June 03, 2014 (Ottawa, ON) – The game is on. Now that the 2016 Olympic Games qualification process for the cycling sport of BMX has begun, Canada is more determined than ever to qualify more than one spot for these upcoming Games in Rio, Brazil.

The UCI World Cup Supercross event to be held in Berlin on June 13-14 will be the first Supercross race of the qualifying process for the 2016 Olympic Games for BMX. Canada will send its largest team so far this season, five men and three women all racing in the elite category, with the objective to collect as many points as possible for the Olympic Qualification process.

Canada’s Head Coach for BMX Ken Cools explains: “Berlin SX will be the first race in which we will compete for qualification points towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With the valuable points available, the size of the team will be the largest to date competing in the 2014 race season, with a full support team to lead the way. The event will showcase one of the most famous tracks from last season – the Berlin Mellowpark – which was the former venue to the Redbull Revolution race, making it an exciting event for the athletes.”

Canada’s Tory Nyhaug of Coquitlam, BC will lead the team at the Berlin event, coming back from a crash during the Time Trials SuperFinals at the last World Cup event in Papendal. Nyhaug did not suffer any serious injury and will be ready to race for a podium performance in Germany.

Jim Brown of Airdrie, AB, James Palmer of North Vancouver, BC and Brandon Reid of Victoria, BC have all raced the UCI Supercross series this year for Canada. Misha Partridge of Duncan, BC will be joining the team travelling to Berlin and will race his first UCI Supercross World Cup of 2014.

In the women’s race, Amelia Walsh of Ayr, ON is the only women who has raced the World Cup series this year. Walsh will be joined by two upcoming stars: Junior Canadian BMX Champion Eliane McAdam and Junior Canadian BMX Time Trial Champion Morgan McAdam, both of Calgary, AB. The twin sisters will compete in their first international event in the Elite category.

The UCI BMX World Cup SuperCross in Berlin begins on June 13 with the qualifying motos and time trials SuperFinals, and ends on June 14 with the elimination motos and Main Events.

Team Canada – 2014 UCI BMX Supercross – Berlin, Germany

Elite Men
– Jim Brown (Airdrie, AB/Surrey, BC)
– Tory Nyhaug (Coquitlam, BC)
– James Palmer (North Vancouver, BC)
– Mischa Partridge (Duncan, BC)
– Brandon Reid (Victoria, BC)

Elite Women
– Amelia Walsh (Ayr, ON)
– Eliane McAdam (Calgary, AB)
– Morgan McAdam (Calgary, AB)

Coaches/Staff
– Ken Cools, Head Coach
– Adam Muys, Development Coach
– Alex Iché, Osteopath
– Roger Friesen, Mental Performance coach