June 01, 2015 (Toronto, ON) – On Monday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Cycling Canada Cyclisme announced the 24 cycling athletes nominated to represent Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26. The announcement was made at the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, home of the track cycling events for the Games.

As host nation, Canada will be fielding the maximum 24 cyclists across all disciplines, representing the largest cycling team at the Pan Am Games. A total of 16 cyclists will race in the Track and Road events, in addition to four in Mountain Bike and four in BMX.

Historically, Canada has won 43 medals in cycling at the Pan Am Games: 21 gold, nine silver and 13 bronze. Three cyclists nominated to Team Canada have previously won medals at the Pan Am Games: Laura Brown (2011), Jasmin Glaesser (2011) and Catharine Pendrel (2007).

The cycling competition will take place at multiple venues and include the following events:

Road Cycling: men’s and women’s road race, Ontario Place West Channel, July 25; men’s and women’s individual time trial, Milton Time Trial Course, July 22

Track Cycling: men’s and women’s team pursuit, men’s and women’s team sprint, men’s and women’s sprint, men’s and women’s keirin, men’s and women’s omnium, Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, July 16-19

BMX: men’s and women’s, Centennial Park Pan Am BMX Centre, July 11

Mountain Bike: men’s and women’s cross-country, Hardwood Mountain Bike Park, July 12.

Two key legacy projects that were born out of the 2015 Pan Am Games will bring long-term benefits to the cycling sports. For track cycling, the main centrepiece will be the game-changing world-class velodrome built in Milton, ON – one of only three internationally-sanctioned covered velodromes in North America. It is anticipated that the permanent BMX track at Centennial Park in Etobicoke, located south of Toronto Pearson International Airport, will also bring a wave of new athletes to Eastern Canada.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with more than 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athlete

Quotes

“Canada has a great track record in Pan Am cycling with a total of 43 medals since 1967. Our roster of talent this year has everything it takes to keep Canada on its medal trajectory. Congratulations to all of the cyclists who made it onto the Team. Canada will be cheering for you!”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“Our cycling athletes are among the world’s best and this is reflected by the outstanding team nominated today. It was such an honour to do what I loved most and cycle for my country and I know these athletes share my passion. Congratulations to each one of our cyclists, you deserve this great honour and Canada will be sure to support you as you take on the best that the Americas have to offer here in the Golden Horseshoe.”
– Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“For these home Games we will be bringing the best cyclists Canada has to offer. There is no doubt that we will be competing for medals in all cycling competitions entered. Our team is comprised of athletes having taken part in previous Olympic Games, riders that have medaled in recent years at the world championships and newly identified talent that will use this experience to build for future games performances. Our preparation started a few years ago when it was announced that Toronto would be hosting these Pan Am Games and has intensified since acquiring international level facilities. Our athletes, coaching staff and support personnel are looking forward to the feeling of pride that comes with competing for Canada in front of Canadians.”
– Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach, Cycling Canada

“Games events are magical. They are an opportunity to pursue dreams and connect with your nation in such a unique way.  I can’t wait to compete at the Pan Am Games in Toronto!”
– Catharine Pendrel, two-time Olympian, two-time World Champion, Commonwealth Games Champion, Pan Am Games Champion, five-time Canadian Champion

“I can’t wait to represent Canada in Toronto for my first Pan Am Games.  It’s always special to wear the maple leaf and race for medals, especially in my home country.”
– Tory Nyhaug, London 2012 Olympian, UCI World Championships silver medallist, ten-time Canadian Champion

“We are so proud of those who have been selected to compete for Canada in cycling at the upcoming Pan Am Games. Being able to train here at home in the venues, like the new state-of-the-art Velodrome in Milton will give our team the edge they need to push for the podium. Congratulations to all the athletes chosen, and good luck!”
– Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

The cycling contingent which will represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Games includes:

Track Cycling
– Allison BEVERIDGE (Calgary, AB) [Women’s Team Pursuit]
– Laura BROWN (Vancouver, BC) [Women’s Team Pursuit]
– Jasmin GLAESSER (Coquitlam, BC) [Women’s Team Pursuit, Women’s Omnium]
– Kirsti LAY (Medicine Hat, AB) [Women’s Team Pursuit]
– Kate O’BRIEN (Calgary, AB) [Women’s Sprint, Women’s Team Sprint]
– Monique SULLIVAN (Calgary, AB) [Women’s Sprint, Women’s Team Sprint, Women’s Keirin]
– Hugo BARRETTE (Cap-aux-Meules, QC) [Men’s Sprint, Men’s Team Sprint, Men’s Keirin TBD]
– Evan CAREY (Victoria, BC) [Men’s Sprint, Men’s Team Sprint]
– Adam JAMIESON (Toronto, ON) [Men’s Team Pursuit]
– Eric JOHNSTONE (Calgary, AB) [Men’s Team Pursuit]
– Sean MacKINNON (Hamilton, ON) [Men’s Team Pursuit]
– Rémi PELLETIER-ROY (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC) [Men’s Team Pursuit, Men’s Omnium]
– Ed VEAL (Queensville, ON) [Men’s Team Pursuit]
– Joseph VELOCE (Fonthill, ON) [Men’s Sprint, Men’s Team Sprint, Men’s Keirin TBD]

Mountain Bike
– Emily BATTY (Brooklin, ON/Trek Factory Racing) [Women’s Cross-Country]
– Catharine PENDREL (Kamloops, BC/Luna Pro Team) [Women’s Cross-Country]
– Raphaël GAGNÉ (Québec, QC/Rocky Mountain Bicycles) [Men’s Cross-Country]
– Derek ZANDSTRA (Trenton, ON/Scott-3 Rox) [Men’s Cross-Country]

BMX
– Daina TUCHSCHERER (Airdrie, AB) [Women’s BMX]
– Amelia WALSH (Ayr, ON) [Women’s BMX]
– Jimmy BROWN (Airdrie, AB) [Men’s BMX]
– Tory NYHAUG (Coquitlam, BC) [Men’s BMX]

Road
– Allison BEVERIDGE (Calgary, AB/Team Trek-Red Truck Racing) [Women’s Road Race]
– Laura BROWN (Vancouver, BC/ UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) [Women’s Time Trial]
– Jasmin GLAESSER (Coquitlam, BC/ Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) [Women’s Road Race, Women’s Time Trial]
– Kirsti LAY (Medicine Hat, AB/ Team SAS-Mazda-Macogep p/b Specialized) [Women’s Road Race]
– Guillaume BOIVIN (Longueuil, QC/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) [Men’s Road Race]
– Hugo HOULE (Ste-Perpétue, QC/AG2R LaMondiale) [Men’s Road Race, Men’s Time Trial]
– Sean MacKINNON (Hamilton, ON) [Men’s Road Race, Men’s Time Trial]
– Rémi PELLETIER-ROY (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC/Garneau-Quebecor) [Men’s Road Race]

Coaches
– Jacques LANDRY (Team Leader) (Ottawa, ON)
– Kris WESTWOOD (Deputy Team Leader) (Ottawa, ON)
– Ken COOLS (Coach, BMX) (Abbotsford, BC)
– Craig GRIFFIN (Coach, Track, Women’s Endurance) (Colorado Springs, CO, USA)
– Erin HARTWELL (Coach, Track, Sprint) (Dundas, ON)
– Ian MELVIN (Coach, Track Men’s Endurance) (Milton, ON)
– Dan PROULX (Coach, Mountain Bike) (Victoria, BC)

Staff
– Craig DEVEER (Therapist, Road and Track) (Sarnia, ON)
– Roger FRIESEN (Sports Psychologist) (Abbotsford, BC)
– Tara LAZARSKI (Therapist, Mountain Bike) (North Vancouver, BC)
– Adam MUYS (Mechanic, BMX) (Maple Ridge, BC)
– Guy NAPERT-FRENETTE (Communications Manager/Media Attaché) (Calgary, AB)
– Mike PATTON (Physiologist, Track) (Guelph, ON)
– Dan PETERS (Mechanic, Road and Track) (Hamilton, ON)
– Adam TROTTER (Mechanic, Mountain Bike) (Waterloo, ON)
– Jenn TURNER (Chiropractor) (New Westminster, BC)
– Emily WOOD (Performance Analyst) (Nottingham, GBR)