November 18, 2004 – Objectives: Our long-term vision is to have the most complete team possible for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. With the Athens Games behind us, it is important for the CCA to begin identifying and working with future Olympians as well as continuing to support our current generation of international-level cyclists.

In the context of track cycling World Cup season, the CCA has identified the Los Angeles World Cup (Dec. 10-12) as the event we will focus on. With our development objectives in mind, we have decided to send as many competitive athletes as possible to this event.

We have designed a selection process that will help us identify which athletes are ready to compete at the World Cup level. We will also use this process to identify athletes who have the potential to progress to the World Cup level and who can be included in future development programs (these programs will be designed and announced during the winter).

The selection process will take place during the Burnaby Velodrome Club event on Nov. 26-28 and during time trials at the Burnaby Velodrome on Nov. 30. Selected athletes will be asked to stay in Burnaby for a short training camp ending Dec. 3. Identified development athletes will also be invited to take part in the training camp along with the selected World Cup athletes.

Final preparation for the World Cup will be in San Diego from Dec. 4 to 8. Selected athletes will be asked to travel to San Diego on Dec. 4. Travel from San Diego to Los Angeles will be by car.

Selection to the remainder of the track world cups this season will be based on results in Los Angeles.

In March there will be a separate selection camp for the Pan American Championships (April 19-20, 2005). Athletes identified in Burnaby will be given partial funding to this camp. Details will be announced shortly.

Selection process: – Individual sprint and timed endurance events (Individual Pursuit, Kilo, 500m, Sprint, Keirin): Selection will be offered first to athletes who have shown the ability to be competitive at the international level in the 2004 calendar year (top 12 at World Cups, World Championship or Olympic Games) , in the event that athlete achieved that result in.

For the other events, or if an athlete selected above declines his or her position, that position will be offered as follows: – Selection priority goes to the 2004 national champion if that athlete meets time standard A, B or C in that specific event, as outlined below. – If another athlete meets a time standard one level above the national champion, that athlete will be selected (ie. If the national champion meets the B standard, but another meets the A standard, the second athlete will be selected) – If the national champion declines selection or does not meet the standard, the spot will be offered to the athlete setting the fastest time, as long as he or she meets at least the C standard. – If nobody meets the standard, the spot will not be filled.

Mass-start endurance events (Scratch Race, Points Race): Selection will be offered first to athletes who have shown the ability to be competitive at the international level in the 2004 calendar year (top 12 in World Cups, World Championship or Olympic Games), in the event that athlete achieved that result in.

For the other events, or if an athlete selected above declines his or her position, that position will be offered as follows: – Selection priority goes to the 2004 national champion if that athlete meets the A, B or C endurance time standards, as outlined below. – If the national champion declines selection or does not meet the standard, the spot will be offered to the athlete who performs best in the appropriate BVC events, from among the medalists at the Canadian championships, as long as he or she meets at least the C endurance time standards. – If the spot is still not filled, it will be offered to the athlete who performs best in the appropriate BVC events, as long as he or she meets the A, B or C endurance time standards, as outlined below.

Team events (Madison, team pursuit, Olympic sprint): Selection will be offered first to teams who have shown the ability to be competitive at the international level in the 2004 calendar year (top 12 in World Cups, World Championship or Olympic Games) , in the event that athlete achieved that result in.

For the other spots, or if an athlete selected above declines his or her position, that spot will be offered as follows: – Selection priority goes to athletes meeting the time standards. – If more athletes meet the standard than there are spots available, the final composition of the team will be determined through evaluation by the national track team coach during the training camp, based on technical ability and speed.

The BVC event format has not yet been finalized. The CCA will organize time trials on Nov. 30 for any events that were not run during the BVC, as well as for the endurance standards.

In all cases, the CCA reserves the right to not send athletes who are deemed to be not competitive.

Funding: Athletes meeting the A standard will be 100% funded by the CCA; athletes meeting the B standard will be 50% funded by the CCA; athletes meeting the C standard will be entirely self-funded. Because the World Cup provides accommodation and meals, that means the most an athlete would have to pay is for the airfare to Los Angeles.

The details of the standards can be seen here:

http://canadian-cycling.com/newsite/English/teams/national/selection.htm