November 21, 2005 – The Ontario Cycling Association award presentations were celebrated on Saturday evening at the Radisson East in Toronto to a sold out crowd including cyclists from every discipline – MTB, Road, BMX, and Track.

OCA Executive Director, Steve Merker, was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and the festivities began with a presentation by special guest speaker, Olympic gold medallist, Lori-Ann Muenzer.

Muenzer made history winning Canada’s first ever Olympic gold medal in cycling. After eighteen years, 13 National titles, and 11 World Cup medals, Muenzer put the crowning glory on her career with Olympic gold in the Women’s Sprint at the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens.

Muenzer’s speech was inspirational to the athletes in the room. She recalled her journey to the gold medal podium highlighting the camaradrie between the athletes at the international level. She explained how friendly everyone was off the track despite the fierce rivalry between them during competition. It was Anna Meares of Australia who greeted her in the Olympic Village in Athens with a warm hug. Muenzer eventually won the semi-final sprint against Meares moving on to the gold medal race. Meares told Muenzer to “rip it up!” for the gold.

Just before she took to the track for the gold final Muenzer had to speak to her long time friend, and fellow trackie Steen Madsen, a tradition they’d shared over the years. She broke up a party back in Edmonton that Madsen was attending to get a few last words of encouragement from him. While sitting in a parking lot in Athens with Madsen on a cell phone in Edmonton, he reminded Muenzer that it was just one more sprint, like all of the others she had won before. Muenzer also recalled a photo finish picture which she kept where she had lost a race by a pixel-width. She used that photo for inspiration telling herself; “That is not happening again”¦”

Then it was time. Muenzer explained to the packed room how she took the first heat in the finals against Tamilla Abassova of Russia. How she made a clear decision to herself that she would finish the job in the second heat. Her effort was so strong in the second heat that she knew she had won gold 20 metres from the finish line. When asked how she felt crossing the line to win the gold she exclaimed, “Holy shit! I did it! That’s so cool!”

Muenzer and Ontario’s athletes were in good company at the celebration. To help to Lori-Ann present the awards for the evening were special presenters including Susan Palmer-Komar, Gord Singleton, and Giuseppe Ferrara.

An Olympian and National team member since 1989, Palmer-Komar has captured countless wins during her stellar career including National Road titles, silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and a World Cup silver in Belgium.

Gord Singleton is a name synonymous with cycling since 1974. Singleton, the 1982 Keirin World Champion, brought home Canada’s first cycling World title and is one of Canada’s finest cyclists ever with Pan-Am Games, Commonwealth Games and National title wins.

When asked what has changed in cycling over the years from his perspective, Singleton said that technology has been the biggest thing to change over the years. He also noted that athletes today are hyper-focused on all the minute details of the sport from eating to training to crank size, compared to when he raced.

Giuseppe Ferrara originally came to Canada to design and manufacture a new line of bikes. Well-known for his expertise in the engineering and design of bikes, he was one of the originators responsible for bringing the 2003 Road World Championships to Hamilton, Ontario.

Congratulations to all of the OCA 2005 award winners who put in solid performances throughout the 2005 season.

Road Female Athlete of the Year — Anna Tratnyek

Anna recorded the best all round performance by a female in Ontario Road Races in 2005. In addition to 2 National medals, and an O-Cup Podium, she brought home a Gold medal in the Road Race at the Canada Summer Games.

MTB Male Athlete of the Year — Mike Garrigan

Mike’s best performances included Provincial XC Champion, Provincial Enduro Champion, 2 Plastiglas O-Cup wins, and second in the Plastiglas O-Cup by only 1 point. Mike excelled this year despite a severe knee injury. Mike is also a mentor to over 300 kids and is a regular volunteer at Hardwood hills events.

BMX Contributors of the Year — Jo-Anne Brierley and Mike Heaton

This award is given to the member of the BMX community who exemplifies dedication and commitment to the sport. This year, there were two winners. Jo-Anne Brierley and Mike Heaton

Jo-Anne Brierley has dedicated the past two years to successfully getting the turns at the Kingston track paved, a dream of her husband Peter Brierley. In addition, Jo-Anne is the track’s president and is a great leader to all her volunteers.

Mike Heaton, a high school teacher has dedicated himself to developing BMX and has been instrumental in building both the Bayview and Cummer Parks dirt jump facilities. Mike’s passionate efforts have resulted in the approval of a BMX track which will begin construction in the spring of 2006. Mike also organized buses for over 100 inner city kids to participate in Track 2000, the best field trip of their lives.

Road Male Athlete of the Year — Ryan Roth

Ryan Roth of GearsRacing.com is the winner with the best all round performance in Ontario Road racing in 2005. Ryan Roth brought home 3 Provincial Medals, 2 O-Cup victories, was first in the Canada Cup Series, National Espoir RR Champion, and was the Provincial Hill Climb Champion. Ryan capped off his year by representing Canada in the Road World Championships. Ryan has demonstrated that it takes more that the GTA races to develop the skills of a champion.

MTB Female Athlete of the Year — Amanda Sin

Amanda Sin of team Bay Cycle /3 Rox Racing represents Provincial Perfection! Amanda won the Senior Elite Plastiglas Ontario Cup Series with a perfect score of 125 points! This included a string of five consecutive O-Cup victories including the Hardwood Hills Canada Cup. A 7th Place finish at Nationals lead her to represent Canada at the MTB World Championships.

BMX Junior Athlete of the Year — Chris DaSilva

Chris DaSilva dominates eastern Canada in BMX. In 2005, he swept the Eastern and Provincial championship winning all of the races in the series. This was a repeat of his performance in 2004 demonstrating that he is a true champion. In 2005, at the UCI International Race, DaSilva’s bike was stolen the night before the race. Determined to win, Chris jumped on a borrowed bike and put in a solid 4th place finish. Chris trains hard and gives back to the sport, volunteering at the Riders Ready Special Needs BMX and Toronto Set’Em up programs.

MTB Organizer of the Year — Hardwood Hills

Host of one of the most successful National Cyclo-Cross Championships ever amongst multiple other prestigious races, Hardwood hills continues to demonstrate the benchmark in racing. From its course design, maintenance, first aid, timing, to its valuable staff and tireless volunteers, Hardwood Hills has demonstrated their ability to organize a top level event.

Road Contributor of the Year — Scott Doel

Scott was the clear winner this year. Scott has the distinction of holding the most codes on his race license in Ontario. Doel’s commitment did not stop in Ontario as he commissaired the Canada Summer Games in Saskatchewan. He organized the National Cyclo-Cross Championships and Canada’s first UCI Cross race on the same weekend.

Road Organizer of the Year — St. Catherines Cycling Club

Demonstrating the best overall coordination in Road racing, the St. Catherines club continues to be the template for road racing in Ontario. The Niagara Classic, Rose Festival Criterium, and Provincial Time trial are among the great events hosted by St. Catherines.

MTB Contributor of the Year — Allan Hawley

Allan Hawley”˜s innovations have put Ontario at the forefront of provincial cycling. When he takes a break from promoting and growing the sport, Al can be found racing in 8 hours and the Eastern Ontario Cyclo-Cross Series. Known as Allan, Timer Al, or the guy with the green van, he is more aptly known as the 2005 MTB contributor of the year.

Builder of the Year 2005 — Forest City Velodrome Association

The Forest City Velodrome Association receives this award not only for constructing a track but for managing to establish itself as a self sustaining facility financially. They had to work hard to secure countless corporate sponsors. The Forest City Velodrome is now one of only three indoor Velodromes in North America. Thanks were given to the Association for making a dream come true for Ontario cyclists. Congratulations to the whole team for their foresight, energy, dedication, hard work and tenacity.

2005 Canada Games Team

The final presentation of the evening was a tribute to the 2005 Canada Games Team. This was the strongest team Ontario has ever assembled. They exuded class on and off the course. They operated as a team in both their training and their respective competitions at the Games. Adam Morka’s MTB race looked like it was over as the spokes on his front wheel were severed in a collision with teammate Brandon Crichton With the new technical assistance rules in effect, Crichton was able to give his wheel to Adam Morka who used it to finish 4th. That would not have been possible without the team spirit and effort all going for Gold.

Special congratulations to the following athletes for their performances at the 2005 Canada Summer games were: Emily Batty’s bronze Medal in the Women’s XC; Brandon Crichton’s Silver Medal in the Road Rack and Silver Medal in the Criterium, Brooke Boocock’s Gold in the ITT, and Anna Tratnyek’s Gold Medal in the Women’s Road Race.

Canada Games Team
Coaches and Management Staff: Neil Ross, Amy Moore representing Denise Kelly and Sophie Radecki.

Athletes: Mark Batty, Kelly Bietola, Sarah Coney, Matt Guse, Krystal Jeffs, Adam Morka, Catherine Vipond, Dave Vukets, Emily Batty, Brandon Crichton, and Anna Tratnyek.

Thanks went to all of the OCA Cycling Celebration sponsors: Cadillac Bicycles, Canadian Cyclist, Get Out There Magazine, Pedal Magazine, Securisport Signs, Chico Racing, Sugoi, SISU Health Products, PeakXL, Jones Brown Inc., and Norco Performance Bikes.

Special thanks went to Derek Cross of Cadillac Bicycles for the donation of a brand new Cadillac Elite Road Series – RLE1.8 bike as the grand prize for the evening won by Midweek Club member Sandy Thayer.