December 22, 2018 (Grenchen, Switzerland) – Joel Archambault led the Canadian charge claiming silver in Men’s Keirin at the Track Cycling Challenge at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland for his first international podium. Je’Land Sydney finished 9th while Nick Wammes did not advance past the First Round Repechage.

Team Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell made the bronze medal final in the Women’s Sprint finishing just off the podium in fourth. Mitchell was 8th in the Women’s Keirin followed by Amelia Walsh in 11th. Maggie Coles-Lyster placed 9th in the Women’s Omnium as the NextGen Development team wrapped up a European project before the holidays.

Results (brief)

Men’s Keirin

Final 1-6
1. Mateusz Rudyk (Poland)
2. Joel Archambault (Canada)
3. Alexey Nosov (Marathon-Tula Cycling Team)
4. Aleksandr Dubchenko (Marathon-Tula Cycling Team)
5. Francesco Ceci (Italy)
6. Jirí Janosek (Dukla Brno)

Final 7-12
7. Yu Zhou (China)
8. Quentin Caleyron (France)
9. Je’Land Sydney (Canada)
10. Juan Peralta Gascon (Mailope T.T.)
11. Joseph Truman (Great Britain)
12. Patryk Rajkowski (Poland)

Women’s Keirin

Final 1-6
1. Tianshi Zhong (China)
2. Miriam Welte (FC Kaiserslautern)
3. Ekaterina Gnidenko (Tula)
4. Elena Bissolati (G.S. Cicli Fiorin Cycling Team ASD)
5. Millicent Tanner (Great Britain)
6. Blaine Ridge-Davis (Great Britain)

Final 7-12
7. Junhong Lin (China)
8. Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)
9. Robyn Stewart (Ireland)
10. Natalia Antonova (St Petersburg)
11. Amelia Walsh (Canada)
12. Victoria Barnes (Great Britain)

Women’s Sprint

Final for Gold
1. Junhong Lin (China) 17.307, 12.119
2. Tianshi Zhong (China)

Final for Bronze
3. Miriam Welte (FC Kaiserslautern) 11.853, Winner
4. Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)

Women’s Omnium

Final Classification
1. Emily Kay (Great Britain) 137 pts
2. Emily Nelson (Great Britain) 118
3. Andrea Waldis (Switzerland) 108
4. Jessica Roberts (Team Breeze) 106
5. Olivija Baleisyte (Lithuania) 105
6. Elena Cecchini (Italy) 94
7. Anita Stenberg (Norway) 87
8. Aline Seitz (Switzerland) 78
9. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Canada) 78
10. Amber Joseph (Barbados) 62
11. Alexandra Goncharova (Tula) 59
12. Lisa Brennauer (Germany) 52
13. Rebecca Raybould (Team Breeze) 49
14. Olga Zabelinskaya (Uzbekistan) 48
15. Lydia Boylan (Ireland) 37
16. Léna Mettraux (Switzerland) 26
17. Michelle Andres (Switzerland) 21
18. Lydia Gurley (Ireland) 21
DNF Ekaterina Knebeleva (Uzbekistan)
DNF Kristina Kazlauskaite (Lithuania)
DNF Galina Streltsova (Moscow)
DNF Martina Alzini (Italy)
DNF Sophie Lankford (Cardiff Ajax)
DNF Zhaojuan Meng (Hong Kong)

December 21, 2018 (Burnaby, BC) – The Western Track Challenge was established 2017 as a collaboration between the Burnaby Velodrome Club, Cycling BC and Cycling Canada. This Nationally sanctioned event is a platform for U19, and U17 racers to challenge their fitness and hone in on that competitive spirit in preparation for the Junior Nationals. The event also serves as a regional Championship for Western Canada and attracts racers from the Pacific North West. If you are a track racer, we cannot think of a better place to be in Canada in January than the Burnaby Velodrome!

December 20, 2018 – This helmet calls for help. We’ve transformed the bicycle helmet into a live tracking device, crash detector, and safety beacon. Our helmets not only add protection, they’re also the only helmets designed to connect you to help when you need it most.

We just reinvented the helmet
When we get a chance to ride, we take it. We escape. Sometimes that means going solo. Sometimes that means dashing off without telling friends and family where we’re headed. Trouble is, crashes happen, drivers don’t always see you, and sometimes, we simply pick the worst possible line down the sketchiest possible trail.

Reality, in other words, happens, which is why we offer the only helmets equipped with both MIPS brain-protection systems and ANGi—an innovative sensor designed to add protection, before, during, and after a crash.

Protection Before
ANGi is a ride tracker. ANGi lets your emergency contacts know you’re heading out for a ride and, if you choose, to follow your ride in real time.

Protection During
ANGi is a crash detector. Wearing an ANGi-equipped helmet is like having a friend there making sure you’re okay.

Protection After
ANGi is a safety beacon. If you’re hurt, ANGi alerts your emergency contacts that you’ve crashed and sends them your location.

THIS IS ANGi…
ANGi is a patented, helmet-mounted sensor that measures the forces transmitted to your helmet during a crash, as well as the harmful rotational forces that occur during crashes when your helmet doesn’t actually impact the ground.

…And This is How it Works
It’s simple. Just pair ANGi with a smartphone equipped with our Ride Premium app. If ANGi detects a crash during a ride, it sends a countdown alert to your phone. If you’re hurt and unable to stop the countdown, the app transmits a text alert and your most recently uploaded GPS coordinates to your emergency contacts.

Get on the Ride
The Specialized Ride app makes finding rides and getting connected to your cycling community quick and easy. It even records your ride and performance data, syncs seamlessly with popular apps like STRAVA, and powers ANGi’s ability to connect you to help.

It’s available for both iPhone (iOS 10 or later) and Android (7 and later). You get a free 1-year subscription to the Ride Premium app with the purchase of any ANGi-equipped Specialized helmet or ANGi aftermarket sensor.

INNOVATION BORN ON A RIDE
ANGi is the culmination of years of research and development, but it all started on a training ride that went wrong. One rider went to the hospital. Another rider asked himself what he could do to help make every trip a little bit safer. ANGi is the answer.

100 PERCENT MIPS. 100 PERCENT SPECIALIZED
All of our helmets are now available with MIPS, giving you an extra layer of protection. Today, we introduce the next generation—MIPS SL.

MIPS SL integrates this patented brain-protection technology into the comfort padding itself. It’s all the protection of MIPS, made ultralight, ultra-comfortable, and exclusively Specialized.

December 19, 2018 (Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC) – Last year, on December 22, my friend, cyclist and racer Jason Lowndes was killed by a car while training close to his home in Australia. He was 23.

The driver who hit him was texting while driving at the moment of impact. A few weeks ago, in Florida, a distracted driver plowed into a 14-cyclist peloton. Of the 14 people in the group, two were killed. In December 2016, Ellen Watters, a 28-year-old member of the Canadian cycling national team, was also killed by a distracted driver while training close to her home in Nova Scotia. In April 2017, Michele Scarponi, star of the Astana professional cycling team, was killed by a truck driver who was watching a video on his smartphone, a few days only before the start of the Giro d’Italia, in which he was slated to participate.

Christmas will be upon us in a few days; lives have been taken, families destroyed and drivers saw their lives ruined. The cell phone is an extraordinary communication tool but, if used while driving a vehicle, it can become a lethal weapon.

At Garneau, we have decided to launch the International “Don’t Text and Drive” Day to make everyone on the planet aware of the danger of texting and driving. Cyclists have been killed, but texting while driving is indiscriminate; pedestrians and other motorists could also be the victims of fatal crashes.

This event is first and foremost a rallying at the human scale, no matter the way of life or means of transportation, in a great effort to bring awareness to this issue. Following this announcement, we will deploy a message chain on social media which, I hope, will touch millions of people around the world and which will be repeated every December 22, for the rest of our lives, in homage to my friend Jason.

Today, 22 people will be pledging their support to this cause.

December 18, 2018 (London, England) – Canada finished the fourth round of the Tissot UCI Track World Cup on Sunday in London, England, with a bronze medal in the Women’s Omnium and two additional top-10 results.

Allison Beveridge won her second bronze medal in four World Cups on Saturday with a strong and consistent ride over the four events that make up the Omnium. The Calgary rider was fifth in the Scratch Race, fourth in the Tempo and seventh in the Elimination, to go into the final Points Race fourth overall.

After gaining ten points, Beveridge moved up to third in the final standings, her first individual World Cup medal of the season after being part of the bronze medal winning Team Pursuit squad in a previous round. World champion Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands won with 124 points, 18 ahead of Beveridge.

“This result puts us in a really solid position for Olympic qualifying,” said Beveridge. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a World Cup podium – Wild and [American Jennifer] Valente were on another level, but this was a pretty deep field so I’m really happy.”

On the final day of competition, Canada took two more top-10 results, with Aidan Caves finishing eighth in the Men’s Omnium, and Beveridge joining Steph Roorda for tenth in the Women’s Madison.

“Going into the Points Race I was trying to keep in the top ten,” explained Caves. “I had a good buffer on the next guy, so the tactic was to ride defensively and only do the work I needed to do. In the last 20 laps I opened it up and went for the last 10-point sprint. I’m super happy with the result, [and] now I’m looking forward to my next World Cup Omnium in Hong Kong.”

Kris Westwood, Head of Performance Operations at Cycling Canada, said “We had some mixed results here in London, which just shows how competitive things are getting now that Olympic qualification is underway; you will pay for any mistakes you make. We made some big steps forward in the women’s and men’s Omnium – Allison’s podium was awesome, and Aidan’s ride was one of the highlights of the weekend.”

December 17, 2018 (British Columbia) – As a ‘targeted sport’ within the British Columbia Integrated Performance System (IPS), Cycling BC is eligible to nominate athletes and their coaches for enhanced programs, benefits, and services through the Canadian Sport Institute/PacificSport Athlete and Coach Registration. Some of these enhanced benefits include access to local strength & conditioning centres, help with the cost of food & groceries, sports education & events, grants & bursaries, and more.

Athletes and their coaches eligible for the Canadian Sport Institute/PacificSport Athlete and Coach Registration are encouraged to submit their applications to Cycling BC by January 2, 2019.

For more information on the 2019 program criteria and application, please go to the High Performance > Resources page.

December 17, 2018 (London, UK) – Here are some results from the final Day 3 at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London at Round 4 of the UCI Track World Cup 2018/19 where Canada’s Aidan Caves finished 8th overall in the Men’s Omnium and Allison Beveridge and Stephanie Roorda were 10th in the Women’s Omnium. Men’s Sprint results with Hugo Barrette eliminated in the 1/16 Finals and Women’s Keirin with Amelia Walsh who did not advance past the First Round Repechage to follow.

Results (brief)

Men’s Omnium

Final Standings
1. Matthew Walls (Great Britain) 131 pts
2. Ignacio Prado Juarez (Mexico) 123
3. Elia Viviani (Italy) 114
4. Christos Volikakis (Greece) 113
5. Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spain) 112
6. Jan Willem van Schip (Netherlands) 110
7. Casper von Folsach (Denmark) 84
8. Aidan Caves (Canada) 82
9. Lindsay de Vylder (Belgium) 81
10. Joao Matias (Portugal) 74
11. Moritz Malcharek (Germany) 51
12. Marc Potts (Ireland) 49
13. Donavan Vincent Grondin (France) 45
14. Vitaliy Hryniv (Ukraine) 41
15. Kirill Sveshnikov (Russia) 34
16. Thery Schir (Switzerland) 31
17. Krisztian Lovassy (Hungary) 30
18. King Lok Cheung (Hong Kong) 28
19. Szymon Krawczyk (Poland) 24
20. Nicolas Pietrula (Czech Republic) 4
DNF Eiya Hashimoto (Japan)

Women’s Madison

1 Great Britain 34 pts
Katie Archibald
Laura Kenny

2. Australia 19
Amy Cure
Annette Edmondson

3. Belgium 17
Jolien D’Hoore
Lotte Kopecky

4. Netherlands 14
Kirsten Wild
Amy Pieters

5. Italy 6
Maria Giulia Confalonieri
Vittoria Guazzini

6. Poland 3
Wiktoria Pikulik
Daria Pikulik

7. Switzerland 2
Aline Seitz
Andrea Waldis

8. Ireland 2
Lydia Boylan
Shannon McCurley

9. France 2
Laurie Berthon
Marie le Net

10. Canada 0
Allison Beveridge
Stephanie Roorda

 

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

December 15, 2018 (Montreal, Que.) – Canadian UCI women’s cycling trade team, Macogep-Tornatech-Specialized-Mazda, is pleased to present our athletes for the 2019 season and some exciting news about our team that features eight riders including one from France. We will also support Kathy Dufour and an athlete from Mexico for some projects.

2019 Macogep-Tornatech-Specialized-Mazda Team Roster

– Olivia Baril
– Frédérique Larose Gingras
– Mireille Larose Gingras our youngest athlete
– Luce Bourbeau
– Beatrice le Sauteur
– Manon Lannergan
– Ann-Pascale Ouellet
– Marion Bessone from France

Our 2019 program will mainly feature races in Canada which is important in order to promote the proper development of our local athletes. We will also take part in many projects in the United States and in Europe.

We would like to recognize the support of our partners and give special thanks to Argon18, one of our biggest supporters for the past three years as we welcome Specialized, our new bike sponsor. Other new partners include FILO Import, DXP/Natpro Canada, Fayolle Int. and North Face. In addition we welcome back Castelli, one of the best cycling apparel companies in the world.

December 14, 2018 – The Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling Team is excited to announce the re-signing of three integral members of the team. Canadian James Piccoli, Mexican Alfredo Rodriguez, and Sam Bassetti from the United States have each committed to returning to the squad for the 2019 season.

With 53 wins in 2018, the team is looking to move up a spot to be the best team in America in 2019. “Last year the team finished 2nd in both the team and individual classifications in USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour. This year we are looking to move up a step in both categories,” states team General Manager Paul Abrahams. “Re-signing of these three amazing leaders will allow the Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling Team to be in the fight for victory in every event we line up for in 2019.”

Alfredo Rodriguez will begin his 3rd season with the squad in January. Alfredo had a fantastic start of the year in 2018, winning Tulsa Tough overall and also landing the team’s first UCI victory at the Joe Martin Stage Race. Rodriguez is looking to continue to be dominant in the sprint finishes and to replicate his podium performances of 2017 at the Tour of Utah and Colorado Classic. “I am looking to redeem myself in 2019 after a difficult end to the season this past year,” says Rodriguez. “I am working harder than ever to reach the top step of the podium in the bigger UCI races like Utah, Colorado, and Taiwan.”

Piccoli, hailing from Quebec, Canada, is fresh off of two stage wins at the Tour of Southland in New Zealand. The highlight of his 2018 season was the overall win at the Tour de Beauce, a historic victory for the Canadian. “Winning the Tour de Beauce, and competing in two World Tour events in Montreal and Quebec, has shown that I can compete in the World Tour. I am eagerly looking forward to proving next year that I belong at the highest level of the sport.” James has his sights set on the steep climbs of the Tour of Taiwan early in 2019, as well as the mountain top finishes in the Tour of Utah. This will be Piccoli’s 2nd season with the team. “James has taken a step up this year and is embracing a more aggressive racing style which enabled his stage win and overall victory in the Tour de Beauce. We expect him to be aggressive and amongst the best all year,” says team co-owner John McAllister.

American Sam Bassetti had a breakout season with the team this year. With wins at Winston Salem, Redlands Bicycle Classic, Tulsa Tough, San Dimas, and the Green Sprint Jersey at the Joe Martin Stage race, Bassetti earned a spot as a top sprinter in the US. “I am really happy to be back with the team, and I am committed to continue our winning ways. One of my 2019 goals is to win the US Pro Criterium Championships. I am looking to trade my bronze medal from this year for a gold one next year.” Bassetti closed out the 2018 season ranked 2nd overall in the USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour series. “Sam embodies everything our team is about. He is always putting the team first, has an incredibly positive attitude, and is 100% committed to the team plan,” states Paul Abrahams.

December 14, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – Twelve athletes are set to take part in the 2018 Christmas Cross Camp, an annual European project that will help riders prepare for the Cyclo-cross World Championships at the end of January 2019, in Bogense, Denmark.

This will be the project’s fourth year, and riders will have the opportunity to race five times, including in two World Cups. The Camp will run from December 18th to January 2nd, with the team based at the usual Cycling Canada base in Tielt-Winge, Belgium.

Racing includes the Namur [December 23rd] and Zolder [December 26th] World Cups, plus DVV Trofee races Azencross Loenhout [December 28th], Telenet Superprestige Diegem [December 30th] and GP Sven Nys [January 1st].

The team includes riders from every category, and is led by national champions Michael Van den Ham [Elite Men], Ruby West [Under-23 Women] and Gunnar Holmgren [Under-23 Men].

“This is our fourth annual Christmas Cross Camp and we’re really excited about how it’s shaping up,” said Scott Kelly, Program Manager for the Canadian National Cyclo-cross Team. “We have a great group of athletes attending the camp this year and a really great block of racing lined up. For our younger athletes, we’re going to place a big emphasis on learning and acclimating to European racing. I know for some of our returning athletes, they really want to be in the thick of the races, making the moves and seeing how well they can do, and we want to be there to support them in their goal.”

“It’s always humbling to see how the Canadian Cyclo-cross community comes together each year to support this program. In order to make this camp a reality ever year, we rely on our sponsors like Paris to Ancaster, the numerous donations from clubs and individuals throughout Canada, and the professional coaches and mechanics that step up every year to volunteer for this camp. We couldn’t do it without them.”

– Paul Mysko – Junior Men
– Ryan Maclean – Junior Men
– Gunnar Holmgren – U23 Men
– Tyler Orschel – U23 Men
– Nicholas Diniz – U23 Men
– Magdeleine Vallieres-Mill – U23 Women
– Ruby West – U23 Women
– Sidney McGill – U23 Women
– Dana Gilligan – U23 Women
– Jenn Jackson – Elite Women
– Michael Van den Ham – Elite Men
– Cameron Jette – Elite Men

*Cycling Canada does not receive government funding for Cyclo-cross programs, which means all projects are funded through sponsorships, private donations or by the athletes themselves. Any amount donated has a direct impact on the development of this sport in Canada. Make your donation here.

December 12, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – Cycling Canada is pleased to welcome Pierre Laflamme as its new President following an election held at a Special Meeting today by the organization’s member Provinces and Territories. Laflamme, a Quebec City-based investment advisor and accountant by trade, has a long history in cycling and has been a member of Cycling Canada’s Board of Directors since September 2017.

A former racer on both the road and mountain bike, he has been the President of Club Élicycle in Quebec for three years. Laflamme is a CPA and CA and has worked with Desjardins Wealth Management in Quebec for the past 8 years.

“It’s exciting to come full circle, going from a passionate cyclist and club administrator to a Cycling Canada Board member and now President,” Laflamme said. “It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to give something back to the sport that I love. We’ve had great leaders in Canadian cycling and I’m looking forward to following in their footsteps. I want to thank our Provincial and Territorial partners for their confidence and I look forward to working with our Board, staff and all of our stakeholders to continue to build and grow the sport in an integrated way across the country.”

Cycling Canada announced on November 11^th that its former President John Tolkamp would officially step down from his position in December after ten years at the helm of the organization’s Board of Directors. A total of three nominations were submitted for the election, including current Board member Robin Porter (Toronto, ON), as well as Stefano Rover (Montreal, QC) who previously served on Cycling Canada’s Board between 2009 and 2012.

“We want to thank John for his dedication and hard work as President over the last ten years,” said Matthew Jeffries, Executive Director of Cycling Canada. “He has been a tremendous ambassador and champion for our organization and our athletes. We’re looking forward to working with Pierre in his new capacity and we’re confident that he will bring the same level of passion and leadership to the position as John.”

Cycling Canada’s Inter-Provincial Council conducted candidate interviews during the week of December 3^rd in advance of the Special Meeting. The newly-elected President will serve for the balance of the current 4-year term, which will conclude in October of 2021.

December 12, 2018 (Denver, CO)— The 2019 Colorado Classic will become the only women’s stand-alone stage race in the Western Hemisphere on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar and USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour, organizers of the race announced today, while raising the bar for pro women’s cycling around the world.

RPM Events Group LLC, organizers of the Colorado Classic, will offer unprecedented financial support to female athletes at the 2019 event, including a prize purse nearly four times the 2018 women’s purse and more than the men’s 2018 purse, along with stipends to support team travel and expenses.

With free live video streaming coverage each day of the race, the Colorado Classic will put women’s cycling and Colorado on a global stage. The live stream and on-demand replays will be syndicated to fans around the world through cycling and partner websites as well as though Facebook Live and the race’s Tour Tracker mobile app.

“From the inaugural race of the Colorado Classic two years ago, the organization has stood behind women,” said Kristin Armstrong, the most decorated female cyclist in U.S. history, having won gold medals in each of the last three summer Olympics. “The announcement today of a women’s-only UCI stage race truly shows the dedication and commitment the Colorado Classic has to women in sport. I was fortunate enough to have my start in a women’s-only event back in 2002 at the HP Women’s Challenge; I know first-hand the tremendous amount of impact this will have on women’s cycling by creating and providing opportunity for spectators and riders across the world.”

The third annual Colorado Classic will be a four-stage road race August 22-25, 2019 that will bring some of the best female teams and cyclists in the world for four days of racing over challenging Colorado terrain.

“As a major sponsor instrumental in bringing pro racing back to Colorado, we are proud to support the Colorado Classic’s bold move in becoming a women’s race,” said Colorado Governor-Elect Jared Polis. “It’s a perfect match, as the Colorado Classic reflects what our state is known for – innovation and inclusion – while showcasing Colorado’s diverse outdoor health and wellness lifestyle.”

To focus on and expand the women’s race, the Colorado Classic will forego the men’s UCI race in 2019. Organized now solely around female competition, the 2019 Colorado Classic will unveil more challenging routes, longer race distances, and better start times for women than ever before, positioning the event as an ideal run-up to the UCI Road World Championships following a month later and the 2020 Olympics.

“With women’s cycling, we saw the greatest opportunity to fulfill our mission to create a world-class race in Colorado that is socially impactful,” said Ken Gart, Chairman of RPM Events Group. “By creating one great race instead of two average ones, we can shine a bright light on Colorado and pro women’s racing while affecting meaningful social change.”

More than a race, the Colorado Classic will act as a movement to inspire women, challenge and redefine female professional cycling, and ultimately, empower women of all ages to break the mold, and fight for their goals.

USA Cycling is including the women’s race in its Pro Road Tour (PRT), which showcases the premier domestic road calendar events in the U.S., including criteriums, road races, stage races and omniums.

“The Colorado Classic showcases both the beauty of Colorado and the remarkable talent of these compelling athletes. Both USA Cycling and the International Cycling Union (UCI) are proud to support this outstanding event that focuses on women who are exceptional cyclists. I applaud RPM for their commitment to building a world class event for women,” said Bob Stapleton, Chairman of USA Cycling and UCI Management Committee Member.”

“Because of the Colorado Classic’s commitment to pro women cycling, we expect a stellar international field of approximately 20 teams and world-class racers to compete,” said Sean Petty, Race Director for the Colorado Classic.

Since its 2017 inaugural year, the Colorado Classic has advanced women’s racing in several ways. The Colorado Classic was the first major USA Cycling race to go without podium hostesses, opting instead to celebrate male and female cycling legends, including Connie Carpenter Phinney. Last year, the race expanded the race to four stages and designed the routes similar to the men’s race. The Colorado Classic also has assembled an all-female team of public address announcers for calling the race, and will feature several female influencers and heroes spanning across women’s athletics.

“I am really excited to hear that the Colorado Classic women’s race is growing into a 4-day, UCI event,” said Katie Hall, pro cyclist and overall winner of the 2018 Colorado Classic women’s race. “Colorado is such a beautiful state and such a hotbed for American cycling that it seems like the perfect place to host a challenging UCI stage race that will feature the women.”

December 12, 2018 – Now under the banner of Floyd Landis Pro Cycling, both Floyd Landis and Gord Fraser, are excited to unveil more information about their new UCI Continental team that has been built around ex-UnitedNationalHealthcare team riders Serghei Tvetcov, Travis McCabe, and Jonathan Clarke, but also features Canadian Silber riders Nick Zukowsky and Emile Jean.

Zukowsky, the reigning Canadian Criterium champ and participant in the u23 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, is joined on the new team by Jean, a stage winner at the Tour de Beauce. Other Canucks include Carson Miles and Robin Plamondon, who both raced at the 2018 Junior World Championships and round off the North American squad for the 2019 season.

The team has been largely built with the same goals and mission of the now defunct Silber Pro Cycling Team which Fraser directed. Silber was renowned for its effort in trying to develop Canadian pro riders, which will be a similar priority of FLP in the coming year.

Just over two months ago, Landis announced that he would be sponsoring the team, partially funded by the $1.65 million in settlements he received from lawsuits involving former seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

The rest of the funding comes from his Cannabis company Floyd’s of Leadville, but after originally naming the team after the Colorado-based CBD business, it ran into legal issues with Canadian laws.

“Canada is sorting out the legalities surrounding CBD and athletics,” said Landis who is only sponsoring the team which will be directed by Fraser. “My commitment to the team remains unchanged regardless of what it needs to be called. After years of litigation, I have no desire to enter another lengthy legal battle over the name.”

The team will focus primarily on the road for the 2019 calendar, but will also compete in gravel and mountain bike events thanks to multi-surface equipment sponsor Van Dessel. The team’s first gravel race will be the brutal 70km Paris to Ancaster Gravel race on April 28th.

Full roster can be found below.

– Travis McCabe (USA)
– Serghei Tvetcov (Rom)
– Nick Zukowsky (Can)
– Émile Jean (Can)
– Keegan Swirbul (USA)
– Jonathan Clarke (AUS)
– Carson Miles (Can)
– Robin Plamondon (Can)

December 11, 2018 (Jasper, AB) – As winter continues to creep in, are you suffering from the annual case of the blues that comes with mountain biking season coming to an end? Frosty’s Fat Bike Race Series’ unique winter fat biking experience will make you forget there ever was an offseason.

Frosty’s, an international winter fat bike race series, will make its return to Jasper on January 10-12, 2019. Jasper’s seemingly endless beauty is a can’t-miss destination for any fat biker or outdoor sports enthusiast.

With a less intimidating short-course race and a 42K endurance race, Frosty’s is the perfect fat bike destination for seasoned fat biking pros and first-time winter biking adventurers alike. Factor in an opportunity to ride with and learn from professional riders like Jena Greaser and Emma Maaranen and this is simply an event that needs to be on your calendar this coming January.

While the weekend’s focal point is Saturday’s endurance race, some of the true beauty of this event is in the memories to be had off of the bike. Additional events such as a Youth Demo Event, Frosty’s annual “Ride with the Pros” fundraiser, meals with other participants and some of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine make Frosty’s the premier fat biking experience of the year. The saying “bigger tires, bigger smiles” has never been more true.

About Frosty’s
Frosty’s Fat Bike Race Series was born in 2014 out of the need for a competitive outlet for cyclist wishing to test their skill, fitness and mental fortitude against the elements of Winter. With races along Utah’s Wasatch Front and Canada’s Jasper National Park, Frosty’s promises to be your go-to fat biking destination this winter.

“I coach mountain biking, too, but I’ve found that the fat bike is the most non-threatening,
– Emma Maaranen, Professional Biker and Frosty’s Fat Bike participant

To learn more or to register, please visit here.

December 10, 2018 (Edmonton, Alta.) –  Thanks to the perseverance of a small, dedicated group of volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 13 years combined with the courage and foresight of Edmonton’s City Council, Edmonton will be home to a one-of-a-kind recreation facility which will include only the third indoor velodrome in North America and the first dedicated indoor triathlon training and competition centre outside of Europe.

On Friday, December 7, 2018, Edmonton City Council approved $16 million to complete the government funding portion for this exciting addition to Edmonton’s inventory of first class sport and recreation facilities.  This will be the new home for two sports Edmontonians have successfully participated and invested in for over 40 years.

The next year will focus on finalizing the design with an anticipated construction start in 2020. It will be located in Coronation Park linked to the existing Peter Hemingway swimming pool.

Over the course of the next 18 months, the cycling and triathlon communities in and around Edmonton will be conducting a $5 million community capital fundraising campaign. This philanthropic support completes the capital budget requirements of the $100 million plus centre.  It ensures the facility will be equipped to host international competitions.

Edmonton has a long history and outstanding reputation for producing competitive track cyclists and triathletes and for hosting world class competitions. This facility adds to Edmonton’s ability to enhance and build on past successes of both individuals and events.

December 10, 2018 (Sangalhos, Portugal) – Team Canada was on fire this past weekend at the Velodromo Nacional Sangalhos for the Trofeu Internacional Municipio Anadia track competition in Portugal taking home 10 medals including 5 golds.

Canada’s Derek Gee kicked things off winning the Men’s Omnium on Saturday followed by Allison Beveridge taking the Women’s Omnium. Veteran Jay Lamoureux won gold in the men’s Individual Pursuit while NextGen sprinters Kelsey Mitchell and Nick Wammes won the Women’s and Men’s Sprint competitions at their first international events. Here are some brief results:

Results

Men’s Omnium

Final Standings
1. Derek Gee (Canada) 138 points
2. Matthew Walls (Great Britain) 137
3. Fred Wright (Great Britain) 112

11. Michael Foley (Canada) 69 points
16. Aidan Caves (Canada) 38 points

Women’s Omnium

Final Standings
1. Allison Beveridge (Canada) 139 pts
2. Olivija Baleisyte (Lithuania) 117
3. Laurie Berthon (France) 117

7. Maggie Coles-Lyster (TaG Race Team Canada) 79
19. Devaney Collier (Canada) 21

Men’s Sprint

Final for Gold
1. Nick Wammes (Canada)
2. Francesco Ceci (Italy)

Final for Bronze
3. Je’Land Sydney (Canada)
4. Joel Archembaut (Canada)

Women’s Sprint

Final for Gold
1. Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)
2. Yuli Verdugo (Mexico)

Final for Bronze
3. Luz Daniela Gaxiola (Mexico)
4. Jessica Salazar (Mexico)

Men’s Individual Pursuit

Final for Gold
1. Jay Lamoureux (Canada)
2. Ivo Oliveira (Portugal) caught

Final for Bronze
3. Adrian Kaiser (Polish Cycling Federation)
4. Rui Oliveira (Portugal) caught

Women’s Keirin

Final 1-6
1. Helena Casas Roige (GN6 Track Team)
2. Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)
3. Amelia Walsh (Canada)
4. Jessica Salazar (Mexico)
5. Luz Daniela Gaxiola (Mexico)
6. Lauriane Genest (Canada)

December 09, 2018 – Check out this great story and video of Alf, 82 years old, who took up cycling a dozen years ago. “I started mountain biking when I was 70 years old. I had just had cancer and I decided I needed some exercise to keep me well or try and get me fit again.” A relationship with cycling. It’s no fling, its long term. We’re in it for the long haul – read more here – watch the video below.

December 08, 2018 (Sangalhos, Portugal) – Canada’s Derek Gee won the Men’s Omnium on Saturday at the Trofeu International Municipo Anadia in Portugal winning the Scratch Race en route to the overall victory. Gee defeated well known pros Bryan Coquard (France) and Rui Oliveira (Portugal).

He was second in the Tempo race and third in both the Elimination and final Points race. Michael Foley was 11th overall and Aidan Caves finished 16th. The event is being held at the Velodromo Nacional Sangalhos.

Results

Men’s Omnium

Scratch Race
1. Derek Gee (Canada)
2. Bryan Coquard (France)
3. Rui Oliveira (Portugal)

13. Michael Foley (Canada)
21. Aidan Caves (Canada)

Tempo Race
1. Fred Wright (Great Britain) 25 points
2. Derek Gee (Canada) 24
3. Casper Von Folsach (Denmark) 22

9. Michael Foley (Canada) 2
10. Aidan Caves (Canada) 2

Elimination Race
1. Matthew Walls (Great Britain)
2. Casper Von Folsach (Denmark)
3. Derek Gee (Canada)

9. Michael Foley (Canada)
16. Aidan Caves (Canada)

Points Race
1. Matthew Walls (Great Britain) 37 points
2. Aaron Gate (New Zealand) 25
3. Derek Gee (Canada) 24

8. Michael Foley (Canada) 5
9. Aidan Caves (Canada) 5 points

Final Overall
1. Derek Gee (Canada) 138 points
2. Matthew Walls (Great Britain) 137
3. Fred Wright (Great Britain) 112

11. Michael Foley (Canada) 69 points
16. Aidan Caves (Canada) 38 points

December 08, 2018 (Hendersonville, N.C.) — The final two days of racing on the East Coast for the USA Cycling Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX) take place this weekend, Dec. 8-9, in Hendersonville, N.C. with Category 2 events at the Hunter Subaru North Carolina Grand Prix (NCGP). Like the grand finale in 2017, cold temperatures and frozen precipitation made Saturday’s contests wet and wild at Jackson Park.

Jackson Park offers varied terrain and a new climb this year. Hendersonville is located on a plateau between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Blowing into the mountain town just in time for ProCX races on Saturday was Diego, a one-name storm packing a punch for several days of big snow, expected to be measured in feet.

Men’s Race
The snow fell heavier during the Elite Men’s race, but melted on all surfaces. It seemed to be the colder air temperatures from Winter Storm Diego that caused issues late in the day.

“It wasn’t super soupy out there, just a constant spray from the snow melting in the tracks,” said Werner. “My body was good too, it was mostly just my hands. Every straightaway I was swinging them, trying to get the pendulum effect and get some blood down in them. It wasn’t too bad until the last two laps and then it got real cold.”

Werner and Cooper Willsey (Hinesburg, Vt./Cyclocrossworld) would go toe-to-toe down the start chute to battle right from the start for the front. Werner said he went around Willsey on the grass to take the holeshot. From there, they continued shoulder to shoulder for the next four laps.

“I just didn’t want anybody in front of me with the conditions as they were,” said Werner, who lives two hours away from the course in Advance, N.C. “There was a lap and a half of a learning curve for sure. A couple of sections I was trying to ride the line I did in pre-ride, which was not maybe the line with the most grip. For the most part, I knew it was going to be slippery. I tried to be patient those first couple laps and just see how everybody else was riding.”

Willsey stayed with Werner, and did much of he work out front. Behind them, the reigning Canadian U23 Cyclocross National Champion Gunnar Holmgren (Orillia, Ont./Hardwood Next Wave) chased with Eric Thompson (Shoreview, Minn.) and Alex Ryan (Lewisville, N.C.).

“I was feeling good in the group,” Holmgren said. “Kerry and Cooper were pushing it pretty good. Then I just had a little bike issue (change tire pressure) and had to pit. I didn’t quite make it back to them. Then Eric Thompson feel back from that group and we battled for a bit. It ended up being close in the end between Coop, myself and Eric.”

Holmgren and Thompson traded positions a few times trying to grab a third-place spot midway through the contest. With three laps to go, Thompson fell back and could not battle back. It was that same lap that Werner made his move.

“With there being quite a bit of pavement and flat straights here, it was pretty obvious early on that he (Willsey) wanted to separate from Gunnar and Eric,” said Werner. “I think I put a dig in on the second or third lap (to go) and put a little bit of daylight between us. Maybe he realized that the fight was for second. In my head, that is what I thinking for him.”

Werner’s winning time was 59 minutes. Following 50 seconds back for second place was Willsey.

“We went out full guns, and full gas. I knew that Kerry would be vert fast,” said the 21-year-old Willsey. “Gunnar loves conditions like these, being Canadian. I tried to put myself in a good position, trying not to be caught by anyone. Paid for it a bit in the end, and got pretty cold. The body shut down in the last two laps. But it was a fun race and I love conditions like this. It was a blast.”

Holmgren finished on the podium in third place, 57 second behind Werner. In fourth was Thompson, another 34 seconds behind Holmgren. Ryan would finish seventh.

“The Governor declared a state of emergency, so I don’t know what that means for cyclocross racing,” added Werner after another podium presentation and some time by a fire to warm his hands. “Last year I felt like we raced in pretty adverse conditions as well. I feel like the biggest issue is just people getting here. Last year there was eight inches of snow. By the time we raced, there was a pretty solid line that was six to 12 inches of just mud and ruts. It will be interesting. Then when that happens, the best line you might want might be out in the snow and that may not be the best idea.”

Women’s Race
Lily Williams (Asheville, N.C./The Pony Shop), last year’s silver medalist in the Saturday contest, took her first ProCX win of the season in the Elite Women’s contest. On the Elite Men’s side, Kerry Werner (Birdsboro, Penn./Kona Maxxis Shimano), who is the overall ProCX leader, gained his eighth ProCX victory of the year. He won both days at NCGP last year.

The temperatures hovered just above freezing Saturday afternoon, with dry conditions for the course pre-rides. At 2,200 feet above sea level, snow began to fall about one hour before 23 Elite Women took the course, making the track greasy.

“It was cold and snowy and the conditions deteriorated throughout the race,” explained 21-year-old Emma Swartz (Madison, Wisc./Trek Cyclocross Collective), who has finished in the Top 10 the last two years in Hendersonville. “Compared to past years, they added a section near the finish line so that it goes through the woods. It’s muddy and has some rooty downhills and then a little sandy going onto the cement again. That was pretty technical. I think that made a difference for some people.”

On the first spin through Jackson Park, changes in the course conditions were evident from pre-ride when several riders at the front crashed, including Erica Zaveta (Brevard, N.C./Renewed Cyclocross) and Hannah Arensman (Brevard, N.C.). Williams was able to gain distance at the front by lap two.

“I got out of the traffic pretty quickly. It was getting slippery as the race went on. There was a little group of us at the beginning of the first lap. We were just working together,” said Williams, who finished second in this same race last year. “I think in the woods is where I got separation. I don’t really know how it happened, but I just kind of rolled with it. Just being able to go one speed the whole race is really good for me. And staying upright. I didn’t go down once! That was very nice. Not falling was definitely a plus.”

Williams extended her lead with two laps to go. Behind her, Zaveta would work her way back into contention, passing Swartz and Arensman.

“I had a good start, then I crashed immediately once I got onto the dirt, the second turn,” Zaveta explained. “My body was just sliding away for a long time. I got back up and it took me maybe a minute to sort out. Everything seemed to be fine. Then I just had to work my way up (to the front). As the laps went on, I was taking better lines and more relaxed.”

Zaveta said the new Wall section of the course was a decisive feature of the race. She was able to make up time in the woods and on the Wall.

“Every time I was riding it (the Wall). I think Lily was running it. I definitely moved up with Hannah and Emma because I was riding it.”

Williams would take a solo victory in 47 minutes, 11 seconds. Zaveta would take second, 30 seconds back.

“I was hoping to win, because I live near here. I always wanted to win this race,” said Zaveta, who had two wins early in the ProCX season, both at Nittany Lion Cross in Pennsylvania. “Mostly, I’m really happy that I feel like I’m competitive and I’m racing. I feel like I rode a good race, minus crashing. That’s always the best feeling, I had fun.”

Third place was taken by Swartz, 57 seconds off the pace. She would finish 17 seconds ahead of a charging Arensman, who would take fourth.

“We were slipping, and she (Lily Williams) was faster through some of the technical parts. The gap went from there,” said Swartz. “I was having trouble over the run-up hill, the one near the finish line. A lot of people were able to ride it. My tires weren’t quite gripping as well as the course got icier. I was having to dismount and run while Erica and Hannah were both able to ride it to the top.”

Now in its 14th year, the NCGP returns Sunday final ProCX showdowns, and large amounts of snow expected. It is also the final race weekend for the 12-race North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series. Henderson County Parks & Recreation Department partners with North Carolina Cyclo-Cross to host the family-friendly event in.

Results (brief)

Women
1. Lily Williams (The Pony Shop) 47:11
2. Erica Zaveta (Renewed Cyclocross) 0:30
3. Emma Swartz (Trek Cyclocross Collective) 0:57

Men
1. Kerry Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano) 59:00
2. Cooper Willsey (Cyclocrossworld) 0:50
3. Gunnar Holmgren (Hardwood Next Wave) 0:57

December 06, 2018 (Toront, ON) – I am writing this with an amazing feeling of fatigue over my entire body. A tired, beat up, slow burning buzz that is so hard to put into words. Don’t worry I am very much sober but I might have to warn you, the coffee is just kicking in.

I did something on Nov. 26 “just because”. It wasn’t the only reason but it was a big one. I did it because I was “able” to and I do not take being able for granted. It is a message that I want to help spread. Please enjoy your health while you have it. Some enjoy it more than others, some let it slip away or never fully appreciate it until it is gone. I try to lead in this area every single day. I do my best to enjoy movement and my ability to travel under my own power to its fullest. The bicycle is a very powerful tool in this regard. Efficient and economical, it allows us to go further and faster. The bike also enables us to draw attention to a good cause and there are no shortage of good causes.

On Sunday (Nov. 25) night prior I decided I wanted to set a new indoor distance record on Zwift. I have done a few big rides recently in preparation for this. I did 5h40 minutes – 205km on Oct 22nd and then 8h25 minutes – 305km again on Oct 25. Next up was another 7h40 minutes – 275km on Nov 16th. These were all “little” test events to practice going for something special.

On Sunday night at 10 pm I committed to doing that something special. I had titled all of these rides the same on Strava. It started with The Great To Be Alive 205, The Great to Be Alive 305 and then The Great To Be Alive 275. The 275 was supposed to be the 405 but I got derailed late in the ride by my beautiful girlfriend Amanda and a large pizza. She has been a big part of this journey the past year and is a big reason why I did this ride on Monday. I was so thankful she saved me from going any further the night of the 275. I got what I needed from the ride, we enjoyed the post ride after party together and I was confident that 405km was very obtainable. The goal of all these practice runs was met.

Now how could I make this next ride mean something more that just setting a new indoor record?

Setting records and pushing the boundaries of what you think is possible on a bike is a wonderful feeling but what if you could do all that and possibly effect someone’s life for the better at the same time. Amanda is a Special Ed teacher and everyday she inspires me with her love and passion for helping children in need. Every night we talk about our day and when she shares what some of these little people have to deal with and work through on a daily basis it breaks my heart. On top of all the learning disabilities and special needs was something else that I couldn’t believe…extreme poverty.

When I heard about the kids in need of breakfast programs or going to school hungry how and how she routinely buys some of the children new shoes and art supplies out of her own pocket, I am always left feeling I am not doing enough. When she told me about the little guy who was in desperate need of new glasses that his parents were unable to provide, I just had this overwhelming feeling I needed to try and do something, anything really just to somehow help in the tiniest way.

We thought if I did a crazy ride that would draw people’s attention maybe, just maybe we could get people to sponsor the distance. A penny, 5 cents or 10 cents per kilometer possibly and so on Sunday night I threw up an Instagram story saying just that and the response was amazing. Right away we had people messaging me and saying they were in for 5 cents or 10 cents. We had a few even give me incentive deals 5 cents before 400km and 10 cents if I pass 400. We had people start with 10 cents and then double their pledge mid-ride because they were so inspired. Then it happened. We had our first dollar per kilometer donation. Then we had another generous person offer to match 10% of the total donations. The power of the bicycle was in full effect.

We are still receiving donations and the total continues to rise but I can confidently say right now this event raised over $2,200 for an amazing cause, children in need. When Amanda called the little boy’s mom last night to tell her that we would be able to get her son the new glasses things got pretty emotional. It was worth every second of that ride and then some. There are so many others just like him, we promise we will make sure this money is put to the best possible use.

I want to do more of this because I am very able and I should be doing more “just because”.

The Great To Be Alive 505 is just the start. We are looking to do way more of this in the future and would love to have a big team of wonderful people to come along for the ride. We don’t have the resources to do everything we want to at the moment but we hope this event shows we are resourceful. We would love to build a charity that is very similar to this ride where we can get pledges for the kilometers we ride over the entire year. Imagine if a kilometer traveled was worth a dollar or two for the entire season?

I would work so hard to up my yearly total from 20,000 to 30,000 if that could somehow become a reality. Picture riding indoors on Zwift at local businesses and special events drawing attention from the general public. We could go anywhere, schools, hospitals, retirement homes and rack up the kilometers and raise awareness.

I would also like to rack up some serious kilometers with this charity concept challenging RAAM (Race Across America). I can do 8 days straight for the right cause, the right support and the right team. If you have ideas and/or would like to be apart of things in any capacity please just say the word. Let’s make this happen.

Thanks for reading, thank you to everyone who rode with me, cheered things on over social media and generously donated!

Twitter here
Facebook here
Website here

December 03, 2018 (Berlin, Germany) – Team Canada finished off the third round of the Track World Cup in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, with top-10 performances in the women’s Madison and men’s Omnium. Over the course of the three day event, Canada won two bronze medals in the women’s and men’s Team Pursuit, plus additional top-10 results on Saturday in the women’s Omnium and men’s 1000m time trial.

“Our endurance squad delivered great performances this weekend,” said Jessika Grand Bois, Track Program Manager at Cycling Canada. “The double bronze medal in the Team Pursuit on the first day was the highlight of this World Cup and we’ve seen great form in other events as well. It was a bit of a difficult weekend for our sprinters but we’re looking forward to London [World Cup], where they’ll be determined to make up for this event.”

On Saturday, Beveridge took second in the opening event of the four-race Omnium, the Scratch Race. The Calgary rider faltered in the Tempo Race, finishing 16th, before recovering with a sixth place in the Elimination and then 11th in the final Points Race. Aidan Caves recorded a time of one minute and 1.978 seconds for the 1000 metre time trial for tenth place, less than one second out of the top five.

“I had a few ups and downs,” said Beveridge. “I had a decent Scratch Race, and then had to reset after the Tempo, but given the time we are in the season, there are some good points that I can use to move forward for the rest of the season.”

Beveridge and Steph Roorda teamed up on Sunday for the women’s Madison, finishing seventh with five points, three points out of the top five. Derek Gee had his second top-10 World Cup Omnium performance of the season, finishing ninth overall, and highlighted by his third place in the Points Race.

The Canadian sprint team struggled over the weekend, with both Hugo Barrette (men’s Sprint) and Lauriane Genest (women’s Sprint) relegated during their first round races for entering the sprint lane while someone else was already there or leaving it during the sprint. However, both riders had strong performances in the 200m time trial, with Genest seventh and Barrette 16th. “They had better performances in the 200m than in Milton [World Cup],” said Franck Durivaux, national Sprint coach, “but they also had a lot of technical and tactical mistakes that prevented them going further in the Keirin and Sprint tournaments. They are physically at the level, but there are definitely things that need to be corrected, and it was also the result of a lack of experience for some. We need to take what we have learned here and do the work for future competitions.”

Results Day 3 here.

 

December 01, 2018 (Warwick, R.I.) — For the first time in 14 years, the first of two days of racing at NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross featured Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-sanctioned Category 1 (C1) racing at Goddard Memorial State Park in West Warwick, R.I. Both elite races were the sixth of seven C1 races of the USA Cycling Pro Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX). And those same races were round seven of the eight-race Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Clif Bar and Cycle-Smart.

A dry and seasonably mild day kept conditions fast on the root-strewn course, known for its legendary long beach run along Greenwich Bay. All the hype for the opening day of racing did not disappoint. With a commanding victory in the elite women’s race, Kaitlin Keough (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com earned a decisive victory. Her teammate, reigning U.S. Cyclocross National Champion Stephen Hyde (Easthampton, Mass./Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com, would return from a four-week hiatus from racing and claim an exciting victory for elite men.

In the Vittoria Series, the longest standing, UCI cyclocross series in the United States, Saturday’s second-place finishers would extend their leads. Rebecca Fahringer (Concord, N.H./Kona Maxxis Shimano) would extend her Series lead for Elite Women with a total of 200 points. For the elite men, Curtis White (Delanson, N.Y./Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com would clinch the Vittoria Series overall title for Elite Men with 350 points. A final Verge Sport jersey will be awarded to the winners Sunday.

In the elite women’s race, Keough would lead the 40-rider field from start to finish.

“I was going to try to be a little bit more conservative at the beginning just because I hadn’t raced these girls in a couple of weeks. I had a gap on that first lap and I just took off,” said Keough, who has been racing in Europe. “I made a couple of little mistakes here and there, but that’s, for the most part, normal. This is my last race weekend before Nationals, so I was just trying to get a hard day in.“

Fahringer, who finished 36 seconds behind Keough in second place, was focused on having a smooth race on the tricky course at Goddard Memorial State Park.

“The course always intimidates me. I knew if Kaitie (Keough) wasn’t having a good day, if I could keep the course at bay, that I might be able to battle for the win,” said Fahringer, who is third overall in the ProCX standings. Keough is fifth overall. “I had a really bad start. So, I dealt with some traffic on the first lap and I found myself in second. I knew Kaitie was gone. She was riding smooth, she was so far up.”

Keough was gone after the first lap. Behind her, Fahringer held off Arley Kemmerer (Fearless Femme Racing) and last year’s winner Ruby West (Hamilton, Ont./Specialized-Tenspeed Hero).

“It was a race for second place. And it was a race,” Fahringer added. “Both Arley and Ruby, they were coming up from third, battling it out for third. I worked really, really hard and kept it together for second. I rode smooth, which is a rarity for me on this course. It’s always hard to keep it clean when you have people that are closing it in really closely. This is not a fun course to be hunted down on.”

West would finish 52 seconds off the winning pace by out-kicking Kemmerer to the line for third. The 19-year-old Canadian noted the fast, dry conditions and the talented field, all which made for a challenging race.

“Kaitie (Keough) was here, so that also made it a super fast race. She just kind of got the holeshot and rode away from us right away. So I tried to stay with her for as long as possible because I knew she was the strongest one out there,” said West, who had a breakthrough race at NBX last year winning the Saturday contest when it was still a C2 event.

“You know, I think I found every single root in the park to hit on the first few laps. It took me a while to kind of get the lay of the land and figure out where I could NOT hit my rims. I thought I was closing on Rebecca, and I was trying really hard to get back to her, but then she accelerated and stayed away for second. Yeah, finished up with third and I’m pretty happy with that.”

For the elite men, similar to what we have seen all season, Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com took early control of the race with three riders in contention. The only difference today was the face at the front of Hyde.

“Man, there was a lot of nervous energy for me today,” said Hyde, who suffered a broken sternum at the Telenet UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Waterloo, Wisc. in September. “This is my first race back in four weeks, I think. And before that I did two race weekends, and it was six weeks off for the injury. You know, I’ve had a lot of anxiety about racing, and getting back to it. I was so excited today.”

Hyde would lead from the holeshot, setting a quick pace for the 52-rider field.

“I knew I needed to lead on this race. There are some really heavy pedaling sections where you can draft, but there’s so many sections to make tiny mistakes. The sand, you always want to be first going into something like that. Yeah, I just wanted to ride at the front. I honestly had no idea where my fitness is at, because I haven’t been racing and everyone else has. And always puts a big question mark in your head.”

After three of the eight laps, teammates Hyde and White would distance themselves from two sets of chasers. Their teammate Spencer Petrov (McKinney, Texas/Cannondale p/b cyclocrossworld.com would battle ProCX points leader Kerry Werner (Birdsboro, Penn./Kona Maxxis Shimano). A few seconds behind that duo was a contest between Jack Kisseberth (Westhampton, Mass./Garneau Easton p/b Transitions Life Care) and 18-year-old Sam Noel (Shelburne, Vt./UVM Cycling / Cannondale Cyclocross).

“Curtis really pushed me hard. He pushed me very, very, very, very hard in the beginning and I needed that. He was my human scooter today,” said Hyde about his teammate. “It is absolutely one of my favorite courses, not just in New England, but in the world. I mean, this is really one of my favorite courses. So I couldn’t be happier to take the win today.”

White would finish second, 8 seconds behind Hyde. In third place was Werner, 1 minute, 27 seconds behind the winner. Petrov would place fourth, Kisseberth fifth and Noel sixth.

“He and I were feeling good, driving the pace early, taking pulls and just being smooth and sharp,” said White. “I think the difference was (when) he started to stretch it out probably two and a half laps to go. I came back to him, tried to get in front of him before the sand pit, but he took back the lead. He just opened up the gap slowly. I think in working together we were able to figure out where each other was strongest. He was able to carry his speed really well through the technical sections. That forced me to accelerate just a little bit harder here and there, which added up over the course of the race.”

Werner would fend of 19-year-old Petrov, another Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com rider, in the final sprint to the line.

“Stephen (Hyde) had a good start and I think he was looking to make things happen early,” noted Werner. “So he and Curtis (White) took control of the front for the first two laps. I was struggling on these longer, power straights. So after two laps, those guys got away from me. I was riding by myself for a lap or two. Then Spencer Petrov came up, and we kind of started working together. I was thinking we can’t let a Cannondale podium happen.

“Pre-riding the course, I kind of knew that coming out of pit two there was a big straight that paralleled the finish straight. I knew coming into the finish you wanted to be in the front. And I knew to do that you had to come out of pit two just smokin’. So I did that. Spencer actually came inside of me onto the final corner and had me by half a bike length or so. But I was able to get on top of it and hold him off.”

Results (brief)

Women
1. Kaitlin Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) 48:37
2. Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) 1:19
3. Ruby West (Specialized-Tenspeed Hero) 1:34

Men
1. Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) 57:06
2. Spencer Petrov (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) 0:08
3. Kerry Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano) 1:27

December 01, 2018 (Berlin, GER) – Here are some results from Day Two of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup at Round 3 in Berlin, Germany where Canada’s Lauriane Genest and Amelia Walsh are racing in the Women’s Sprint, Allison Beveridge is competing in the Women’s Omnium, Hugo Barrette and Joel Archambault (P2M) are on the men’s Keirin start line and Aidan Caves is taking on the Men’s Kilo.

Results (brief)

Women’s Sprint

Qualifications

1. Stephanie Morton (Australia) 10.484
2. Olena Starikova (Ukraine) 10.670
3. Laurine van Riessen (Beat Cycling Club) 10.695
4. Daria Shmeleva (Rusvelo) 10.785
5. Emma Hinze (Germany) 10.820
6. Anastasiia Voinova (Rusvelo) 10.843
7. Lauriane Genest (Canada) 10.859
8. Katy Marchant (Great Britain) 10.870
9. Migle Marozaite (Lithuania) 10.887
10. Elis Ligtlee (Netherlands) 10.915

27. Amelia Walsh (Canada) 11.215

Top 4 riders qualify for 1/8 Finals. 5th to 28th places qualify for 1/16 Finals.

Women’s Omnium

Scratch Race
1. Katie Archibald (Great Britain)
2. Allison Beveridge (Canada)
3. Letizia Paternoster (Italy)
4. Jennifer Valente (USA)
5. Annette Edmondson (Australia)

Tempo Race
1. Katie Archibald (Great Britain) 4 pts
2. Julie Leth (Denmark) 3
3. Letizia Paternoster (Italy) 3
4. Jennifer Valente (USA) 2
5. Ina Savenka (Belarus) 2

16. Allison Beveridge (Canada) 0

Elimination Race
1. Katie Archibald (Great Britain)
2. Annette Edmondson (Australia)
3. Jennifer Valente (USA)
4. Lotte Kopecky (Belgium)
5. Letizia Paternoster (Italy)
6. Allison Beveridge (Canada)

Points Race
1. Lydia Boylan (Ireland) 15 pts
2. Letizia Paternoster (Italy) 14
3. Jennifer Valente (USA) 12
4. Katie Archibald (Great Britain) 12
5. Amy Pieters (Netherlands) 11

11. Allison Beveridge (Canada) 3

Final Standings
1. Katie Archibald (Great Britain) 132 pts
2. Letizia Paternoster (Italy) 118
3. Jennifer Valente (USA) 116
4. Annette Edmondson (Australia) 101
5. Julie Leth (Denmark) 94
6. Allison Beveridge (Canada) 81

November 30, 2018 (Berlin, GER) – Team Canada kicked off Round 3 of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Berlin with double bronze performances as Allison Beveridge, Ariane Bonhomme, Annie Foreman-Mackey, Stephanie Roorda and Kinley Gibson won over Italy in the Women’s Team Pursuit bronze medal final.

The squad qualified fourth and caught the Italian team en route to claiming the bronze, their first medal this season. In the gold medal final Great Britain defeated Australia.

“We were pretty disappointed in our first ride,” said Foreman-Mackey. “We didn’t execute in the way that we knew we could. We mixed things up a bit for the next round and the Finals, gaining five seconds. That’s the fastest that we have gone since Rio [Olympics], and I think that we can be encouraged with how things are trending. There’s still lots of work to do, heading towards Worlds, but I think we can be encouraged to be on the podium.”

 

In the men’s final for bronze it was Jay Lamoureux, Derek Gee, Aidan Caves, Michael Foley and Adam Jamieson claiming the victory for Canada over Huub Watt Test Team. In their First Round ride against Russia the men set a new Canadian record of 3:54.682 besting their previous fastest time of 3:56.352 set on their home track in Milton, Ont. Australia won gold as Denmark settled for silver.

“This was a really big achievement for our program,” said Jay Lamoureux. “I think it’s a huge stepping stone for what we need to do over the next few years. We are all really excited over what’s to come.”

Results here.