September 13, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – With less than a week prior to the start of the UCI Road World Championships held in Limburg, the Netherlands, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce those who have been selected to represent Canada at the event.
The event starts on September 16 with the newly added Team Time Trial race for professional cycling teams, and closes on September 23 with the marquee Elite Men Road Race.
The team is headlined by World Tour veterans Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC/Garmin-Sharp) who won the 2012 Giro d’Italia and represented Canada at the Olympic Games, François Parisien (Repentigny, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10), seven-time Canadian Time Trial Champion Svein Tuft (Langley, BC/Orica-GreenEDGE) and David Veilleux (Cap Rouge, QC/Team EuropCar). Tuft will also be racing the Time Trial.
“We have more depth than ever to select our teams for major international events. This is a great sign that cycling in Canada is moving in the right direction, and is growing rapidly in popularity. The team we have is experienced competing against the best in the World. We are travelling to Limburg to be competitive and have a shot at winning,” said Gord Fraser, who will be heading the Elite Men team at this event.”
In women’s action, Canada will be sending five riders for the road race. The squad is headlined by Olympians Joëlle Numainville (Montréal, QC/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, MB/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies). Lex Albrecht (Barrie, ON/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies), Véronique Labonté (La Guadeloupe, QC/CSM Epinay sur Seine) and Karol-Ann Canuel (Amos, QC/Vienne-Futuroscope) have also been selected to race at the World Championships. Rhae-Christie Shaw (Amherstburg, ON/Team Exergy Twenty12) will compete in the time trail event where she rode to an impressive Top 10 last year. Numainville will also compete in the individual time trial.
Among the Espoir (U23) categories, Canada has a strong team of riders racing in the road race. Hugo Houle (Ste-Perpétue, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10), David Boily (Québec, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10) and Canadian U23 Road Race Champion Antoine Duchesne (Blainville, QC/Garneau-Québecor-Norton Rose) will all be racing the road race. Both Houle and Boily will also be racing the time trial, with Houle winning the Canadian U23 Time Trial title this past June.
“Our riders will be very competitive in Limburg. The course suits their abilities, and they have both proven their skills throughout the past season. Houle came in second at the challenging Tour de Beauce, while David Boily made history last season by sporting the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de l’Avenir for five days,” said Luc Arseneau, coach of the development program at Cycling Canada. “We have made some smart decisions in preparing for these World Championships, and we have three riders on the start line compared to one last year.”
In the junior categories, Canada will be represented by some young riders who have excelled at national and international races this season. Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau, QC) and Saskia Kowalchuk are headlining the women’s junior team as the two Canadian Champions. Audrey Labrie (Prévost, QC) and Allyson Gillard (Beaupré, QC) will be joining the team. In men’s junior action, both Canadian Champions in the Road and Time Trial men junior races Chris Prendergast (Winnipeg, MB), and Nigel Ellsay (Courtenay, BC) are also expected to be on the start lines in the Netherlands, joined by Benjamin Perry (St. Catharines, ON).
For more information on the 2012 UCI Road World Championships, please visit <http://guynf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43d085908a13ee5897bf30ce4&id=9b078fc769&e=d29a4f46c5>www.limburg2012.nl
Canadina Cycling Team – 2012 UCI Road World Championships (Limburg, NED)
Elite Men
– Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC/Garmin-Sharp) [Road race]
– François Parisien (Repentigny, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10) [Road race]
– Svein Tuft (Langley, BC/Orica-GreenEDGE) [Road race; Time Trial]
– David Veilleux (Cap Rouge, QC/Team EuropCar) [Road race]
Elite Women
– Lex Albrecht (Barrie, ON/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) [Road race]
– Karol-Ann Canuel (Amos, QC/Vienne-Futuroscope) [Road race]
– Leah Kirchmanbn (Winnipeg, MB/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) [Road race]
– Véronique Labonte (La Guadeloupe, QC/CSM Epinay sur Seine) [Road race]
– Joëlle Numainville (Montréal, QC/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) [Road race; Time Trial]
– Rhae-Christie Shaw (Amherstburg, ON/Team Exergy Twenty12) [Time Trial]
U23 Men
– David Boily (Québec, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10) [Time Trial; Road Race]
– Antoine Duchesne (Blainville, QC/Garneau-Québecor-Norton Rose) [Road Race]
– Hugo Houle (Ste-Perpétue, QC/Team SpiderTech p/b C10) [Time Trial; Road Race]
Junior Men
– Nigel Ellsay (Courtenay, BC/Cycling BC) [Time Trial; Road Race]
– Benjamin Perry (St. Catharines, ON/Team CHCH) [Time Trial; Road Race]
– Christopher Prendergast (Winnipeg, MB/Team Manitoba) [Road Race]
Junior Women
– Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau, QC/Équipe du Québec) [Road Race]
– Allyson Gillard (Beaupré, QC/Équipe du Québec) [Time Trial; Road Race]
– Saskia Kowalchuk (Toronto, ON/Team CHCH) [Time Trial; Road Race]
– Audrey Labrie (Prévost, QC/Team Piste.ca) [Road Race]
Support Team
– Matthew Knight [Team Manager]
– Denise Kelly [Women’s Road Coach]
– Gord Fraser [Men’s Road Coach]
– Luc Arseneau [U23/Junior Men’s Coach]
– Jayson Gillespie [Junior Coach]
– Nathaniel Faulkner [Assistant Coach]
– Chad Grochowina [Mechanic]
– Scott Kelly [Mechanic]
– Bruno Forrestier [Mechanic]
– Michel L`Hoest [Soigneur]
– Craig deVeer [Soigneur]
– Eddy Poislay [Soigneur]