Ottawa, ON (August 27, 2021) – Cycling Canada is reinforcing its commitment to Junior development by sending three development squads across road and track to compete at prestigious international races over the next four weeks.The first event on the calendar will be the Junior women’s Bizkaikoloreak Feminas stage race, which will be held on August 28-29 across Spain. Seven Canadian women will be competing at the event before heading to the Netherlands for the Watersley Ladies Challenge on September 2-5. The races will be followed by other training camps and race opportunities in Europe.
Canada’s Junior men will also be heading to Europe to compete at the GP Rüebliland in Switzerland from September 3-5, followed by training and racing camps and capping off with the Keizer der Juniores on September 18-19 in Belgium.
“The goal of the road program at the moment is to give as many days of racing as possible to as many riders as possible,” said Richard Wooles, Cycling Canada’s Road Development Coach. “We’ve had quite a few projects over in Europe with the objective of giving numerous race opportunities to a big group of development riders so that they can gain experience for future years.”
Meanwhile, the Junior track cycling squad will be competing in Cairo, Egypt from September 1-5 at the UCI Junior Track World Championships. After being postponed on two occasions, the event officially kicks off next week with four riders selected to represent Canada at their first World Championships across various events. Multiple U17 Canadian champion Dylan Bibic will be leading the team before heading over to Europe to compete at the Keizer der Juniores with the rest of the road development squad.
“The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone – and Junior Track is no exception,” said Cycling Canada’s NextGen Lead Coach, Jenny Trew. “The riders who are going can be commended on their commitment to training as they have all made big gains during this time and I look forward to seeing what they can do on the world stage. The preparation camp was very successful, with all riders posting personal best times in the Individual Pursuit and looking on super form heading into Worlds next week!”
Team Canada
Junior Track Worlds
Dylan Bibic – Keirin, Points Race, Omnium, Madison, Elimination Race
Liam Langford – Keirin, Kilo
Carson Mattern – Scratch Race, Madison, Individual Pursuit
Campbell Parrish (Vancouver, BC) – Kilo, Individual Pursuit
Junior Women’s Road
Isla Walker (Victoria, BC) – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Kiara Lylyk – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Nicole Bradbury – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Dylan Baker – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Coralie Houde – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Lilly Ujfalusi (New Westminster, BC) – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas & Watersley Ladies Challenge
Ana Large (Kelowna, BC) – Bizkaikoloreak Feminas
Junior Men’s Road
Michael Leonard – GP Rüebliland & Keizer der Juniores
Matisse Julien – GP Rüebliland & Keizer der Juniores
Philippe Jacob – GP Rüebliland & Keizer der Juniores
Reid Kinniburgh – GP Rüebliland & Keizer der Juniores
Quentin Cowan – GP Rüebliland
Félix Hamel – GP Rüebliland
Dylan Bibic – Keizer der Juniores
Source: Cycling Canada
Cycling Canada is one of the oldest national sport organizations in Canada and has one simple purpose: to inspire Canadians to cycle. Cycling Canada administers programs to promote and grow cycling across the country, hosts national and international events and manages the National Team in all levels of international competition.