October 28, 2015 (Cali, Colombia) – The opening round of the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Cup is set to begin this weekend in Cali, Colombia. Throughout the season, Canada’s track cycling team will be looking to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and the World Cup season culminating to the UCI World Championships will be critical in the qualification process

Calgary’s Monique Sullivan and Kate O’Brien will both be looking for strong results in the team sprint and individual sprint events. The dynamic duo soared on the international scene this year with resounding success at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto followed by the UCI Track Pan American Championships. Sullivan and O’Brien made huge improvements in the last year and climbed their way up in the Olympic qualification standings. Both will use the Track Cycling World Cup season to gain ground with the ultimate goal to qualify for the upcoming Olympics.

Canada’s women’s team pursuit squad, ranked third in the world, will be in Cali to solidify their international rank. Allison Beveridge, Kirsti Lay, Jasmin Glaesser, Laura Brown, and Stephanie Roorda travelled to Colombia for the race on Friday.

In the men team pursuit, Canada will be looking to improve its ranking with solid performances. Without the presence of captain Remi Pelletier-Roy, who suffered from a broken clavicle this month, the four-man team will have to roll up their sleeves to help Canada qualify for the Olympic Games. Ed Veal stepped in to replace Pelletier-Roy until he can return to competition. Accompanying Veal will be Evan Burtnik, Sean MacKinnon, Aidan Caves and Adam Jamieson.

In the men’s sprint events, three Canadian speedsters are in Colombia to race. The men’s team sprint event will be represented by Joseph Veloce, Evan Carey, and Joel Archambault. Archambault flew to Colombia last night on a very short notice after Hugo Barrette sustained injury after a crash while training for the World Cup.

Hugo Barrette is currently recovering in hospital after a serious crash during training on Tuesday. Barrette went over the rail and landed in the spectator seating, suffering a cut over his eye and briefly losing consciousness. He was treated immediately by medical staff and members of the Canadian team and taken to hospital where he was found to have no broken bones or internal injuries. Barrette is being kept in hospital under observation and will return to Canada as soon as he can travel.

Competition begins on Friday and will run through Sunday.

Team Canada – 2015 Uci Track World Cup – Cali, Col
– Evan Burtnik (18, Edmonton, Ab) Men’s Team Pursuit
– Ed Veal (38, Queensville, On) Men’s Team Pursuit, Omnium
– Aidan Caves (20, Vancouver, BC) Men’s Team Pursuit, Points Race
– Sean Mackinnon (20, Hamilton, On) Men’s Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit
– Adam Jamieson (19, Barrie, On) Men’s Team Pursuit
– Joel Archambault (Quebec) Men’s Team Sprint
– Joseph Veloce (26, Fonthill, On) Men’s Team Sprint, Sprint
– Evan Carey (21, Victoria, BC) Men’s Team Sprint
– Monique Sullivan (26, Calgary, Ab) Women’s Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint
– Kate O’Brien (27, Calgary, Ab) Women’s Team Sprint, Sprint
– Allison Beveridge (22, Calgary, Ab) Women’s Team Pursuit, Scratch Race
– Stephanie Roorda (29, Vancouver, BC) Women’s Team Pursuit
– Kirsti Lay (27, Montreal, Qc) Women’s Team Pursuit
– Jasmin Glaesser (23, Coquitlam, BC) Women’s Team Pursuit, Omnium
– Laura Brown (28, Vancouver, BC) Women’s Team Pursuit