Updated August 15th, 2021: In consideration of these extenuating circumstances, and with the goal of increasing female representation at this year’s World Championships, Cycling Canada has made the following decisions: 1. Cycling Canada will roll down selections to athletes finishing in the top-8 of the Canadian Downhill Championships in the Elite women’s category. This includes:
Vaea Verbeeck
Jennifer McHugh
Rachel Pageau
2. In consideration of her injury this season, Cycling Canada will also select Gracey Hemstreet as an additional Junior female athlete.
Read Cycling Canada’s Full Response
Original post:
Cycling Canada has announced the team selected to represent Canada at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, between August 25-29. Of the riders selected, 51 will be competing, with the women’s Elite downhill athletes choosing not to travel at this time.
Both cross-country (XCO) and downhill (DH) athletes will be competing in the biggest event on the calendar, including Olympians Catharine Pendrel, Haley Smith and Peter Disera who recently returned from competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“We have a strong and ambitious team going to Worlds this year,” said Dan Proulx, Cycling Canada’s Head Mountain Bike Coach. “There are several riders on the verge of significant breakthroughs at the international level, particularly in the U23 category and we’re excited to see what they can do in Italy. Post-Olympics, development always becomes our primary focus. We’re taking a big team filled with many new and emerging young riders and we want them to compete fiercely, learn everything they can and come away with the best experience possible.”
Cycling Canada is also proud to be sending a fully supported downhill team for the first time in several years. “We’re super excited to be able to field a large team at this year’s World Championships!” said Downhill Team Manager, Adam Walker. “We’re hoping for big results from our Elite riders, and we’re excited to be able to provide development opportunities for our Junior athletes at both the World Championships and the following weekend at the Lenzerheide World Cup.”
Decisions to the team were made in the selection criteria as set forward in the DH Working group, along with the criteria outlined on our website.
Junior XCO Women
Nicole Bradbury – Hamilton, ON
Ella Myers – Calgary, AB
Mara Roldan – Whitehorse, YK
Marie-Fay St.Onge – Fleurimont, ON
Junior XCO Men
Owen Clark – Mono, ON
Zorak Paille – Laval, QC
Cole Punchard – Huntsville, ON
Lief Rodgers – Port Moody, BC
U23 XCO Women
Dana Gilligan – Oro Medonte, ON
Emilly Johnston – Comox, BC
Juliette Larose-Gingras – Lac-Beauport, QC
Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB
Jocelyn Stel – Burlington, ON
Marianne Théberge – Lévis, QC
Roxanne Vermette – Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC
U23 XCO Men
Tyler Clarke – Mono, ON
William Côté – Sherbrooke, QC
Gunnar Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Noah Ramsey – Toronto, ON
Xavier Roy – Amos, QC
Vincent Thiboutot – Quebec City, QC
Carter Woods – Cumberland, BC
Elite XCO Women
Laurie Arsenault – Terrebonne, QC
Emily Batty – Brooklin, ON
Jennifer Jackson – Oro Medonte, ON
Cindy Montambault – Val-David, QC
Catharine Pendrel – Kamloops, BC
Haley Smith – Uxbridge, ON
Sandra Walter – Coquitlam, BC
Elite XCO Men
Léandre Bouchard – Alma, QC
Peter Disera – Horseshoe Valley, ON
Quinton Disera – Horseshoe Valley, ON
Sean Fincham – Squamish, BC
Marc-André Fortier – Victoriaville, QC
Andrew L’Esperance – Halifax, NS
Tyler Orschel – Uxbridge, ON
Junior DH Women
Emmy Lan – Comox, BC
Lily Boucher – Squamish, BC
Vanessa Bruneau – North Vancouver, BC
Junior DH Men
Jackson Goldstone – Squamish, BC
Jakob Jewett
Tristan Lemire – Montreal, QC
Coen Skrypnek – Calgary, AB
Marcus Goguen – Whistler, BC
Cole Stinson – Comox, BC
Wei Tien Ho – Whistler, BC
Elite DH Men
Lucas Cruz – Pemberton, BC
Finn Iles – Whistler, BC
Elliot Jamieson – White Rock, BC
Gabriel Neron – Alma, QC
Mark Wallace – Duncan, BC
Source: Cycling Canada
About 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.