event to a later date, citing March or May 2021 as preferred options. Cycling Canada, in conjunction with Cycling BC and the Burnaby Velodrome Club, will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates for confirmed postponement dates as they become available.

Later in the season, Canada will play host to two cyclo-cross events which will kick off on November 27^th with the 2021 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships in Langford, BC, followed by the UCI C2 sanctioned Bear Crossing Grand Prix the next day. Both events will take place at Langford’s newly constructed Jordie Lunn Bike Park featuring the nation’s first full-time purpose-built cyclo-cross course.

At the heart of Cycling Canada’s national event portfolio remains a commitment to ensure the health and safety of all stakeholders involved in event delivery. All relevant event updates will continue to be communicated via the Cycling Canada website in the weeks and months to come. For the complete list of Cycling Canada events, click here.

December 15, 2020/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES 2021 NEXTGEN ATHLETES

Ottawa, ON (November 18, 2020) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 47 athletes who were selected to join the BMX, Mountain Bike, Para-cycling and Track NextGen programs for the 2021 season. Selected athletes will be working with Cycling Canada’s NextGen coaches, as well as coaches from across the country including former Olympians Tory Nyhaug, Joe Veloce and Tanya Dubnicoff.

“I am excited by the depth of talent we have across all cycling disciplines looking to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond,” said Jenny Trew, Cycling Canada’s NextGen Lead Coach. “As we start this quad with enhanced NextGen programs, we are already setting considerable goals with the aim of achieving medal success in Paris. Our athletes, coaches and staff are excited and motivated for the opportunities that lie ahead.”

In addition to its NextGen programs, Cycling Canada will be launching a new coaching program for road athletes, providing them with the opportunity to be trained by National Team coaches. Four athletes will be entering the pilot version of the program, with the goal of expanding the program in the coming years.

BMX

James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON [Coach – Brendan Arnold, Team – Milton BMX]
Curtis Krey – Etobicoke, ON [Coach – Brendan Arnold, Team – Milton BMX]
Carson Kowaski – Red Deer, AB [Coach – Tory Nyhaug, Team – Red Deer BMX]
Riley Lavorato – Lethbridge, AB [Coach – Brendan Arnold, Team – Lethbridge BMX]
Teigen Pascual – Squamish, BC [Coach – Arielle Martin, Team – Squamish BMX]
Molly Simpson – Red Deer, AB [Coach – Adam Muys, Team – Red Deer BMX]
Ryan Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC [Coach – Adam Muys, Team – Ridge Meadows BMX]

Mountain Bike

Raphaël Auclair – Lac-Beauport, QC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Pivot Cycles – OTE]
Quinton Disera – Barrie, ON [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Norco Factory Team]
Emilly Johnston – Comox, BC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Pendrel Racing]
Dylan Kerr – Barrie, ON [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Angry Johnny’s]
Jérémie La Grenade – Gatineau, QC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Ride with Rendall]
Juliette Tétreault – Val-des-Monts, QC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Ride with Rendall]
Roxane Vermette – Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Vélo Club MSA]
Carter Woods – Cumberland, BC [Coach – Jeff Ain, Team – Norco Factory Team]

Para-cycling

Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin – Quebec City, QC [Coach – Eric Van Den Eynde]
Joey Desjardins – Hawkesbury, ON [Coach – Sébastien Travers]
Kara Douville – Calgary, AB [Coach – Phil Abbott]
Matthew Kinnie – Moncton, NB [Coach – Guillaume Plourde]
Michael Shetler – Kirkland, QC [Coach – James Jacek-Côté]
Carla Shibley & Meghan Brown (pilot) – Calgary, AB [Coach – Phil Abbott]
Lowell Taylor & Ed Veal (pilot) – Lethbridge, AB [Coach – Phil Abbott]

Track – Sprint

Jackie Boyle – Toronto, ON [Coach – Dave Jack]
Madison Dempster – Milton, ON [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – Midweek Cycling]
Ryan Dodyk – Edmonton, ON [Coach – Alex Ongaro, Team – Juventus Cycling Club]
James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON [Coach – Brendan Arnold, Team – Madonna Wheelers Cycling Club]
Andrew Scott – Oakville, ON [Coach – Joe Veloce]
Gavin Thomas – Calgary, AB [Coach – Tanya Dubnicoff, Team – Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle]

Men’s Track Endurance

Evan Burtnik – Edmonton, ON [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – XSpeed United]
Chris Ernst – Kitchener, ON [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – XSpeed United]
Amiel Flett-Brown – Vancouver, BC [Coach – Houshang Amiri, Team – Red Truck Racing]
Mathias Guillemette – Trois-Rivières, QC [Coach – Pascal Morin, Team – XSpeed United]
Jackson Kinniburgh – Calgary, ON [Coach – Tanya Dubnicoff, Team – Digital Commerce Bank]
Ethan Ogrodniczuk – Vancouver, BC [Coach – Richard Wooles, Team – Glotman Simpson]
Sean Richardson – Vancouver, BC [Coach – Tim Sherstobitoff, Team – TAG Cycling]

Women’s Track Endurance

Erin Attwell – Victoria, BC [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – Cyclery Racing]
Ngaire Barraclough – Edmonton, AB [Coach – Alex Ongaro, Team – InstaFund La Prima]
Hayley Basterash – Edmonton, AB [Coach – Kevin Clark]
Miriam Brouwer – Cambridge, ON [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – Cyclery Racing]
Devaney Collier – Edmonton, AB [Coach – Jenny Trew, Team – Cyclery Racing]
Adèle Desgagnés – Montreal, QC [Coach – Yannick Bédard, Team – Équipe Cycliste Québecor Stingray]
Lily Plante – Sutton, QC [Coach – Yannick Bédard, Team – Équipe Cycliste Desjardins-Ford]
Kaitlyn Rauwerda – Hamilton, ON [Coach – Chris Rozdilsky, Team – Cyclery Racing]
Callie Swan – Prince George, BC [Coach – Richard Wooles, Team – Macogep-Tornatech-Girondins de Bordeaux]
Sarah Van Dam – Victoria, BC [Coach – Richard Wooles, Team – Red Truck Racing]
Ruby West – Dundas, ON [Coach – Jeremy Powers, Team – Proximus-Alphamotorhomes-Dolticini CT]

November 17, 2020/by Communications

CANADA WRAPS UP BERLIN WORLDS WITH FIVE TOP-5S

Berlin, Germany (March 1, 2020) – In the last qualifying event before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Canada did not earn any medals, but finished the competition with three fourth places and two fifth places. The 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships saw numerous World Records shattered, while Canadian athletes set a new national record in the women’s Team Pursuit.

Canada opened the competition with a fifth place in the Team Sprint for Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell, who were teaming up for one of the first times in their careers. Kelsey Mitchell went on to break into the upper echelon of world class sprinters with a fourth place in the Sprint competition, only two years after joining the National Team Program.

The women’s endurance squad showed considerable development since the 2016 Rio Olympics, lowering the Canadian record by 2s and finishing fourth in the Team Pursuit. Annie Foreman-Mackey earned a 5th place finish in the Individual Pursuit, while Vincent de Haitre also rode very well in the Kilo setting the fourth fastest time, missing the podium by the narrowest of margins.

“It’s been a pretty hard fought world championships,” said Brendon Cameron, Head Track Coach for Canada. “The athletes and staff have worked really, really hard in the final year of a four year [Olympic] qualification. A big difference is that equipment innovation has been rolled out a lot earlier than for previous Olympic Games, but I think we are ‘in the game’ in a lot of events.”

March 1, 2020/by Communications

MITCHELL AND DE HAITRE FINISH JUST OFF THE PODIUM AT BERLIN TRACK WORLDS

Berlin, Germany (February 29, 2020) – Canada had another strong showing on day three of the UCI Track World Championships in Berlin as Kelsey Mitchell and Vincent de Haitre secured fourth place finishes in their respective events. Both were racing at the World Championships for the first time in their cycling careers.

Vincent de Haitre had an impressive qualifying ride in the Kilo setting a personal best and qualifying with the fourth fastest time. The Ottawa native and Olympic speed skater went even faster in the final round setting a time of 1:00.119 and coming just .016s off the podium.

In the women’s Sprint semifinals, Kelsey Mitchell faced Anastasiia Voinova, pushing the Russian to three rides but did not advance to the gold medal final, instead facing last year’s world champion Wai Sze Lee for bronze. Mitchell faced a tough matchup with the veteran rider from Hong Kong and lost out in two rides but once again showed how far she has come since joining the cycling program just two years ago.

“Fourth place at my first Worlds in the Olympic year…I’m obviously happy to make it to the finals but fourth is tough,” said Mitchell. “There’s no way around it; watching the other three get a medal was hard, but getting those extra races in will definitely help me learn. I’m racing some of the best and learning every single time.”

February 29, 2020/by Communications

FOURTH PLACE FOR CANADA’S WOMEN’S TEAM PURSUIT SQUAD AT BERLIN WORLDS

Berlin, Germany (February 27, 2020) – Canada had another solid day at the 2020 UCI Track World Championships in Berlin, with the women’s Team Pursuit squad setting their second national record in as many days and sprint sensation Kelsey Mitchell breezing through the Sprint competition, making her way to the semifinals.

Three Canadians took the start in the women’s Sprint competition, with Sarah Orban and Kelsey Mitchell competing in their first-ever Track World Championships. Genest and Mitchell were respectively 6^th and 7^th in qualifying, with Mitchell beating Japan’s Ritu Ohta in the 1/16 finals to face Germany’s Lea Friedrich in the quarterfinals. In two closely contested rides, Mitchell powered her way to a place in tomorrow’s semifinals. Lauriane Genest went head-to-head with teammate Sarah Orban to advance to the 1/8 finals before being stopped by Lithuania’s Simona Krupeckaite.

In the Team Pursuit, Canada’s women’s squad of Georgia Simmerling, Annie Foreman-Mackey, Allison Beveridge and Jasmin Duehring set a new Canadian record with an amazing ride of 4:12.627 in Round 1, before finishing 4^th in the bronze medal final against Germany.

I think we can definitely take some positives from the past two days,” said Annie Foreman-Mackey. “In terms of breaking the Canadian record it shows that we have taken steps since the world cups in December, so we are going to use that as motivation.”

The Track World Championships continue on Friday with the Sprint semifinals, the women’s Omnium, the men’s 1km Time Trial and the men’s Points Race. Head to Flobikes to watch the competitions or click here for full results.

February 28, 2020/by Communications

STRONG START FOR CANADA AT 2020 TRACK WORLDS

Berlin, Germany (February 26, 2020) – Canada had a strong start to the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, the last qualifying event before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Both the women’s Team Pursuit and women’s Team Sprint squads posted very fast rides while Canada’s men’s Team Pursuit were also in action against an extremely competitive field.

The first day opened with the Team Pursuit qualifying with Canada’s endurance squads coming off a two-month long training block in New Zealand. The Canadian women’s team of Allison Beveridge, Jasmin Duehring, Annie Foreman-Mackey and Georgia Simmerling had a fantastic ride in qualifying smashing the previous Canadian record by nearly 1.5s with a time of 4:12.728. On Thursday, they will face Great Britain in Round 1 with the winner heading to the gold medal final.

“It was a very pleasing ride,” said Matt Shallcrass, Cycling Canada’s Women’s Track Endurance Coach. “We’ve made some pretty big steps from the World Cup season and this shows that our hard work over the New Zealand summer paid off.”

Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell kicked off the women’s sprint events with the Team Sprint, where the duo was competing together for the first time at the world championships level. The pair set a fast time of 32.829 to qualify in third place and faced Germany in the first round. Despite a strong ride, the pair was narrowly beat by .058s and finished in 5th place.

February 27, 2020/by Communications

CYCLING CANADA HEADS INTO LAST TRACK COMPETITION OF THE SEASON

Ottawa, ON (February 13, 2020) – Cycling Canada has selected a team of 13 riders to represent the country at the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin from February 26 to March 1, which will mark the end of the qualification period for the Tokyo Olympics.

The sprint squad will be led by continental Sprint champion and 200 m world record holder Kelsey Mitchell, who will be making her world championships debut after winning four world cups medals this season. She will be joined by continental Keirin champion Lauriane Genest, as well as RBC Training Ground athlete Sarah Orban.

Olympic bronze medalists Allison Beveridge, Georgia Simmerling and Jasmin Duehring will be leading the women’s track endurance team, with Annie Foreman-Mackey and Ariane Bonhomme rounding out the squad. On the men’s side, the young team of Derek Gee, Michael Foley, Adam Jamieson, former speed-skater Vincent De Haitre and Jay Lamoureux will be looking to earn a fifth men’s endurance spot for Tokyo.

“The world championships in Berlin mark the end of the Olympic qualification period and they’re also the last time we’re going to see all of our main Olympic rivals in action before the Tokyo Games,” said Kris Westwood, High Performance Director at Cycling Canada. “For us, it’s a chance to see where we stand on the world stage. Our endurance teams are just wrapping up a very successful preparation block in New Zealand, which bodes well for the worlds. I’m really looking forward to seeing how our sprint women do, particularly Kelsey Mitchell who will be racing her first-ever world championships. Remember, two years ago, she didn’t even own a bicycle!”

(TP – Team Pursuit, OM – Omnium, PTS – Points Race, IP – Individual Pursuit, TS – Team Sprint, SP – Sprint, KE – Keirin)

Women’s Sprint
Kelsey Mitchell – Sherwood Park, AB [TS, SP, KE]
Lauriane Genest – Lévis, QC [TS, SP, KE]
Sarah Orban – Calgary, AB [SP, 500m TT]

Women’s Endurance
Allison Beveridge – Calgary, AB [TP, OM]
Georgia Simmerling – Calgary, AB [TP, IP]
Annie Foreman-Mackey – Kingston, ON [TP, IP]
Jasmin Duehring – North Vancouver, BC [TP]
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, QC [TP, IP]

Men’s Endurance
Derek Gee – Ottawa, ON [TP, OM]
Michael Foley – Milton, ON [TP, PTS]
Vincent De Haitre – Ottawa, ON [TP, Kilo TT]
Jay Lamoureux – Victoria, BC [TP]
Adam Jamieson – Barrie, ON [TP]

February 13, 2020/by Communications

CANADA FINISHES MILTON WORLD CUP IN FIFTH PLACE

Milton, ON (January 27, 2020) – The final round of the Track World Cup in Milton, Ontario, concluded on Sunday with some strong performances from Canadian NextGen riders. Canada finished the World Cup with four medals – one gold, one silver and two bronze, placing the country fifth in the nation standings, and third in total number of medals.

Nick Wammes, riding for the P2M trade team, qualified third in the men’s 200 metre Sprint, with a personal best time of 9.755 seconds, earning him a direct spot in the eighth-final, where he finished ninth overall.

In the women’s Keirin, Pan Am champion Lauriane Genest was a last minute substitute to the ill Kelsey Mitchell, where she secured her place in the second round through the repechage. Although she did not advance to the medal final, she won the 7-12 final, finishing seventh overall.

“I’m very happy with how the girls rode,” said Franck Durivaux, Head Sprint Coach. “Kelsey was very sick, so we didn’t think she could do it, but she was totally amazing. She and Lauriane did a personal best in the Team Sprint for gold, and on the second day Kelsey just smashed it again in the Sprint. We decided that she would not do the Keirin for her health, and Lauriane just stepped in.”

January 27, 2020/by Communications

KELSEY MITCHELL WINS SECOND MEDAL AT THE MILTON TRACK WORLD CUP

Milton, ON (January 26, 2020) – Canadian sprinter Kelsey Mitchell added a silver medal in the women’s Sprint on Saturday to the gold she won a day earlier in the Team Sprint at the Track World Cup in Milton, Ontario. This brings the Canadian tally after three days to four medals – one gold, one silver and two bronze.

Mitchell is the world record holder in the 200 metre time trial that is used in sprint qualifying, and she did not disappoint, qualifying first with a time of 10.624 seconds. Canadian NextGen rider Sarah Orban also had a good result in her first World Cup, qualifying seventh and finishing tenth overall.

Mitchell won her eighth, quarter and semi-final races to move into the gold medal final against Laurine van Riessen of the Netherlands. van Riessen, who qualified second, used her years of experience to hold off the faster Mitchell and win the gold medal in two straight rides.

“Winning the gold medal yesterday alongside my teammate Lauriane Genest was amazing,” said Mitchell. “It was our first time doing the Team Sprint at the World Cup level. I was happy to qualify first for the Sprint this morning, but I still had to ride three rides in my quarterfinal. It was a really good learning experience for me going against van Riessen in the final; I gave it my all but came up short.”

January 26, 2020/by Communications

CANADA WINS THREE MEDALS ON DAY ONE OF MILTON WORLD CUP

Milton, ON (January 25, 2020) – Canada started off the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Milton with a bang, winning medals in all three events it entered, including a gold medal in the women’s Team Sprint. Canadian riders also won bronze medals in both the women’s and men’s Team Pursuits, making this one of their first successful world cups of the season.

Riding in the Team Sprint for the first time at the world cup level, Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell improved dramatically in each of their three rides. After qualifying fourth with a time of 33.947 seconds, the duo won their first round heat and set the fastest time, at 33.317 seconds. In the gold medal final against Poland, the pair was even faster, at 33.012 seconds, to take their first ever world cup win as a duo.

“It’s incredible to win here at home,” said Genest. “After this morning’s ride we were hoping for a podium, but not expecting a gold medal. We just kept improving every ride, and did our best ride in the final where it counted the most. It’s incredible that we were able to get on the highest step today. I’m extremely proud with what we’ve been doing with the female sprint program.”

Both the Team Pursuit squads included NextGen riders matched with more experienced riders. The women’s squad of Devaney Collier, Erin Attwell, Miriam Brouwer and Kinley Gibson set the fourth fastest time in the morning session to qualify for the bronze medal race against Belgium. In that race, the Canadians took charge in the second kilometre, steadily expanding their lead to finish more than 1.4 seconds ahead of Belgium.

In the men’s competition, the Canadian team of Evan Burtnik, Chris Ernst, Amiel Flett-Brown and Sean Richardson bounced back from a disappointing qualifying race on Thursday to set the third fastest time and go up against Belarus for the bronze medal. Jackson Kinniburgh replaced Richardson for the medal ride, which proved to be a seesaw battle. The two squads swapped the lead three times, before Canada finally moved into the lead with only two laps to go, setting a time of 4:00.945, over six-tenths of a second ahead of their rivals.

January 25, 2020/by Communications