December 16, 2018 (Ottawa, ON ) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team of athletes who have been selected to the BMX National Team and NextGen programs for 2019. Athletes within the programs will benefit from a Daily Training Environment, including personalized and periodized coaching and integrated support services, with a focus on performances on the international competition schedule. The NextGen Program will continue as West and East programs based at the SX tracks in Abbotsford, BC, and Toronto, ON.

“Despite some injuries within our National Team, the progression was strong in 2018 and we saw several personal best results. With Olympic qualifying in full swing, we are confident we have the right group of athletes in the program to contend for Olympic spots. 2019 will be an important year in the chase for points, including a very important Europe project in the spring. This year is also an opportunity for BMX athletes to achieve medals at the PanAm Games in Lima,” said Adam Muys, BMX National and NextGen Coach.

“2018 was an extremely successful year for NextGen BMX riders, with Cole Zufelt and Britney Hovencamp both making a World Championship final and Ryan Tougas setting a new Canadian record with 11 straight US wins,” said Brendan Arnold, National NextGen Coach. “The opportunity to represent the maple leaf in Baku was an extremely important opportunity for this group and will only help boost the confidence going into the 2019 Worlds.”

The 2018 squad consists of:

BMX National Program

Alex Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
Avriana Hebert – Edmonton, AB
Daina Tuchscherer – Calgary, AB
Drew Mechielsen – Langley, BC
Gaby Malenfant – Drummondville, QC
James Palmer – North Vancouver, BC
Tory Nyhaug – Coquitlam, BC

BMX NextGen East Program (Toronto)

Britney Hovencamp – Amherstview, ON
Cole Zufelt – Trenton, ON
Colson Bates – Pickering, ON
Curtis Krey – Etobicoke, ON
Edouard Proulx – Saint-Valerien-de-Milton, QC
Emma Robbescheuten – Brooklin, ON
Felix Maltais – Drummondville, QC
James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON
Josh Samells – Milton, ON
Lauren Webber – Ottawa, ON

BMX NextGen West Program (Abbotsford)

Aidan Webber – Comox, BC
Alex Grecht – Parksville, BC
Ben Leslie – Nanaimo, BC
Billy Ratcliff – Abbotsford, BC
Molly Simpson – Red Deer, AB
Nick Berarducci – Airdrie, AB
Riley Lavarato – Lethbridge, AB
Ryan Tougas – Pitt Meadows, BC
Teigen Pascual – Squamish, BC
Violet Cejalvo – Surrey, BC