May 28, 2004 – The Canadian Cycling Association announced today that the CCA Young Women’s Team will take part in the upcoming Montreal Women’s World Cup.

With this being an Olympic year, Montrealers will be privileged to witness this great event, which will give residents a taste of what is to come next August as the top women in the world square off in the Elite Women’s Road race at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Kris Westood, CCA Development coach puts the emphasis on the experience that the Montreal races will offer the CCA Young Women’s team. “The Montreal World Cup is going to be a great learning experience for the CCA young women’s development team. The riders will have a chance to sample the top level of international competition with absolutely no pressure from the team or from the race organizer, Daniel Manibal, who told us the riders can pull out anytime they want. The real objective for the team will be the Tour de Grand Montreal. The field will be the same as in the World Cup, but the courses are a little easier.”

Westwood, who will also manage the team in Montreal, is pleased about this opportunity presented to the young women’s team. “The whole point of inviting athletes to take part in the Young Women’s Team program is to give them a chance to do races they wouldn’t otherwise get into, and, as manager of the team for the two Montreal races and Philadelphia, my challenge will be to make sure they learn as much from the experience as possible”

Brett Stewart, acting Director General of the CCA confirms that “it is exciting for us to have the CCA’s Young Women’s Team entered in an event of such high caliber as the Women’s World Cup in Montreal. Having an event of such class and prestige like the World Cup in Montreal encourages the development of women’s cycling across the country. It is the highest rated course in North America and we are privileged to host it and have a development team compete in it.”