May 24, 2018 (Baku, Azerbaijan) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team of athletes who have been selected to represent Canada at the 2018 BMX World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 1-9. Twelve riders will represent Canada in the Elite and Junior classes and six riders have been selected to compete in the Challenge classes as part of the NextGen program. The team will be joined by a number of additional Challenge class athletes.

Adam Muys, National BMX Coach, said “We have a very strong team heading into the 2018 Championships, with a group of riders in the Elite class that can achieve a Finals appearance. The team is led by Tory Nyhaug and Drew Mechielsen, but Alex Tougas, James Palmer and Daina Tuschsherer have shown over the past 12 months that they are capable of making the Semi-finals at the World Cup level, so anything can happen once that gate drops.”

Brendan Arnold, National NextGen coach, said “The selected Challenge team currently boasts two riders that are top three in the world, and two others that have achieved Semi-final success at the 2017 World Championships. This trip will be a valuable development opportunity for the riders, since five of the six will be moving up to the Junior category in 2019.”

2018 World Championships BMX Team – Elite and Junior

Elite Men
– Tory Nyhaug – Coquitlam, BC
– James Palmer – North Vancouver, BC
– Alex Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
– Gaby Malenfant – Drummondville, QC
– Josh Samells – Milton, ON
– Ben Leslie – Nanaimo, BC

Elite Women
– Drew Mechielsen – Langley, BC
– Daina Tuchscherer – Calgary, AB

Junior Women
– Avriana Hebert -Edmonton, AB

Junior Men
– Aidan Webber – Comox, BC
– Felix Maltais – Drummondville, QC
– James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON

NextGen Challenge Team Selections

– Ryan Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
– Nick Berarducci – Airdrie, AB
– Molly Simpson – Red Deer, AB
– Curtis Krey – Etobicoke, ON
– Britney Hovencamp – Amherstview, ON
– Cole Zufelt – Trenton, ON