Update, February 16, 2018: For personal reasons, Tegan Cochrane of Kelowna, BC, has declined her nomination and will be replaced by Lauriane Genest of Levis, Quebec. Genest will join Amelia Walsh of Ayr, Ontario, for the three women’s sprint events – Team Sprint, Keirin and Sprint.
Original Post:
Four BC Athletes will be part of an 18 athlete contingent representing Canada in Track, Mountain Bike and Road cycling events at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on April 5-14, 2018.
Aidan Caves from Vancouver and Jay Lamoureux from Victoria will be racing for Canada in men’s road & track cycling events. On the Women’s side, Stephanie Roorda from Vancouver will race in both road & track events while Tegan Cochrane from Kelowna will compete in the Sprint on the track. Sandra Walter from Coquitlam has been designated as the alternate for the Women’s Mountain Bike event.
The cycling competitions will begin with the Track events, where a total of 20 gold medals will be awarded. The Team Pursuit and Team Sprint are new additions to the Games program for women and for the first time in Games history there will be the same number of cycling medal events for men as for women.
Canada is particularly strong in the women’s Team Pursuit, winning bronze medals at the past two Olympic Games, as well as a gold medal in World Cup competition this season. The team will be anchored by Calgary’s Allison Beveridge, a member of the World Cup winning squad, as well as the reigning national road champion. The men’s program, while much newer, finished second to the world champion New Zealand squad in World Cup competition this season.
Canada has also been a dominant force in Mountain Biking at the Commonwealth Games since it was introduced at Manchester in 2002; having won every gold medal in the women’s competition and a total of 8 of 18 medals awarded.
The Road events will close out the cycling competition, with the track endurance athletes filling the roster for the women’s and men’s road races and time trials.
“Whether it’s on the road, on the velodrome track, or down the mountain, the fast-paced sport of cycling is always captivating,” said Chef de Mission Claire Carver-Dias. “With three medals four years ago, and a returning medalist in Emily Batty on the team, our 18 Canadian athletes are bound to contend for top spots at the Commonwealth Games once again in Gold Coast.”
Women’s Track Endurance & Road
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, Quebec [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Annie Foreman-Mackey – Kingston, Ontario [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Kinley Gibson – Edmonton, Alberta [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Stephanie Roorda – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race]
Alternate: Devaney Collier – Edmonton, Alberta
Men’s Track Endurance & Road
Aidan Caves – Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Road Race]
Women’s Sprint
Alternate: Lauriane Genest – Levis, Quebec
Men’s Sprint
Hugo Barrette – Iles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Stefan Ritter – Edmonton, Alberta
Patrice St-Louis Pivin – Sherbrooke, Quebec
Alternate: Joel Archambault – St-Christine, Quebec
Women’s Mountain Bike
Emily Batty – Brooklin, Ontario
Haley Smith – Uxbridge, Ontario
Alternate: Sandra Walter – Coquitlam, BC
Men’s Mountain Bike
Leandre Bouchard – Alma, Quebec
Alternate: Peter Disera – Horseshoe Valley, Ontario
Source: Cycling Canada
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.