Message Board

March 12, 2006 – In just a few days Canadian athletes will join the athletes from 71 other countries “down under” for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, from March 15-26, 2006.

Canada is sending a fairly strong team this year to contest the cycling events. The MTB races are definitely the strongest bets for Canadian medals with Geoff Kabush and Seamus McGrath both strong gold medal contenders. The same can be said for Kiara Bisaro and Olympic medallist Marie-Hélène Prémont in the women’s MTB race.

On the road, Canada’s women’s team seems to be stronger than the men’s – with veterans and all-rounders like Sue Palmer-Komar and Lyne Bessette to lead the squad. Look for a possible bunch sprint which could mean a medal for speedster Gina Grain. In the TT, either Palmer-Komar, Bessette or Erinne Willock could easily snag a medal. It’s still hard to say if the Canadian men’s road squad will have the horsepower to deliver Gord Fraser to the line for victory, but if strong men like Svein Tuft or Geoff Kabush can lead Flash Gordon to the finish, it’s possible. Look to all-rounder Dominique Perras to make the mid-race moves along with Martin Gilbert. Svein Tuft is a definite medal contender for the TT, as well.

On the track, Canada’s best bets are with Grain or Mandy Poitras in the scratch and points race, along with Travis Smith in the sprint, and Canada’s men’s team for the Olympic Sprint.
Stay tuned to pedalmag.com for complete Games coverage.

Cycling Schedule

– March 16-20: Track Racing
– March 21: Road Time Trials
– March 23: MTB XC
– March 26: Road Race

www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule+and+Results/

Canada’s 2006 Commonwealth Games Cycling Team

Track Women
– Mandy Poitras (scratch race, points race)
– Gina Grain (scratch race, points race)

Track Men
– Travis Smith (team sprint, sprint, keirin)
– Cam MacKinnon (team sprint, sprint, kilo)
– Yannick Morin (team sprint, sprint, kilo)
– Martin Gilbert (scratch race, points race)
– Zach Bell (scratch race, points race)

Mountain Bike XC Women
РMarie-H̩l̬ne Pr̩mont
– Kiara Bisaro

Mountain Bike XC Men
– Geoff Kabush
– Seamus McGrath

Time Trial Women
– Sue Palmer-Komar
– Lyne Bessette
– Erinne Willock
– Road men:

Time Trial Men
– Svein Tuft
– Zach Bell

Road Race Women
– Sue Palmer-Komar
– Lyne Bessette
– Erinne Willock
– Amy Moore
– Gina Grain
– Mandy Poitras

Road Race Men
РFran̤ois Parisien
– Svein Tuft
– Gord Fraser
– Dominique Perras
– Geoff Kabush
– Martin Gilbert

www.melbourne2006.com