October 07, 2014 (Vancouver, BC) – Canada’s top cycling champions and legends are headlining Cycling BC’s Fundraiser supporting youth development in British Columbia. The second annual “Evening of Champions” gala will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2014.
The evening will feature Canada’s top cyclists, including Christian Meier, 2014 Tour de France rider on the UCI ProTeam Orica-GreenEDGE; 2014 Mountain Bike World Champion Catharine Pendrel; Tara Whitten, 3-time track cycling World Champion and Olympic Bronze medalist; BMX World Championship Silver medalist Tory Nyhaug; and track cycling Olympic bronze medalist Jasmin Glaesser.
Other notable champions present throughout the evening include Tour de France veteran and the first North American to wear the yellow jersey, Alex Stieda, Olympians and World Champion cyclists including Axel Merckx, Laura Brown, Lesley Tomlinson, Zach Bell, Gina Grain, Ron Hayman, Will Routley, Nic Hamilton, and Chrissy de Vall. Special guests include Global BC Morning News Anchor Sophie Lui, Painted Rock Estate Winery proprietor John Skinner, and Vancouver Canucks legend Trevor Linden.
The sold-out event features a reception, dinner, both a silent and live auction, and will bring together 250 cycling enthusiasts with an interest in shaping the future of our sport.
Cycling BC Executive Director Richard Wooles will also be on hand to discuss Cycling BC youth development programs and the need for a better pathway for kids coming into the sport.
“Our goal is to create accessible programs to inspire more youth to enjoy cycling. With the funds raised we will be able to offer free cycling programs to all schools in BC. Please email us for more information at schools@cyclingbc.net. We would like to thank everyone that is assisting us in building a pathway from playgrounds to podiums, and getting more of BC’s youth active and enjoying this incredible sport as we all do,” said Wooles.
Riders Attending
Catharine Pendrel – Current Mountain Bike World Champion and winner of 10 individual World Cups, the World Cup Series Overall title (2010 and 2012), the Pan Am Championships (2009), the North American Championships (2009), the Canadian National Championships (2009-2012), and the World Championships (2011).
Christian Meier – 2014 tour de france rider for the UCI ProTeam Orica-GreenEDGE. 1st Road Race Tour de Rock White (2014), Volta a Catalunya 1st Sprints classification (2013), 2nd National Time Trial Championships (2013), 3rd Overall Tour de Beauce (2013), 3rd Overall Tour de Rock White (1st Road Race, 3rd Omnium, 8th Criterium (2012), 3rd Overall Tour de Beauce (2012), 2nd National Time Trial Championships (2009), 1st National Road Race Championships (2008).
Tory Nyhaug – Current Canadian BMX Champion, Nyhaug was also Canada’s lone BMX racer to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. This summer, he won silver at the 2014 BMX Supercross World Championships.
Jasmin Glaesser – Bronze medalist in her first Olympic Games in 2012, for the Team Pursuit, and Pan Am Games, team pursuit gold winner (2011). In 2013, she was the U23 Canadian National Time Trial Champion, and a bronze medalist in the Track World Championships, Team Pursuit.
Tara Whitten – Gold medalist (Omnium and Points race), 2010 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Olympic Bronze medalist (Team Pursuit), London (2012).
Steve Bauer – Competed in 11 Tours de France (4th in 1988, wore the yellow jersey for 14 days 1988+1990). Silver medalist 1984 men’s Olympic road race. 2nd in Paris-Roubaix 1990.
Alex Stieda – First North American to lead the Tour de France. Wore yellow, polka dot, multi-colored, red and white jerseys in 1986 Tour de France. 2-time Gastown Grand prix winner. Olympian (Los Angeles, 1984). Founder, Tour of Alberta.
Ron Hayman – One of the first Canadians to ride professionally in Europe. 3-time Gastown Grand Prix Champion, 7-time national champion. Winner, 1979 Tour of Ireland. 2-time Olympian (Munich and Montreal)
Axel Merckx – Son of Eddy Merckx. Olympic Games Bronze Medalist (Athens, 2004), Belgium National Road Race Champion. Stage winner Giro d’Italia (2000). Kelowna resident. Founder, Granfondo Axel Merckx National Series.
Zach Bell – Current Canadian National Road Race Champion. Stage winner, 2013 Tour de Taiwan and Tour de Korea. Winner, 2009 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.
About Cycling BC
Founded in 1974, Cycling BC is the provincial governing body for the sport of cycling in British Columbia, representing the full range of disciplines including Road, Track, Cyclo-cross, Mountain Biking, BMX and Para-cycling. Our mission is to foster quality competition, from the grassroots through to high performance levels, and encourage partnerships to grow participation in the sport of cycling – read more here.