Cycling BC is proud to announce the Fall 2026 recipient of the Trudy and Doug Peden “Women in Sports Award.”
The Trudy and Doug Peden “Women in Sports Award” was established to provide meaningful financial support to high-level female student-athletes who are competing in cycling while pursuing a post-secondary education. The $3,000 award is offered twice annually (Spring and Fall intakes) and is designed to ease the financial burden that comes with balancing elite sport and academic achievement — helping recipients focus on what matters most: their education, their training, and their growth as athletes and young leaders.
Generously funded by the Trudy and Doug Peden Charitable Foundation, the award reflects the foundation’s commitment to removing financial barriers for ambitious young women chasing their dreams in sport.
Meet our Fall 2026 Recipient
Cycling BC is delighted to recognize Geza Rodgers of Port Moody, BC, as Cycling BC’s Fall 2026 recipient of the Trudy and Doug Peden “Women in Sports Award.” Geza has been a dedicated member of the Cycling BC community from a very young age and is now a student at Capilano University in North Vancouver.
Geza began her cycling racing journey pretty much as soon as she could get on a bike and has raced in every discipline, including road, track, BMX, cyclo-cross, mountain bike cross-country, downhill, and enduro. She has steadily worked her way into the upper ranks of the sport and has most recently been focusing her time and energy on racing enduro.
Over the 2025 season, Geza added to an already impressive resume with results that include:
- Canadian National Enduro Championships (Bromont, Quebec) – 3rd Place | Elite Women
- Canadian Downhill National Championships (Sun Peaks, BC) – 4th Place | Elite Women
- Silverstar DH UCI Continental Series – 5th Place | Elite Women
- Crankworx Whistler Canadian Open Enduro – 4th Place | Pro Women
- Crankworx Whistler Garbo DH – 5th Place | Pro Women
- UCI Enduro World Cup (Morillon, France) – 9th Place | Elite Women
While the results above are just a few of her amazing accomplishments from last season that this award selection is based on, Geza is also having an outstanding 2026 season, which includes:
- Canadian National Enduro Championships (Bromont, Quebec) – 2nd Place | Elite Women
- Canadian Downhill National Championships (Sun Peaks, BC) – 4th Place | Elite Women
- Multiple Top-10 finishes in the UCI Enduro World Cup Series, including Top 10 in the overall series standings | Elite Women
- UCI Enduro World Championships – 17th place | Elite Women
These results reflect not only her athletic talent but also her discipline, commitment, and the support network around her.
Commitment to Sport, School, and Community
Geza has worked hard to strike a balance between elite-level training, competition, academics, and giving back to the cycling community. Currently completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Geza also coaches and mentors other young aspiring female athletes in the Ride Like a Girl program, Escape Velocity’s DEVO youth development program, Cycling BC’s HopOn program, and several other grassroots youth initiatives. Geza has consistently shown up to give back to her community and has demonstrated leadership in all areas.
“It is an honour, and I am so grateful to be receiving The Trudy and Doug Peden Women in Sports Award. Being recognized by the community and such a great charitable foundation means a lot to me,” said Geza after being notified of her selection. “Being a privateer athlete, as well as a student, comes with a lot of expenses, and this award will help to support me as I pursue both sport and academics.”
Geza was selected for this award because she embodies exactly what the Trudy and Doug Peden “Women in Sports Award” was created to support—a female student-athlete who is making the most of every opportunity. Her combination of athletic achievements, leadership, and commitment to her education made her a standout in a very deep and competitive pool of candidates for this award.
About Doug and Trudy Peden
The award honours the legacy of Doug Peden who was a celebrated multi-sport athlete who competed at the highest levels of both cycling and basketball. He represented Canada on the international stage and was a member of the silver-medal Canadian basketball team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. A pioneer of track cycling, along with his older brother William ‘Torchy’ Peden, Doug was a passionate advocate for amateur sport.
Trudy Peden carried forward that same passion for sport and community. The Trudy and Doug Peden Charitable Foundation was established to ensure their shared values would continue to shape the next generation of Canadian athletes. Trudy’s particular commitment to supporting female athletes facing financial barriers while pursuing post-secondary education is at the core of this award.
Cycling BC extends its sincere thanks to the Trudy and Doug Peden Charitable Foundation for their commitment to the women in our sport — not only by easing the financial pressure of being a student-athlete, but by sending a message that their ambitions are seen, supported, and worth investing in.
Pedal It Forward and Support the Next Athlete
Stories like Geza’s are made possible because of supporters who believe in the power of sport to transform lives. But there are many more young women across British Columbia who need the same support.
You can help. A donation to Cycling BC helps us support athletes and gives BC cyclists the opportunities to chase their goals.
To make a gift, please donate to Cycling BC through the BC Amateur Sport Fund. Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure that the next generation of BC’s cyclists has the resources they need to succeed.