January 19, 2011 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian track cycling team will be back to racing mode this weekend at the third event on the 2011 UCI Track World Cup Tour, in Beijing, China. The team led by Head coach Richard Wooles has looked strong since the beginning of the 2011 season, with two cyclists in the hunt for overall season titles, and a women’s team pursuit knocking on the podium’s door.

Tara Whitten of Edmonton, AB is currently leading the charge in the Women’s omnium midway through the season, while Zach Bell of North Vancouver, BC, is sitting in second place of the Men’s omnium.

The team just completed a training camp at the Canadian Cycling Association’s track cycling home base in Los Angeles, California.

The new Olympic discipline of the “Team Pursuit” is one area where Canada is spending time and energy to polish in Los Angeles.

The women’s team comprised of Whitten, Laura Brown of Vancouver, BC and Stephanie Roorda also of Vancouver, BC have enjoyed success this season with a fourth and a fifth place in World Cup competition.

“We have two World Cup events under our belt and we are gearing up for the third of the season in Beijing, China. We placed fourth and fifth so far so we are looking good for Olympic qualification. Living and training in LA on a World Class track day in and day out has been indispensable. I would not want to be anywhere else right now as I prepare for the Olympics next summer,” said Laura Brown of Vancouver, BC.

Monique Sullivan of Calgary, AB, one of Canada’s top sprinter, is also excited to be back racing at this third World Cup event of the 2011 season: “After a really nice break at home for the holidays, I went back to LA and got ready for the next World Cup. I am motivated after a good performance in the sprints in Cali, and looking for more in the Keirins in Beijing. We don’t have much time but I am making everyday count,” said Monique Sullivan

The Men’s team pursuit will use this upcoming World Cup event as an opportunity put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Veteran cyclist Remi-Pelletier Roy is impressed with how the team is now working together after spending time together.

“We have been training in a different way during the last few weeks, and we are working more as a unit. Everybody knows what role they have to play in within the team and that makes a training environment more constructive, said Remi Pelletier-Roy of Longueuil, QC. “The way we are training and feeling, I think we’re allowed to think that China World Cup will be one of our best rides, if not the best we have ever have.”

The track cycling World Cup in Beijing starts Friday, and ends Sunday.

Canadian Team

WOMEN
– BROWN, Laura (Vancouver, BC)
– ROORDA, Stephanie (Vancouver, BC)
– SULLIVAN, Monique (Calgary, AB)
– WHITTEN, Tara (Edmonton, AB)

MEN
– BELL, Zach (North Vancouver, BC/Watson Lake, Yukon)
– SMITH, Travis (Calgary, AB)
– VELOCE, Joseph (Fonthill, ON)
– COSSETTE, Stephane (Bromont, QC)
– MACKINNON, Cameron (Dieppe, NB)
– SCHWINGBOTH, Jacob (Surrey, BC)
– LACHANCE, Jean-Michel (Québec, QC)
– PELLETIER-ROY, Rémi (Longueuil, QC)

For full results and live timing, please visit the UCI timing website at: <http://www.tissottiming.com/>http://www.tissottiming.com