April 19, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – Thanks to the successes of the Canadian Track Cycling team, a whole new generation of cyclists is hitting the tracks in velodromes across the country, and many up and coming cyclists are increasing their participation in track cycling.

As a result of this increase in popularity, Canada now is in a position to enter a highly competitive team to the 2012 Junior Pan-American Championships, filling the maximum quota of 16 riders for the event, which takes place in Guatemala, April 23-29.

The 2012 UCI Junior Pan-American Championships will welcome these young up and coming athletes, and Canada will, for the third time in as many years, send a large and strong delegation to Guatemala.

“Eleven of the 16 riders are first year Juniors or Cadets. This is a development project that will be very competitive at these Championships,” said Jeff Ain, a Junior team coach attending the project. “We expect many of these athletes will be on future development projects if they continue to improve. Canada is developing a lot of depth in the Under 19 category, with an eye to the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, as well as for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero and the 2020 Olympic Games.”

Returning athlete in the junior women category to the 2012 Pan American team is Audrey Labrie of Québec, QC, who will be competing in her third UCI Pan-American Championships. “My goals are to make the finals in all the events and come home with three podiums. We have a very strong team and podiums are what we have been training for.”

Second year Cadet Bailin Xie of Ottawa, Ontario is attending her first UCI Pan-American Championships. “My goals is to learn as much as possible. Canada will have a professional and businesslike approach to each event and GOLD medals are within our reach.”

17-year-old Aiden Caves of Vancouver, British Columbia is returning to the Junior Pan Am team for his second year. “Last year I missed out on three medals, finishing just off the podium in fourth place. This will not be happening in 2012. My training and the training of the entire team has been far better than last year and the Camps through the winter have better prepared me for the task at hand, win medals.”

A total of 25 countries of the Americas will be represented at the event, including notable Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States to name just a few strong track nations.

The team spent one week at a training camp in Los Angeles, and will be flying to Guatamala on Friday.

The track events start on Monday, and run through Sunday. Following the track events, both the mass start road race and individual time trial will be showcased.

Canadian Delegation – 2012 UCI Junior Pan American Championships
Women
– Ariane Bonhomme (Ottawa, ON)
– Audrey Labrie (Montréal, QC)
– Bailin Xie (Ottawa, ON)
– Kinley Gibson (Edmonton, AB)
– Kristen Sears (Ancaster, ON)
– Sarah Mason (London, ON)

Men
– Adam Reddy (Vancouver, BC)
– Adrian George (Hamilton, ON)
– Aidan Caves (Vancouver, BC)
– Alexandre Pinard (Montréal, QC)
– Eric Johnstone (Calgary, AB)
– Eric MacDonald (London, ON)
– Joakim Albert (Québec, QC)
– Marc-Antoine Noel (Montréal, QC)
– Vincent DeHaître (Ottawa, ON)
– William Simonds (London, ON)