March 22, 2018 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Canada’s Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C. brought home gold and Ross Wilson of Edmonton captured silver on the opening day of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, March 22-25, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Both riders won the qualification rounds to ride for gold at the Velodromo Municipal do Rio, the site of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Chernove defended his title in the men’s C2 Individual Pursuit, winning the 3000 metre race Liang Guihua of China in 3:44.385.
“It’s really nice to be back here riding at the Rio velodrome,” said Chernove, “and to get a chance for redemption [Chernove won silver at the Paralympics in this event]. I’m glad to be the world champion again. I won’t say it was a comfortable race, but I had everything under control and the ride went well.”
Ross settled for second in the men’s C1 Individual Pursuit which he won last year as Ricardo Argiles of Spain won the gold. “The qualifying went really well,” said Wilson, “and I posted a wonderful time of 3:52.141, a personal best for me, and if I hadn’t had to pass my opponent I would have been close to that world record I am chasing.
“In the final I tried my absolute best, and it turned out it was a little bit shy of what was required. So it is back to the training boards and hopefully next year I’ll have a shot at redemption and be ready for Tokyo in 2020,” he added.
Other Canadians competing included Marie-Claude Molnar of St-Hubert, Quebec, finished 8th in the women’s C4 500 metre time trial and Keely Shaw of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan placed 10th in the same event.
March 22, 2018 (Penticton, B.C.) – Cycling Canada would like to invite riders taking part in the Hayman Classic Youth Stage Race, May 25-27, 2018 in Penticton, British Columbia, to stay for an extra two days for a Talent ID Camp with National Coach Kevin Field. The Hayman Classic will also act as host to the 2018 BC Youth Road Cycling Championships for the Time Trial, Criterium, and Road Race.
Why is Cycling Canada doing this? “We really need to build a relationship with our riders at an earlier point in their careers, get to know them, and provide them with more support and advice on how to make it from Junior to Senior. This is the hardest time for all riders and where we lose most of our up-and-coming talent,” says Field who has led numerous road trade teams and has been influential in mentoring many of Canada’s top road athletes over the last decade.
“Our goal is to be of more help at this important stage of an athlete’s development by identifying riders heading towards a life of cycling and providing a pathway that includes the support of coaches, ex-national team riders, and professional teams,” adds Field.
This is an opportunity for athletes to stand out and be recognized for their talent as well as to learn more about what it takes to get to the national level. The Cycling Canada Road Talent ID Camp will run from Sunday, May 27, after the Hayman Classic event and will wrap up on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 29.
Details: Cycling Canada Road Talent ID Camp West Where: Penticton, BC When: Sunday, May 27 (after Hayman Classic) to Tuesday, May 29 (finish at 2:00pm) Why: Put your name and face on the National Team’s radar How much: $100 Who’s eligible: Athletes riding in the 2018 Hayman Classic
What will you learn:
– Fundamental skills (on bike, in seminars)
– Talk from National Coach on what the next 2 to 4 years look like for road cycling in Canada
– Talk from National Team riders on what it takes – Navigating your way to the top
– Riding skills (and some fitness testing) Hill climbs – TT – Road ride
– Talk from Jesse Korf, Cycling Canada’s Pathway Development Manager
Additional info:
– Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations.
– Full details will be sent 2 weeks before the event.
– All coaches are welcome to be part of the camp – but must register as well.
To register, e-mail Richard Wooles at <mailto:richard@cyclingbc.net>richard@cyclingbc.net
March 19, 2018 – On March 24, Canadians celebrate the humble and essential independent bicycle shop with the first annual Bike Store Day. In 2017, Sean Carter of BikeBike Inc. in Calgary, Alberta conceived the plan for an event to “celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding the hundreds of independently owned bike stores in Canada.”
We love the idea. Bicycle stores are more than just places people go shopping. They are community hubs for the two-wheeled set where the latest news and events are shared, where riders go to be with like-minded individuals to talk drivetrain innovations, host repair and ride clinics and partake in a slice of bicycle culture.
Inspiration struck after observing the success of Record Store Day in the music industry. Together with Ben Cowie of London Bicycle Cafe, with whom he worked on the Bike Town Podcast, Carter spearheaded the plan in Canada.
The Bike Store Day event began to take shape when marketing company Curious Communications offered assistance with a marketing campaign. An Instagram @bikestoredayca was added to help promote the event and connect cyclists across the country.
On March 24, independent bicycle retailers from British Columbia to Ontario will host special events and offer unique sale items in celebration.
For example, the London Bicycle Cafe will hold its official grand opening celebrations complete with a morning group ride, live music, free coffee all day long, treats, and cargo bike demonstrations in addition to showcasing its 2018 line of city bikes. While, in Calgary, Alberta, Bow Cycle Sports will be hosting three events to celebrate including E-bikes, suspension set-up and the latest in tire innovations.
Berlin Bicycle Cafe in Kitchener, Ont. will be holding an Earth Hour ride and campfire; in British Columbia, Sooke Mountain Cycle has a Customer Appreciation Day and Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Natural Cycleworks will be giving away five free tuneups in addition to having refreshments and games available in the shop.
For the complete rundown of Bike Store Day events and further information visit here.
March 19, 2018 (Tuscon, Arizona) – Canadian women were on form and the podium at the Tucson Bicycle Classic this past weekend with Luce Bourbeau (Desjardins Ford p/b Cromwell) 3rd on Stage 1, Jamie Gilgen (Rise Racing) winning Stage 2 followed by Emily Flynn (Stevens-The Cyclery) in 3rd.
On the final Stage 3 Marie-Soleil Blais (Independent) was second and Gilgen was 3rd with Blais landing 3rd on the final podium as Jennifer Luebke (Hagens Berman | Supermint) won the overall.
Results
Stage 1 – March 16 – Old Tucson/McCain Loop ITT – 5.14km
1. Jennifer Luebke (Hagens Berman | Supermint) 8:02.021
2. Lily Williams (Hagens Berman | Supermint) 0:11 3. Luce Bourbeau (Desjardins Ford p/b Cromwell) 0:25
4. Stefanie Sydlik (QCW Cycling) 0:27
5. Andrea Ramirez (Swapit Agolico) 0:32 6. MarieSoleil Blais (Independent) 0:36
7. Brenda Santoyo (Swapit Agolico)
8. Elizabeth Banks (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) 0:49
9. Anne Donley (Haute Route LLC)
10. Kimberly Lucie (LA Sweat) 0:50
March 19, 2018 (Chico, CA) – Canadian Nigel Ellsay (Rally Cycling) finished just off the final GC podium in 4th only one second away as the men’s Chico Stage Race wrapped up on Sunday with the 49.58km Steve Harrison Memorial Downtown Criterium.
Ellsay was 11th in the opening Stage 1 Thunderhill Raceway Circuit Race, 7th in the Paskenta Road Race, 144.22km, 4th in the River Road Time Trial 16.03km and 41st in the final Crit with the same time as the winner.
Results
Stage 2 – Paskenta Road Race – 144.22km
1. Quinten Kirby* (Marc Pro Cycling) 3:41:06
2. Gavin Murray (Marc Pro Cycling)
3. Alex Hoehn* (Aevolo Cycling)
4. Chris Riekert (Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Equator Coffees)
5. Taylor Warren (The 303 Project)
6. Jackson Duncan (Cycle Sport-Specialized p/b Muscle Milk) 7. Nigel Ellsay (Rally Cycling)
8. Robert Pearce (Cycle Sport-Specialized p/b Muscle Milk)
9. Enrique Serrato (Team California)
10. Camden Vodicka* (Destil-Parkhotel Valkenburg) 11. Laurent Gervais* (Aevolo Cycling)
Stage 3 – River Road Time Trial – 16.03km 1. Cory Lockwood (Team Project Echelon) 19:27.370
2. Sam Boardman (Marc Pro Cycling) 0:37
3. Chris Riekert (Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Equator Coffees) 0:39 4. Nigel Ellsay (Rally Cycling) 0:40
5. Joseph Bacala (PACIFIC PREMIER BANK CYCLING TEAM) 1:05
6. Alex Hoehn* (Aevolo Cycling) 1:07
7. Dillon Caldwell (The 303 Project) 1:23
8. Tim McBirney* (Cycle Sport-Specialized p/b Muscle Milk) 1:24
9. Justin Mauch (Marc Pro Cycling) 10. Laurent Gervais* (Aevolo Cycling) 1:27
Stage 4 – Steve Harrison Memorial Downtown Criterium – 49.58km
1. Justin Williams (Williams Racing) 1:10:04
2. Scott Law (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling)
3. Quinten Kirby* (Marc Pro Cycling)
4. Cory Williams (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling)
5. Alessandro Proni (Dolce Vita Freewheel p/b SL2)
6. Kent Ross* (Hedrick Racing)
7. Gerardo Medina (Team California) 8. Laurent Gervais* (Aevolo Cycling)
9. Tyler Stites* (Aevol Cycling)
10. Robert Pearce (Cycle Sport-Specialized p/b Muscle Milk)
March 19, 2018 (Chico, CA) – Canada’s Katherine Maine (Rally Cycling) won the final Stage 4 Steve Harrison Memorial Downtown Criterium, 42.5km, as the Chico Stage Race wrapped up on Sunday. Fellow Canuck and teammate, Sara Bergen, who won the second stage finished second overall while Sara Poidevin was 7th on the GC. Allie Dragoo (TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air) took the overall victory.
Results
Stage 3 – River Road Time Trial – 16.03km
1. Allie Dragoo (TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air) 21:51.750
2. Leah Thomas (UnitedHealthcare Procyling Team) 0:28 3. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling) 0:33
4. Beth Ann Orton (Point S Racing) 0:43
5. Summer Moak* (Rally Cycling) 0:45
6. Shayna Powless (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:49 7. Sara Poidevin* (Rally Cycling) 1:00
8. Melanie Wong (Team Mike’s Bikes) 1:02
9. Hanna Muegge (DNA Cycling Team) 1:04
10. Jennifer Tetrick (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) 1:09
March 18, 2018 (Cittiglio, ITA) – Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam finished strong in 8th at the 131.1 km Trofeo Alfredo Binda Comune di Cittiglio Women’s UCI WorldTour #3 won by Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM Racing. Canuel’s teammate Chantal Blaak (Ned) was second with Marianne Vos (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team 3rd.
Results (brief)
1. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM Racing 3:32:54
2. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:22
3. Marianne Vos (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team
4. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton Scott Women
5. Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
6. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:23
7. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla 8. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:25
9. Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton Scott Women
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5
March 17, 2018 (Chico, CA) – Canadian Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling) took the win on the 144.22km Stage 2 Paskenta Road Race and is now second overall behind teammate Summer Moak. Fellow Canuck Sara Poidevin (Rally Cycling) was 6th on the stage and is 11th overall.
March 16, 2018 (Chico, CA) – Canada’s Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling) landed third on the podium with her teammate Summer Moak taking the win on the Stage 1 Thunderhill Raceway Circuit Race at the 2016 Chico Stage Race on Friday near Willows in northern California.
Fellow Canuck and Rally teammate, Katherine Maine was 6th. Nigel Ellsay (Rally Cycling) was the top Canuck in the men’s race won by Justin Williams (Williams Racing).
Results
Pro 1/2/3 Women
1. Summer Moak (Rally Cycling) 1:25:57
2. Lauretta Hanson (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) 3. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling)
4. Jessica Mundy (The Meteor // Intelligentsia)
5. Harriet Owen (The Meteor // Intelligentsia) 6. Katherine Maine (Rally Cycling)
7. Erica Clevenger (TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air)
8. Melanie Wong (Team Mikes Bikes)
9. Hanna Muegge (DNA Cycling Team)
10. Shayna Powless (Sho-Air TWENTY20)
Pro 1 Men
1. Justin Williams (Williams Racing) 1:24:25
2. Scott Law (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling)
3. George Simpson (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling)
4. Kent Ross (Hedrick Racing)
5. Cooper Rombold (Team California)
6. Chris Riekert (Team Mikes Bikes p/b Equator C)
7. Sam Boardman (Marc Pro Cycling)
8. Alex Hoehn (Aevolo Cycling)
9. Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling)
10. Cory Lockwood (Team Project Echelon)
March 16, 2018 (Handzame, Belgium) – Canadian riders are racing in Belgium at the 199.1km Handzame Classic where Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling Academy finished 32nd with the same time as the winner and Alexander Cataford (Can) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team was 57th at 6 seconds behind. In the 151.6 km Handzame Challenge Canuck Edward Walsh (T.Palm-Pôle Continental Wallone) was 85th.
Results (brief)
Classic Bredene-Handzame – 199.1km
1. Alvaro Jose Hodeg Chagui (Col) Quick – Step Floors 4:34:35
2. Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Team Sky
3. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe
4. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora – Hansgrohe
5. Adam Blythe (Gbr) Aqua Blue Sport
6. Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Wb Aqua Protect Veranclassic
7. Rui Oliveira (Por) Hagens Berman Axeon
8. Tanguy Turgis (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling Club
9. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto Soudal
10. Jonas Koch (Ger) Ccc Sprandi Polkowice
32. Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling Academy 57. Alexander Cataford (Can) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:06
Challenge Jabbeke-Handzame – 151.6 km
1. Sasha Weemaes (Bel) EFC-L&R-Vulsteke 3:21:25
2. Matthew Walls (Gbr) 100% Me
3. Thimo Willems (Bel) EFC-L&R-Vulsteke
4. Anthony Debuy (Bel) AGO – Aqua Service
5. Alex Colman (Bel) Lotto Soudal U23
6. Jens Bouts (Bel) Prorace Cycling Team
7. Brent Van Moer (Bel) Lotto Soudal U23 0:02
8. Fred Wright (Gbr)100% Me 0:05
9. Joseph Nally (Gbr) 0:17
10. Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) AGO – Aqua Service 0:24
85. Edward Walsh (Can) T.Palm-Pôle Continental Wallon 0:46
March 16, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – Cycling Canada has selected a small but powerful team of four riders for the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 22-25. Canada won seven medals, four gold and three silver, at the 2017 Para Track Worlds.
The team will include the three athletes who won medals last year; men’s C2 category rider Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, men’s C1 athlete Ross Wilson of Edmonton, Alberta, and women’s C4 rider Marie-Claude Molnar of St-Hubert, Quebec. Joining them will be NextGen athlete Keely Shaw of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, who will be classified prior to competition.
Chernove and Wilson will each be defending their two world titles in the 1000m Time Trial and Individual Pursuit. Molnar won three silver medals at the 2017 world championships, in the 500m Time Trial, Individual Pursuit and Scratch Race. Chernove won silver and bronze medals and Wilson won a silver medal on this same track at the Rio Paralympic Games.
“The Para team is looking forward to going back to the Rio velodrome, where our team lived great experiences at the Paralympics in 2016,” said Sebastien Travers, Para-cycling Head Coach at Cycling Canada. “We are going to these championships to try to maintain our world champion titles, but we are also looking forward to gathering UCI points, as this is the first event on the track to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics.”
“Our team is looking very good with some of our veterans, but we are also seizing the opportunity to get up-and-coming athletes a first exposure to international classification.”
March 16, 2018 (Cochrane, Alberta) – 4iiii Innovations is announcing a new partnership with Specialized Bicycle Components. The 3D, lightweight, waterproof powermeter technology that powered Bora-hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors for two years on the World Tour is built into the new Specialized Power Cranks.
4iiii Innovations is announcing a new partnership with Specialized Bicycle Components. The 3D, lightweight, waterproof powermeter technology that powered Bora-hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors for two years on the World Tour is built into the new Specialized Power Cranks.
Through their Human Performance Lab at the Specialized Win Tunnel, Specialized developed a unique testing protocol using a custom cycling treadmill. Specialized tested various riders, conditions and powermeters, verifying accuracy in real-world conditions. S-Works Power Cranks including 4iiii powermeter technology tested more accurately than the others on the market, with accuracy within 1.5% under all real-world riding scenarios. This accuracy has been independently validated by the Locomotion Laboratory at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Specialized has chosen 4iiii to be the technology partner for their complete line of Power Cranks. S-Works, Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 Power Cranks will be available in various dual and single-side aftermarket configurations.
The partnership marks the first time that powermeter technology is on a dual-sided carbon crank. Specialized is launching the cranks as original equipment on their flagship S-Works Tarmac Disc. “Our collaboration has lead to incredible real-world accuracy and the first commercially available direct measurement dual-sided powermeter on a carbon crank,” said Mark Cote, Head of Marketing and Innovation at Specialized.
We’re proud to be partnering with Specialized,” said 4iiii CEO Kip Fyfe. “They share our commitment to innovate and build products that grow cyclists’ passion for riding.”
Specialized World Tour road teams Bora-hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors have been testing 4iiii powermeter technology in competition for the last two seasons, winning two UCI World Road Championships, multiple Grand Tour stage victories, and many more World Tour and Continental results.
Media Contact
About 4iiii
Based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, 4iiii Innovations has earned a Global reputation for technology leadership. The world’s most accurate powermeters, heart rate monitors and more, are available for sports enthusiasts of all types to increase performance, improve athleticism and fun. Visit 4iiii.com to get the latest in sports performance feedback products.
About Specialized
Specialized Bicycle Components was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Based in Northern California, we focus on the rider’s need for functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit.
March 15, 2018 (Quebec City, QC) – The Quebec Singletrack Experience (QSE) is THE 7-day stage race in the East accessible to all mountain bikers. From August 4 to 10, 2018, all stages are taking place within 1 hour of the unique base camp downtown Quebec City, a UNESCO World heritage treasure. The registration package includes everything from meals, transfers, bike logistics, etc. plus a lot of other incredible experiences off the bike at night.
375$ Rebate Until March 20th
Until March 20th, get a 375$ rebate when you register to the QSE including one of the multiple lodging options: camping, school residence or 4 stars hotel.
Bring a Friend: get 40% off on the 2nd Package
On top of the 375$ rebate offered, register a friend to the race and get 40% off on the 2nd package
Win a 6-day Training Camp in Switzerland
Amongst all participant registered as of March 20th, 2 will be selected to participate to a 6-day training camp in Liddes Switzerland in June. It is the ultimate preparation for your Quebec Singletrack Experience.
Attend the UCU Mountain Bike World Cup at Mont Ste-Anne
Ride the QSE and then attend the UCI mountain bike world cup as the end of the QSE marks the beginning of the UCI world cup at Mont Ste-Anne on August 11 and 12; 9 days of pure mountain bike fun!
March 13, 2018 (Victoria BC) – Registration is now live for the Robert Cameron Law Cycling Series p/b Lexus Victoria and the Global Relay Canadian National Masters Cycling Championships as these two mega-events join forces June 1-3, 2018.
“We are only three months away and the momentum is building for what will be an epic cycling event here in Victoria.” said Race Director, Jon Watkin. “Racers from across Canada will experience three days of spectacularly scenic yet challenging racing events in Metchosin, Oak Bay, and downtown Victoria.”
“With such a majestic location, we are very proud to be hosting our Canadian Masters Road Championships in beautiful Victoria, B.C.,” said Cycling Canada CEO, Pierre Lafontaine.
“Cycling is a life-long sport and having so many Masters athletes competing in this event demonstrates that age knows no barriers when looking to new challenges. We are excited to help stage a memorable event for our Master athletes.”
Racers will be soaking up the splendor of a scenic waterfront when the Series kicks off on Friday, June 1 with the Specialized Time Trial at Clover Point and Dallas Road. The time triallists will start individually at one-minute intervals, racing two laps of a technical 10km out-and-back course on Dallas Road and Beach Drive.
On Saturday June 2, the racers will take to the hills of Metchosin en masse to test their mettle on a gruelling 10km circuit which has served as a past course for the BC Road Cycling Championships.
“We affectionally call it a race of attrition,” says Watkin. “The first lap typically features the fearless and bold breaks – then it just comes down to endurance and power. The winners will truly be deserving of a National Cycling Championship Jersey.”
The Robert Cameron Law Cycling Series reaches a crescendo on Sunday, June 3 with the Russ Hay’s Grand Prix Criterium around the BC Legislature. This race – the “Nascar” of cycling road racing, takes racers – wheel-to-wheel, shoulder-to-shoulder, around a fast four-corner circuit in front of thousands of cheering spectators. Racers will complete multiple laps while negotiating turns at over 60km per hour while sprinting for lap prizes called “primes.”
Kids ages 3-10 will be able to take part in the Kids Bike Challenge where they will be joined by Canadian Olympians to ride along the race circuit.
The final event of the series is the Broad Street Cycles Fixed Gear Criterium, where cycling goes rogue with racers using bicycles that have no brakes and use only one “fixed” gear. Hoyne brewery will have a beer garden on hand to close off the weekend of cycling action.
Register HERE – and for more information visit HERE.
Summary of Events
June 1 – Specialized Time Trial on Dallas Road – Canadian Masters Time Trial Championships
Categories: Men & Women Masters, U13, U15, U17, U19, Novice, Cat 4, Cat 3, Cat 2, Cat 1 June 2 – Metchosin Cycling Classic – Canadian Masters Road Championships
Categories: Men & Women Masters Only. June 3 – Russ Hay’s Grand Prix – Canadian Masters Criterium Challenge
Categories: Men & Women Masters, U13, U15, U17, U19, Novice, Cat 4, Cat 3, Cat 2, Cat 1 June 3 – Kids Bike Challenge
Boys and Girls ages 3-10 June 3 – Broad Street Cycles Fixed Gear Crit
Categories: Open Men and Women
Partners
The Russ Hay’s Racing Cycle Club Society is a not-for-profit society dedicated to providing support, equipment, and resources towards the development of aspiring competitive cyclists who have the potential to become future champions.
Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop has been one of Victoria’s major independent cycling retailers since 1959. It was recently voted as one of the “2013 Best Bike Shops in Canada” by Canadian Cyclist Magazine. The Clermont family owned business maintains a strong reputation for friendly, expert service, relying on customers’ word-of-mouth as their strongest source of advertising. They are one of the top Specialized Bicycle dealers in Canada and have raised over $11,000 for Victoria Hospice through the annual Ambriss Clermont Charity Ride – click herehttp://www.russhays.com.
Robert Cameron Law is one of Victoria’s well known and respected law firms that specialize in injury claims. Bob himself is passionate about cycling and has competed at the national and international level, with significant accomplishments both in road and track disciplines. He currently sits on the board of PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence) and supports other cycling related projects such as the IRC Cycling Club and the Accent Inns/Russ Hay’s Cycling Team p/b Scotiabank. Click here.
Global Relay
Global Relay is the world leader in cloud-based messaging, archiving and search technology for the financial sector click here. Lexus
Lexus is committed to, and inspired by, great design. From the overhaul of our lineup, to special projects and events, we’re sharing our passion for amazing in motion throughout the world – click here.
March 12, 2018 – In its fourth season, Rise Racing continues to evolve as one of Canada’s top women’s cycling teams. Rise Racing was primarily founded to support the development of womens cycling in Canada with a North American focus. While the team is based in Ontario and host several riders from the province, the 2018 roster has some exciting new additions from British Columbia and Alberta. The team’s members are involved in multiple disciplines including road, track, and cyclo-cross, however, the main focus of the team is on the North American road circuit.
In 2018, Rise Racing will be one of ten women’s teams competing in the D1 team division in the USA CRITS Series. The USA CRITS Series will consist of eleven races across the United States. For those interested in watching top level criterium racing and cheering on the team, a real-time stream of each race will be made available on usacrits.tv.
Rise Racing’s industry partnerships continue to grow. Going on its third year, Rise Racing is excited to have the return of Smith Optics Canada as a helmet and optics sponsor. The signature Smith Overtake helmet in the opal colour will once again be a vital component to the overall look of the team kit.
Also in its third season, Rise’s partnership with Jakroo Custom Apparel Canada continues to grow. While our past 2016/17 season kit was very popular, a new kit design has been unveiled for the 2018 season. There will be two new designs, one for road racing and one for criterium racing.
New on board for 2018 is Pioneer HD Power Meters who will be equipping each team member’s bike with a top-end crank based power meter.
Also new for 2018 is Grain and Grit Small Batch Brewery. Grain and Grit is a new brewery in Hamilton, Ontario who produces an ever-changing list of craft beers. G&G will be providing event space for team events and USACrits event viewing evenings. Stay tuned to @rise_racing on Instagram in for more details!
Cyclepath Woodbridge helped build the team four years ago, and continues to stand close by, supporting the team in numerous ways on and off the bike throughout the season.
Local roofing contractor Lamas and Co. from Brampton, Ontario continues to support grassroots sport in Ontario. This will be the second year Lamas has contributed to Rise Racing.
March 12, 2018 (France) – BC junior rider, Ben Katerberg, is in France racing for local team, Culture Velo Integrale Bicycle Club Isle Jourdain, and was on the podium this past weekend on March 11, finishing 5th at the 43 ème Prix d’Ouverture Montauban Lafrancaise, 103km. Fellow Canuck and teammate, Conor Martin, was 33rd.
The previous weekend they raced at the 93.6km Grand Prix Cyclistes d’Armissan and Katerberg finished 20th while Martin was 63rd. The duo are racing over in France with the help of TaG Cycling.
“I had a great race today! I managed to get into a break of 9 with one other Culture Velo rider about 30 km in. We worked well until about 50 km to go when riders started to miss pulls, so I decided to attack. I built up to 30 seconds and stayed away until 8 km to go, while teammate Harry [Thompson] was sitting on the back the break,” said Katerberg.
“After getting caught, I sat in to catch my breath and followed the last minute attacks. Harry was feeling good so I did my best to lead him out…he was cm away from the win,” added Katerberg.
Results (brief)
1. Corentin Bertrand (FRA) GSC Blagnac Velo Sport 31 2:40:01
2. Harry Thompson (FRA) Grande Bretagne
3. Romain Malbreil (FRA) CA Castelsarrasin
4. Alex Molin Pradel (FRA) Velo Club Rodez 5. Ben Katerberg (CAN) Integrale Bicycle Club Isle Jourdain
33. Conor Martin (CAN) Integrale Bicycle Club Isle Jourdain 2:43:17
Grand Prix Cyclistes d’Armissan results here.
43 ème Prix d’Ouverture Montauban Lafrancaise here.
March 12, 2018 (Dwingeloo, Netherlands) – Canada’s Alison Jackson (Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank) won the QOM at the 141km Ronde van Drenthe, round #2 of the 2018 UCI Women’s World Tour, held on Sunday in the Netherlands.
Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam took the win over American Alexis Ryan (Canyon -Sram Racing) with Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipollini in third. Jackson was involved in a late race crash and finished 62nd while her Canadian teammate Lex Albrecht did not finish. Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam in 21st continues to lead overall.
“Outstanding climbing today by Alison Jackson! Alison won the QOM Competition at #RondevDrenthe – UCI Women’s World Tour race!!! TIBCO Software Inc. Silicon Valley Bank. #tothetop #TIBCOfast A crash in the last 25km took Alison out of contention for the finish. Aussie champion Shannon Malseed also crashed and had to abandon the race, but she’s ok,” tweeted Team Tibco SVB.
Results (brief)
1. Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 4:06:44
2. Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-Sram Racing
3. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipollini 0:00:01
62. Alison Jackson (Can) Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank DNF Lex Albrecht (Can) Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank
QOM
1. Alison Jackson (Can) Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank 12 points
2. Jolien D’hoore (Bel) Mitchelton Scott 4 points
3. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Wiggle High5 4 points
March 10, 2018 (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) led the Canadians with a strong 7th-place finish at the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO at Stellenbosch, South Africa in dry and dusty conditions.
Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing took the 26km 6-lap Elite women’s win over Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon Factory XC in second with U23 rider, Anne Tauber (Ned) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team, in third.
Pendrel moved up well from 15th to 9th following the start as Langvad and Prevot battled for the lead. By the second lap Pendrel was in fourth duking it out with Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing Team. Langvad kept making small errors that allowed Prevot to take over the lead but the Danish rider recovered and escaped on the final lap for the win.
On the last lap Neff’s teammate Maja Wloszczowksa bridged to her and Pendrel while Helen Grobert (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing XC behind was closing fast. Pendrel got dropped as Grobert had the legs to catch the two Kross riders and claim 4th.
“So happy to be back chasing after World Cup podiums,” tweeted Pendrel “Solid ride finishing 7th today. Onwards and upwards.”
Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) moved up as well but it was not her day as she finished 14th. “The good: Performance is moving in the right direction. The ugly: getting hit in the throat with 55 seconds to the start,” tweeted Batty.
Haley Smith (Can) Norco Factory Team XC was satisfied with her 23rd place but wanted more. “The course was great – technical, lots of on/off climbing, and very gruelling. I had bad luck on the start, getting stuck behind a miscue but was able to regain those spots. The course was extremely dusty.
“Once I worked through the traffic, I was finally able to ride the technical sections at a decent pace. I’m not at peak fitness yet but happy with my effort and know there is more there. Not the result I was looking for, but 23rd is an okay place to start the season,” she concluded.
The 30.30km Elite Men’s 7-lap race was a nail-biter as Samuel Gaze (Nzl) Specialized Racing halted the winning streak of Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing as he out-sprinted the Swiss rider for the win. The top Canuck was Leandre Bouchard (Can) KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour in 36th.
The race quickly became a 2-horse affair as Gaze and Schurter took the lead with Maxime Marotte (Fra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC in third. Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus looked strong as he moved up as well but he was never a threat.
Gaze and Schurter were locked in battle with neither able to break the other. Gaze took the lead on the final half lap and as the duo hit the final grass straightaway it was a drag race to the finish. Schurter’s left foot became unclipped at the very end but Gaze had a clear lead to claim his first Elite Men’s World Cup victory.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Gaze. “As we got closer to the finish, I knew I had to be in front to be sure that I had the line for the sprint, and I did it.”
Schurter conceded the victory saying, “I’m a little bit disappointed. It was a tough race and really close. It was bad luck for me at the end coming unclipped but Sam is a strong and talented rider. I didn’t have a solution for him today and he’s going to be hard to beat.”
Bouchard was happy with his race starting in the mid-20s but dropped back to the high 30s to end up in 36th position as the top Canadian.
“My start was great, pointing in the low twenty (22-23). I was calm and in control. From that point I was just barely slower than my group and lost a few positions but a massive pack of riders were just in front of me,” said Bouchard. “In the race analysis the 4th lap was my slowest but I kept accelerating the pace every lap from than point. Having less traffic helped. I went hard on the last lap to score my best lap time aside from the opening lap but still lost two spots to finish 36th.
“I managed my race very well and had clean ride: only made 2-3 minor mistakes. I just needed a bit more power to be at the fitness level I’m looking for. It’s still early in the season so I’m looking for those bullits at the next World Cup and for sure at the Commonwealth Games,” he added.
Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team XC), now in the Elite category, was racing near Bouchard in the mid 30s but couldn’t keep the pace and ended up 45th. Other Canadians included Andrew L’Esperance (Forward Racing) in 57th and Raphael Gagne (Silverback OMX) in 66th.
“Solid race for my first Elite world cup. I am pleased with the result although I was hoping for top 40. Had some great battles and rode with Dre for a bit before a spill set me back – nothing crazy just washed out on a corner when setting up to pass a rider. Oops,” said Disera. “Mid-race I felt like I was fading a bit. It didn’t surprise me, I was racing pretty head down on a pace I would’ve been surprised to sustain. Although it was upsetting when the guys started to turn the screw on the last two laps and I was left in the dust.”
L’Esperance was happy with his start to the season but is also looking for more ahead. “The course was amazing and I was happy to be riding my Norco Revolver FS for this round. It took me a couple laps to find a good rhythm but after that I was riding strong,” said L’Esperance. “Passing opportunities were mostly good but there was a lot of dust with ruts underneath so I tried to stay on the main line. I am happy with my performance but can do more and will look towards more improvement over the season.”
“I was not able to get such a strong start today and, despite some great descending, it was hard to make an impression on the race. I was in the 70s for most of the race but made a last lap surge to move up to 66th. It was not my day but we know there is much more in the tank and look forward to better days ahead,” said Gagne.
The day kicked off with the Under-23 men’s 26km 6-lap race that saw Norway’s Petter Fagerhaug take win over Ben Oliver (Nzl) in second with Neilo Perrin Ganier (Fra) Absolute-Absalon in third. Quinton Disera (Norco Factory Team XC) led the Canucks finishing 24th. He was followed by Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles-OTE) in 40th and Auclair’s teammates Felix Belhumeur in 47th and Marc-Andre Fortier in 51st.
“Top 25 – I’m happy with that. That is a result that I can work with. Realistically coming from school and the trainer to here I am happy with that result. There are a few things that could’ve gone a little better thought. I got caught up on the steep climb off the start and bobbled around a bit losing some spots. Heading out on the last lap I put the hammer down and was really pleased with tying everything together for that top 25. More to come – after we finish school,” said Disera.
March 04, 2018 (Apeldoorn, NED) – Jasmin Duehring (Vancouver, BC) claimed bronze for Canada landing third on the podium in the women’s Points Race on the final day of the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Kirsten Wild (Ned) won gold while Jennifer Valente (USA) took the silver.
Duehring, who was seventh in the Scratch Race on the opening day of the Championships, came back from a disappointing Madison on Saturday to finish third behind Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands and Jennifer Valente of the United States. Duehring was one of nine riders to lap the field, as well as scoring points in three intermediate points during the race, to finish with 30 points in total.
“We’ve had a strong team here, but it hasn’t quite translated into medals, so I was really proud to have our Canadian flag go up once,” said Duehring.
“I’ve been on the podium a few times in this event and the rainbow jersey has eluded me, so I really wanted to go for it. I raced aggressively and a couple of times tried to make a move to get a lap, but Kirsten Wild was so strong out there and she wasn’t letting anyone get away,” she added.
Stefan Ritter was the only other Canadian athlete to race on Sunday, finishing 16th in the 1,000 metre time trial with a time of one minute and 1.923 seconds. Ritter raced with a broken clavicle from an early crash. Jeffrey Hoogland of the Netherlands won the world title.
“It’s not the ride I was hoping for,” admitted Ritter, “I was definitely hoping for a top-10. But considering that I could not do a bunch of kilo prep and we didn’t practice many starts because of my shoulder, honestly, I’m pretty happy with 16th. I did feel on the standing starts; it’s painful but I can push through it and I’m pretty lucky that I can still ride and race.”
Jacques Landry, Chief Technical Officer – Head Coach at Cycling Canada, said, “It’s not the best Track Worlds we’ve had, but certainly better than last year, when the men’s Team Pursuit squad crashed. Looking at the world championships as a whole, we have a lot of things to take home and work on. The men’s Team Pursuit rode really well and they are a lot more technically sound so we just have to do some fine tuning. In the women’s Team Pursuit, we didn’t have all of our ‘A’ riders here and still managed to finish fourth, so next year in the Olympic qualification window we expect to be stronger as we’ll have more riders to choose from and who will feed off each other to get better.”
“On the sprint side, Amelia [Walsh] is continuing to progress and with Lauriane Genest moving up the ranks, we may be in the running for the Team Sprint in the future. For the men, Hugo [Barrette] needs to be able to deliver more than one or two good rides, so he needs to build his capacity. Stefan [Ritter] continues to learn and progress, and just needs more racing practice to avoid making mistakes. All in all, there are a lot of takeaways; we know what we have to do and we just have to execute. I think we are in a good situation; we may not have some of the rankings we are used to, but that is just a temporary situation and we’ll be able to get back on track for when it really counts.”
March 03, 2018 (Apeldoorn, NED) – Canada’s Stefan Ritter qualified 12th and Hugo Barrette was 18th to advance to 1/16 finals in the Men’s Sprint on Day 3 of the 2018 UCI Track Worlds, but were defeated in their respective heats. Derek Gee was 14th in the men’s Individual Pursuit while Allison Beveridge was racing well in the Women’s Omnium until a big crash in the Elimination Race took her out of the competition and she finished 20th overall.
Results
Men’s Sprint
Qualifications
1. Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands) 9.674
2. Matthew Glaetzer (Australia) 0.003
3. Sebastien Vigier (France) 0.027
4. Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) 0.035
5. Jack Carlin (Great Britain) 0.041
6. Mateusz Rudyk (Poland) 0.068
7. Denis Dmitriev (Russian Federation) 0.080
8. Ryan Owens (Great Britain) 0.085
9. Melvin Landerneau (France) 0.113
10. Vasilijus Lendel (Lithuania) 0.114
11. Ethan Mitchell (New Zealand) 0.131 12. Stefan Ritter (Canada) 0.154
13. Edward Dawkins (New Zealand) 0.169
14. Fabian Hernando Puertas Zapata (Colombia) 0.178
15. Rayan Helal (France) 0.204
16. Pavel Yakushevskiy (Russian Federation) 0.246
17. Maximilian Levy (Germany) 0.249 18. Hugo Barrette (Canada) 0.260
19. Kazunari Watanabe (Japan) 0.270
20. Martin Cechman (Czech Republic) 0.285
21. Yuta Wakimoto (Japan) 0.288
22. Damian Zielinski (Poland) 0.294
23. Tomoyuki Kawabata (Japan) 0.295
24. Sam Webster (New Zealand) 0.328
25. Chaebin Im (Republic of Korea) 0.356
26. Eric Engler (Germany) 0.382
27. Nikita Shurshin (Russian Federation) 0.396
28. Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia) 0.398
29. Andrii Vynokurov (Ukraine) 0.429
30. Juan Peralta Gascon (Spain) 0.438
31. Jair Tjon En Fa (Suriname) 0.463
32. David Sojka (Czech Republic) 0.529
33. Svajunas Jonauskas (Lithuania) 0.569
34. Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom (Malaysia) 0.619
35. Sotirios Bretas (Greece) 0.824
1/16 Finals
Heat 1
1. Jack Carlin (Great Britain)
2. Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia)
March 02, 2018 (Ancaster, ON) – Thousands of cyclists across North America love the Paris to Ancaster Race, but what do the pros think? We asked some internationally-renowned cycling champs what they think about the P2A course. #P2A18
March 02, 2018 (Apeldoorn, Netherlands) – Canada finished just off the podium on Day 2 of the UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, on Thursday, with the women’s Team Pursuit squad finishing fourth.
After struggling on Wednesday in the qualifying round, the team of Allison Beveridge, Ariane Bonhomme, Annie Foreman-Mackey and Steph Roorda put in a strong second ride to qualify for the bronze medal race against Italy. For the first 2000 metres the teams swapped the lead back and forth, before the Canadians faded slightly to finish with a time of four minutes and 23.216 seconds, 3.214 seconds back. The United States won the gold medal.
“Our first ride yesterday was a little rough around the edges,” admitted Foreman-Mackey, “so we came back ready to fight in the next round and I think we can feel pretty proud of that ride. Obviously, we want to be on the podium, so it’s a little bit of a tough pill to swallow. We can look at these performances and figure out what we need to change for the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks.”
In the men’s Keirin, Hugo Barrette had his strongest ever world championships result, finishing tenth overall. Barrette won a Repechage heat to make the second round, but came up one hundredth of a second short in making the medal final.
“One hundredth of a second!” said Barrette. “I definitely had the legs today, but I just mismanaged the semifinal; it was my mistake, I went too early. It bit me at the end of the race and I had to settle for the 7-12 final. I’m not happy with the result, but I’m happy with my legs.”
The final Canadian to compete was women’s sprinter Amelia Walsh, who qualified 26th with a time of 11.383 seconds. Walsh went up against Shanne Braspennincx of the Netherlands in the 1/16th round, the seventh fastest qualifier and was knocked out of the competition.
March 02, 2018 (Toronto, ON) – Real Deal Racing is thrilled to announce a partnership with Aquila Cycles based out of Toronto, ON Canada. The official team name for the 2018 season will be RealDeal | Aquila. The team boasts a combined roster of 30 athletes, which includes 19 women and 11 men of all levels and abilities. The elite men will lead this group by example racing a full domestic calendar which will include some of the USA Crits series, The Canadian National Championships and BC SuperWeek.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Real Deal Racing for the 2018 season as our brand and bike collection align well with the Real Deal brand, which has a proven track record of success combined with a distinctive passion for advancements in our sport.” – Frank Mizerski Aquila Cycles
“Our goal is to gain exposure to our beautiful sport. We want to try and introduce as many people to cycling as a way of life. We want to showcase the racing but also the behind the scenes on what it takes and promote a living a healthy active lifestyle. What may start simply as being a casual fan of the team, could develop into riding a bike to work, doing a learn to ride at the Milton Velodrome and then possibly entering their very first race. If we can be any part of that then this project will be a success” – Ed Veal RealDeal Racing
In addition to 5 time Ontario Road Cup series champion and Canadian Hour Record Holder Ed Veal, the team has signed his former team mate on the Canadian National Track Team Sean Mackinnon. Sean joins the team after racing in Europe in 2017 with An-Post Chain Reaction. Sean and Ed will be reunited after representing Canada together at the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am games winning a bronze medal in the men’s team pursuit. Sean also represented Canada at Road Worlds in 2016 and is looking to regain his world class form after suffering a serious crash last year. Surrounding these two on the Elite Men’s team are a cast of talented young riders including Ryan Rudderham, Tomer Shahar and reliable veteran leaders Tim Burton, Chris Firek and John Stewart.
“The Real Deal team complements our efforts of building the next generation of cyclists. Having such a collection of talented and decorated cyclists riding our bikes help in the development of new technology and designs that can be proven in high intensity situations, Aquila is excited to bring these advancements to every form of rider.” – Frank Mizerski Aquila Cycles
RealDeal | Aquila – 2018 Elite Mens Roster
Ed Veal (41, Hamilton ON) 2 time National champion, World Cup gold medalist and bronze medalist at the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am games. Ed is the 5 time Ontario cup road champion and returns for his 8th season racing for the RealDeal Racing team. The Canadian Hour record holder is now also the 40-44 World Hour record holder
Sean Mackinnon (22, Hamilton ON) This time-trial specialist looking to regain his world class form and help develop the riders around him. 2 time National champion and bronze medalist at the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am games. Sean represented Canada in the TT at the 2016 World Championships.
Ryan Rudderham – (18, Oakville ON) Member of Queens Varsity cycling team – Studying Commerce. Competing in Cycling and Triathlon since 2013. Was focused primarily on triathlon the last 3 years but shifted to primarily a cycling focus in 2017. Enjoys high tempo rides preferably with hard climbs.
Chris Firek – (47, Missisauga ON) An accomplished junior with many wins over the course of his cycling career. After a 15 year hiatus, Chris returned to the sport and has continued right where he left off. He brings loads of experience, true grit and a big finish to our team.
John Stewart – (42, Cambridge ON) The definition of fit. John is the workhorse on the team. Another rider returning to the sport after a little hiatus. We will be looking to John to provide a break from the wind and a strong powerful lead out.
Timothy Burton (29, Mississauga ON) Returns as the last remaining original RideAllDay p/b Real Deal Racing team member. This will be his 9th year racing for RealDeal Racing. Tim won the 2015 Midweek Criterium series overall and the 2012 Tour de Hans.
Tomer Shahar (26 , Mississauga ON) Track specialist, joins the team after racing the 2017 season with Kurziwinski coach. This Cat 2 racer brings a boat load of personality on the off the bike. He is another big engine with a ton of potential. He also has a nose for the finish line.
Team Staff
Frank Mizerski – Director of Marketing and Sponsorship – info@racersportif.com
Amanda DeMelo – Creative Director – Amandasarahcherish@gmail.com
Sponsors
RealDeal | Aquila is proud to announce their 2018 sponsors.
March 01, 2018 (Chicoutimi, Que.) – For thirty years now, the manufacturer has been designing and manufacturing a wide array of bikes from its native Chicoutimi, for large and small children, from the hybrid to the heavy downhill models. Because you never know which bike you might fall in love with… True to our roots, Devinci is extremely proud to contribute to the success of many Canadian athletes. For 2018, we have set up a new racing program, bringing together some of the best national riders.
For Felix Gauthier, President of the company, this is much more than pride: “It’s a must! We have to support these dedicated riders who invest so much time and effort to reach the highest levels of competition. And this motivates us to make the best bikes possible; it feeds our adrenaline…what they bring us is huge!”
This new program is also a tribute to Steve Smith, who inspired so many riders, and who keeps doing so through his Legacy Fund, to help the next generation of young ripper reach the podium. #longlivechainsaw
In 2018, Devinci can count on big names across the country!
Hailing from Western Canada, Kirk McDowall was the Canadian Downhill Champion in 2016 and 2017, also holder of the BC Cup provincial title in 2015 and 2016. Kirk intends to defend his title and rub elbows with the best at Crankworx and other Canadian DH events. He will also be part of some World Cup events. In 2017, he finished an impressive 12th at the World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec! Kirk is co-sponsored by Dunbar Cycles and Devinci. “I can’t wait to begin my third race season on a Devinci bike! It means a lot to me to represent a Canadian brand domestically and internationally.” – Kirk McDowall
He will be counting on a major opponent in Matthew Beer who will be joining the Devinci program! Born in Newfoundland, Matt traded the Atlantic for the Pacific in 2013, to get closer to his sport. He would like to reconquer his title as National Champion, as he did when he earned these honours in 2012 and in 2015. But this time, he’ll be riding the Spartan to fight and lead most of his battles during the various races of the Canadian National Enduro Series and a few rounds of the EWS.
“I’m fired up to be riding Devinci bikes for the 2018 season! I feel connected to the brand and the bikes are of a proven race breed. To keep things exciting and fresh, I will be racing DH and Enduro, along with some adventure trips, on the West Coast of Canada.” – Matt Beer
Back East, the Devinci Development Racing (DDR) Team is materializing in 2018, and is composed of Rachel Pageau, who finished 2017 as Enduro and Downhill champion of the Eastern States Cup Series. In addition to defending her titles, Rachel will be participating in five EWS rounds and will take part in the North American Enduro Continental Series.
Bromont native Hugo Langevin is also part of the program. Well known in the DH scene, Hugo has scored several victories in the Canada Cup, including finishing first in the overall standings in 2016. This year, he will start five World Cups where he hopes to register in the Top-40, in addition to aiming for the Top-3 at the national level.
The DDR will also be counting on John Lefrançois, Elite champion of the 2017 Canada Cup Series, Québec DH winner and titleholder of the 2017 Québec Cup Series. In 2018, John will be taking part in several major events in North America.
“I’ve never been as excited to start a season! This is now the third year that Devinci has been supporting me, but it will be the first time I’ll be in a full program! I can now focus on the basics. I consider myself privileged to be in the Devinci family and I am very proud to represent a Québec company!” – John Lefrançois
Finally, Devinci is thrilled to continue its partnership with freerider Kenny Smith, the smooth rider with uncanny creativity. Kenny will take part in several media projects and will not stop pushing the envelope of his sport.
Finally, we would like to mention our local ambassadors who are very active in their community, namely Philippe Ricard in Québec and Adam Robbins in Ontario.
February 27, 2018 (Mont-Tremblant, QC) – This coming May 25 to 27, Crossroads Tremblant, the new road and mountain biking festival, will launch the cycling season in Mont-Tremblant. The event will welcome and accommodate enthusiasts of two-wheeled sports on paved circuits, mountain trails and bike paths, giving them a challenge, a place to share their passion for the sport, and a good time.
Mont Tremblant Resort, host venue of the Festival, will spin to the rhythm of bike cranks for three days. On the program: competitions, fun challenges, an exhibitors’ village featuring the industry’s biggest names, demos, activities and free festivities.
“The aim of the event is to celebrate all types of cycling and to showcase the Mont-Tremblant region as the top cycling destination it has become,” said Simon St-Arnaud, founder of the Festival. “With such extensive programming, we are reaching every type of road or mountain cyclist. Everyone who rides a bike – fanatics, newcomers or recreational cyclists, adults and children alike – will find something to enjoy.”
For Road Biking Enthusiasts
The road highlight of Crossroads is the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant presented by Desjardins. This is the season’s unmissable event for road-biking fans. Divided into several pelotons with differing adapted speeds, participants choose from four distances, all in a spirit of inclusiveness and safety. The Gran Fondo emphasizes the enjoyment of riding in a group and strikes the perfect balance of physical challenge and joy of discovery. This year, close to 2,000 participants are expected at the starting line on Sunday, May 27.
Peppermint Bikefest: A day organized exclusively for women, by women who know cycling! On Saturday, May 26, more than 200 participants will have the chance to enjoy a customized experience. Registration required at www.peppermintcycling.com
Recreational time trial: Triathletes and cyclists who are keen on individual against-the-clock performances will love this timed challenge on a dedicated section of renowned Duplessis Road, a major section of the Ironman route. This new, friendly competition is open to all.
Spectacular Criterium: A first in Tremblant! A peloton of cyclists will test themselves on a 1.5 km loop in the very heart of the resort village. Speed and electrifying atmosphere guaranteed! The event has two participation categories: The Fixie Race, and the Pro Challenge.
For Mountain Biking Fans
The 24th edition of the Quebec/Canada Cup – Mountain Bike series takes place this year within the festive atmosphere of Crossroads Tremblant. Riders from all over the country will converge on Tremblant to take part in downhill and cross-country challenges on official circuits and trails on the outskirts of Station Mont Tremblant.
Guided trail tours and mountain rides: If you’ve ever dreamed of racing down Tremblant’s mountainside, here’s your chance! Ride up on the gondola for a unique experience available only during the Festival. Discover new cross-country trails and the upgrades made to the 60-km network.
Electric bike test circuit: The trend is growing! Come check out new electrically-powered mountain bikes and test their performances. Many manufacturers will be on hand to introduce you to the appeal of this new technology.
King of the Mountain, King of the Road: We will crown a King and Queen in each discipline! Using the popular Strava app and departing simultaneously, participants can record and compare their performances – on the road, as they tackle Mont-Tremblant’s best-known climbs, and on the mountain, as they push themselves to reach Mont Tremblant’ summit.
Activities and Fun for All
• Recreational ride on the Le P’tit Train du Nord bike path
• Tests and demos all weekend – road, mountain, triathlon and electric models
• Sunset Ride on Friday night – road biking
• Kids’ park, pump tracks, obstacle course
• Big Air Show – Trial demos
• Crossroads official Party
Crossroads Tremblant: A vast celebration of cycling that will set the tone for the season! For more information visit here.
