July 21, 2010 (Ottawa, ON) – Canada will send 22 of its top Para-cyclists to compete at the 2010 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to be held in Baie-Comeau, Québec, from August 18-22, 2010. Held annually, the UCI Para-cycling World Championships are considered the biggest para-cycling event in the world after the Paralympic Games.

The Canadian delegation will be represented by a strong mix of veterans and young cyclists coming from four provinces. Six of the riders to represent Canada have won medals at the 2009 Para-Cycling Road World Championships, combining to win six medals in total for Canada.

Eleven of the 22 riders selected on the Canadian team have experience at Paralympic Games, either in Summer or Winter Games.

Robert Labbé (Québec, QC) is the defending World Champion in the Hand Cycling category, divison 1 in the Individual Time Trial race and vice-champion in the Road race. Labbé, currently ranked 4th in the UCI World standings, is Canada’s top ranked male cyclist. Labbé won the 2010 Canadian Championship Road Race earlier this summer in July.

For the first time, Canada will be fielding two Tandems in the Women’s Blind category, including a new tandem formed by former Nordic skier Robbi Weldon (Thunder Bay, ON) and piloted by veteran Olympian Lyne Bessette (Knowlton, QC). The new tandem duo recently captured the Road Race title at the 2010 Para-Cycling Road Canadian Championships in Saint-Georges, QC.

Robbi Weldon recently competed at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in the Nordic events, where she finished fourth and sixth in her respective category.

Shelley Gautier (Toronto, ON) will be Canada’s lone entry in the Trike category. Gautier, who rides in Ontario, is entering the event ranked first in the UCI World rankings in the T1 category

“We are expecting to see some quality riding in Baie-Comeau. These athletes are the best in the country in their categories. With the sharp improvements we saw last week at the Canadian Championships in St-Georges, QC, we are looking for quality results at the World Championships,” said Eric Van Den Eynde, Head Coach of the Para-Cycling National team.

A select group of Canadian cyclist recently travelled to Baie-Comeau to take advantage of hosting the event by training on the course that will be used for the World Championships.

The event, which will welcome over 40 countries from around the globe in Canada, will attract an estimated 525 Para-cyclists, coaches, support staff, and reporters.

Baie-Comeau are first ever “Green” UCI World Championships

Paramanic International, the organizers of the UCI Para-cycling World Championships, is the first committee to use “ReCycling, the UCI Environmental Guidebook for the organization of greener cycling events” to stage its event. As a result of its commitment, Paramanic International has been awarded the official UCI eco-label ReCycling, which it can now use in its documents, correspondence and promotional material.

Published by the UCI in 2009, the ReCycling guidebook allows organizers to make their races ecologically responsible events. It includes a series of worksheets that guide organizers through the preparation and operating phases of their events.

Canadian Team – 2010 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships
– Daniel Chalifour – (St-Jérôme, QC) (B) / Alexandre Cloutier – (St-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC) (Pilot) ^^ *
– Stéphane Coté – (Québec, QC) (B) / Pierre-Olivier Boily – (Sherbrooke, QC) (Pilot) *
– Alexandre Carrier – (Matane, QC) (B) / Luc Dionne – (Sorel, QC) (Pilot)
– Geneviève Ouellet – (Québec, QC) (B) / Émilie Roy – (Québec, QC) (Pilot) *
– Robbie Weldon – (Thunder Bay, ON) (B) / Lyne Bessette – (Knowlton, QC) (Pilot) ^ *

– Mark Breton – (Charlesbourg, QC) (C5) ^ *
– Éric Bourgault – (Orford, QC) (C4) *
– Matthieu Parent – (Granby, QC) (C2) *
– Arnold Boldt – (Moose Jaw, SK) (C2) ^^ *
– Brayden McDougall – (Calgary, AB) (C1) *
– Jaye Miley – (Calgary, AB) (C1)
– Marie-Claude Molnar – (Sainte-Adèle, QC) (C4) #

– Shelley Gautier – (Toronto, ON) (T1) ^

– Rico Morneau – (Sainte-Martine, QC) (H2) ^ *
– Mark Beggs – (Montréal, QC) (H2) *
– Mark Ledo – (Maple, ON) (H3) ^^
– Robert Labbé – (Québec, QC) (H1) ^ #

Support Staff
– Éric VanDen Eynde – Head Coach
– Sébastien Travers – Assitant Coach
– Julie Hutsebaut – Team Manager

– Martin St-Laurent – Physiotherapist
– Philippe Maheu – Physiotherapist
– Isabelle Ménard – Team nurse

Legend
^ 2010 Canadian Champion in Road events (Road and Time Trial)
* Paralympian
# 2009 Para-Cycling Road World Championships medalist

Schedule – 2010 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships
Click here.

2009 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships – Canadian Medalists
– Robert Labbé (Québec, QC) – Gold – Men’s HC A – Individual Time Trial
– Robert Labbé (Québec, QC) – Silver – Men’s HC A – Road Race HC Relay
– Marie-Claude Molnar (Sainte-Adèle, QC) – Bronze – Women’s LC2-CP4 – Road Race
– Marie-Claude Molnar (Sainte-Adèle, QC) – Bronze – Women’s LC2-CP4 – Individual Time Trial
– Daniel Chalifour/Alexandre Cloutier (QC) – Bronze – Men’s B – Individual Time Trial