December 15, 2014 (Toronto, ON) – Cycling Canada released its 2015 cycling calendars today and there is a major date conflict between the Baie St-Paul Canada Cup MTB (XC) event on July 11 and the Pan Am Games MTB (XC) events at the Hardwood Mountain Bike Park in Oro-Medonte (near Barrie), ON on July 12. The two events on subsequent days are 981km apart according to Google Maps and it is difficult to imagine how participants or volunteers could attend both events.

“The PanAm Games July 12, 2015 date at Hardwood Ski and Bike was known 18 months ago,” deplores John Pugsley, the MTB SOC – Chair of PanAm Games. “And now the Canada MTB Cup Baie St-Paul is scheduled for July 11, 2015. Cycling Canada has been lobbied to change the date for some time but hasn’t as yet…”

“The PanAms are the biggest event on next year’s calendar and it’s a huge opportunity so it makes sense to have no conflict with other key events on the calendar.

“I’ve been cautiously optimistic, but when I saw the 2015 Cycling Canada calendar released today and the dates still unchanged, I felt somewhat disheartened.”

The first day of training for the Pan Am Games MTB events is July 8. Race day is July 12 – the women race at 10am the men at 1pm.

Pugsley says he has spoken with Cycling Canada CEO, Greg Mathieu about this issue. There might be few athletes who have to make the tough choice of which event to attend as Canada’s field of competing cyclists at the Pan Am MTB events is small – only two men and two women will be competing.

But Pugsley depends on volunteers – most of them experienced mountain bikers or members of the MTB entourage – to assist in running the Pan Am events; many of his potential recruits may be 981km away trying to earn precious UCI points, just when he needs them most.

“We need about 180 volunteers for all aspects – about 80 for the field of play such as marshals etc. and 100 for spectators, parking other amenities. The field of play will be most affected as these volunteers are often riders and may elect to race at Baie St Paul or have to make a choice which seems silly with the Games being a lifetime opportunity.”

The Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games run are scheduled for July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games are scheduled for Aug 7-15.

Pedal has contacted Mathieu for clarification on this issue and we hope to have an update shortly.

Map showing 9h34-minute driving time from Baie St-Paul, QC to Oro-Medonte (Barrie), ON Image: courtesy of Google Maps

Cycling Canada’s 2015 MTB calendar here.

For anyone interested in volunteering at the games (road, track, bmx or xco) you need to register on the Games website here.