Halfway to the Olympics and on the right track toward Olympic gold,Canada’s riders have what it takes to shine on the world cycling circuit.Canada’s cyclists are performing at their best on many fronts, and everyyear, teams and events are growing and getting slicker and betterorganized. As they all push limits, the results get better.

The sponsorship of the following teams allows riders to race across thenation and, often, internationally. The Canada Cup is a great series thathelps riders take the next step toward their dreams. Here’s an overview ofthe 2002 Canada’s mountain-bike teams.

If there is any team poised to take Canada (and North America) by stormthis season, it’s Gears Racing Team. With a roster boasting nine NationalRoad and MTB team riders, you can expect red, blue, and yellow to dominatethe podium in 2002. The team has the senior levels covered with NationalTeam members Mat Toulouse, Trish Sinclair, and Kiara Bisaro, as well aswith fifth-place-overall Canada Cup finisher Julian Hine. In the Espoirsmen and Junior men categories, National champions Ricky Federau and AdamCoates will lead their teammates Ryan Savoy and Frederic Bussieres to moresuccess. The women’s Senior team has gone from two riders to six competentracers, including Sue Trimble, Clare Hall-Patch, Danelle Kabush, andHeather King. The team plans to have a presence at all NORBA and Canada CupSeries races, and will be fully represented on the North American continent.

The Kona Factory Team returns to 2002 with three Canadian riders: KrisSneddon (fourth at Espoirs Nationals), Geoff Kabush (fourth at Nationals),and Peter Wedge (eighth at Nationals). Consistency is key here, andobviously these riders and management work well together to make the gradeat each race.

Lesley Tomlinson and Andreas Hestler are once again heading up the RockyMountain Race Team. A new addition to the Senior team is American riderGretchen Reeves, who will be joining Tomlinson at NORBA races and the WorldCup events. on the Junior side, the Rocky Mountain team is supporting sixNational Team riders for the 2002 season.

Oryx-Procycle returns with the same management and support team as lastyear. Four of its main riders-Eric Tourville, Marie-Helene Premont, ClaireTownsend, and Pierre Harvey-are returning to the team for 2002. Missingfrom the team’s roster are Bill Hurley and Marisol Bernier. New riders withthe team include Jean-Phillipe Provost, Mathieu Darveau (fifth and seventh,respectively, at Espoirs), and Anne-Marie Jobin. Jobin is a first-yearSenior who was third at Nationals and had many top-five finishes in theCanada Cup series.

Team Ford-Devinci is back with four riders this year, instead of five, andintroduces new team members as some of the old guard have moved on.Jean-Francois Laroche will race cross-country and J.J. Desormaux willperform on the dual circuit. Chad onyschuk returns as the team’s lonedownhill racer returning to the team for 2002.

New to the Norco team this year is Mike Jones. Returning after a hiatus ofseveral years from the competitive side of the sport, Jones placed top-10in the 2001 Canada Cup Series. Look for Jones to be one of the top-fivedownhillers in the country this year. Elladee Brown has moved from amanagement position to racer status for 2002. Brian Eller and Deb MacKillopare back for another season with the team. In the cross-country events in2002, only Linda Robichaud will be racing with Norco colours. Notables gonefrom the team for 2002 include Canada Cup winner Barb Haley and CecileGambin. Haley has signed on with Dirtworks Canada for 2002.

The Fly Gurls racing team is entering its second year as a Canadian tradeteam. Recognized as Canada’s only all-girl mountain-bike team, the rosterhas racers from Alberta, ontario, B.C., and Quebec. The team has sport,expert, and élite women racers under its wing, with a four-decade spanbetween the riders.

A new trade team this year, but not an unfamiliar name in the cyclingworld, is the Bianchi Canada racing team. Five riders will be racingmountain bike at the pro-élite level. Carter Hovey and Osmond Bakker (10thand 11th, respectively, at Nationals) will be leading the team. LeslieGreene will be racing for Bianchi in the pro-élite women’s field.

Canadian 2002 MTB Team Rosters

Oryx-Procycle
Major Sponsors: Oryx, Maxxis, Marzocchi, Time, Velo, KMC, KSA
Team Manager: Yvan Rodrigue
Ass’t Manager: Patrick Giguere
Mechanic: Jerome San Facon
XC: Eric Tourville, Marie-Helene Premont, Pierre Harvey, Claire Townsend,Mathieu Darveau, Jean-Phillipe Provost, Anne-Marie Jobin.

Bianchi Canada
Major Sponsors: Bianchi, Roces Canada Ltd.
Team Manager: Mike Doble
XC: Leslie Greene, Carter Hovey, Osmond Bakker, Andrew Watson, Chris Ivey,Neil Sauve, Brandon Crichton, Mike Doble

Gears Racing
Major Sponsors: Bonham & Co. Asset Management, Specialized Bicycles, Shimano Canada
Team Manager: Ira Kargel
Team Director: Mark Bonham
Mountain Bike Director: Kevin Wallace
Support Staff: Ralph Neumann and Frank Foglin
XC: Julian Hine, Mathieu Toulouse, Ricky Federau, Kiara Bisaro, TrishSinclair, Ryan Savoy, Sue Trimble, Clare Hall-Patch, Adam Coates, FredericBussieres, Danelle Kabush, Kevin Haviland, Craig Hawkes, Paul Skafel,Heather King, Sean Ito
DH: Peter MacLean, ondrej Neuwann, Mike Towers

Fly Gurls
Major Sponsors: E-Load, Blue Mountain Resorts, Squire John’s , LouisGarneau, Blast Bars, Specialized, Smith, Southpaw Sportswear, StarbucksCoffee Co., OGC, Camelback, Pedro’s , Yodobike
Team Manager: Michelle Ward
XC: Karley Cunningham, Stephanie Martinek, Julie Ruest, Rachel Morris,Jennifer Moss, Chandra Venables, Ingrid Coney, Heather Pandon, KathyWatkins, Tracy Temple

Team Devinci
Major Sponsors: Cycles Devinci, Rock Shox, Mavic, Michelin
Team Manager: Steve Vocelle
XC: Steve Vocelle, Jean-Francois Laroche
DH: Chad onyschuk DL: J.J. Desormaux

Rocky Mountain Bicycles
Major Sponsors: Rocky Mountain, Marzocchi, Maxxis, Race Face, Shimano,Easton, Fox Shoy, Spinergy, Selle Italia, Titec, Haywood Securities
Team Manager: Marshall Cant
Mechanic: TBD
XC: Andreas Hestler, Lesley Tomlinson, Lucas Curran, Gretchen Reeve, BenSigston, Jordan Rasmussen, Bradley Fairall, Will Routley, AndrewCartwright, Tyler West, Jean Ann McKirdy

Norco
Major Sponsors: Norco Bicycle Products, Marzocchi, Kenda
Team Manager: Peter Stace-Smith
Ass’t Manager: Richard Belson
Mechanic: TBD
XC: Linda Robichaud
DH/DL: Mike Jones, Deb MacKillop, Brian Eller, Elladee Brown, DarrylSteane, Dean Collengridge, Darren Butler, Mike Kinrade, James Durand, KarlMajor, Pat Mulrooney
Undeclared: Andrew Kyle, Ian Moult, Ryan Leech, Tyler McGill, RichardHumphries, Tony Nyhaug, Layne Nyhaug, Joan Jones, Jay Krantz, Robin Coope,Greg Forrest, Keith Howitt, Kris Holm, Ryan Senechal, Nelson Papel, TonyEdgar, Mike Headford, Mike Hooch, Rich Prorok

Kona Factory Team
Major Sponsors: Kona, Voicestream, Marzocchi, Fox, Shimano, TogaTeam Manager: Dick Cox
XC: Peter Wedge, Geoff Kabush, Kris Snedden

Mo’ Info
Check the Canadian Cycling Association’s website, www.canadian-cycling.comfor late team entries to the 2002 season. To find the trade teams listed,click on the “events” link.