CANADIAN TRACK CYCLISTS AIM HIGH AT PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Canada looking to continue its success in Santiago, Chile, an important Olympic qualifier
(Ottawa, ON – August 26, 2015) Canadian track cyclists enjoyed resounding success at the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto this past July, and they are looking to extend their success next week as they hit the boards of the velodrome in Santiago, Chile.
The team will compete against the very same opponents as during the Pan-American Games, this time at the UCI Pan-American Championships, September 2-6, where critical UCI Olympic Qualification points are on the line.
The sprinters, led by coach and Olympic medallist Erin Hartwell, have the objective to win every sprint event in Chile, and they are bringing their top squad to accomplish the task. Triple-medallists Monique Sullivan and Hugo Barrette will be suiting up for Canada in all three sprint events. The powerful track stars are joined by their teammates and Pan-Am Games gold medallists in the team sprint events in Kate O’Brien, also a silver medallist in the individual sprint, Olympian Joe Veloce, and Evan Carey. Mischa Partridge, a transition cyclist from BMX to track cycling, has been training at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre velodrome under Hartwell’s guidance for the last year. He will join the team for his first international track cycling event.
The endurance program will also set their sights on medals in Chile. The women’s team pursuit squad, ranked third in the World Rankings, will be represented by a younger team. Led by Pan-American Games Gold medallist Allison Beveridge and Kirsty Lay, World Championship medallist Stephanie Roorda and youngsters Annie Foreman-MacKay and Kinley Gibson, the team hopes to make the gold medal race. Coach Graig Griffin will guide the young squad in Santiago.
The women’s endurance team also hopes to win medals in the points race, the scratch race and the individual pursuit.
The men’s team pursuit squad, which took the bronze medal in Toronto, will be racing at these Championships with the objective of a medal, securing its place among the top three nations of the Americas. The team is led by captain Remi Pelletier-Roy, along with veteran Ed Veal, Aidan Caves, Sean MacKinnon and Evan Burtnik.
On top of providing great power to the team pursuit squad, Pelletier-Roy will also put additional focus on the men’s omnium event, where he hopes to solidify a spot for the upcoming UCI World Cup season and the 2016 UCI World Championships.
TEAM CANADA – 2015 UCI TRACK CYCLING PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Hugo BARRETTE, 24, Cap-aux-Meules, QC [Men’s Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint, Time Trial (Kilo)]
- Joseph VELOCE, 26, Fonthill, ON [Men’s Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint]
- Evan CAREY, 21, Victoria, BC [Men’s Team Sprint, Sprint]
- Mischa PARTRIDGE, 27, Coquitlam, BC [Men’s Team Sprint]
- Monique SULLIVAN, 26, Calgary, AB [Women’s Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint]
- Kate O’BRIEN, 27, Calgary, AB [Women’s Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint, Time Trial (500m)]
- Evan BURTNIK, 18, Edmonton, AB [Men’s Team Pursuit, Scratch Race]
- Ed VEAL, 38, Queensville, ON [Men’s Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit]
- Aidan CAVES, 20, Vancouver, BC [Men’s Team Pursuit, Points Race]
- Sean MACKINNON, 20, Hamilton, ON [Men’s Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit]
- Remi PELLETIER-ROY, 25, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC [Men’s Team Pursuit, Omnium]
- Allison BEVERIDGE, 22, Calgary, AB [Women’s Team Pursuit, Scratch Race, Omnium]
- Stephanie ROORDA, 29, Vancouver, BC [Women’s Team Pursuit, Points Race]
- Kirsti LAY, 27, Montreal, QC [Women’s Team Pursuit]
- Annie FOREMAN-MACKEY, 24, Kingston, ON [Women’s Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit]
- Kinley GIBSON, 20, Edmonton, AB [Women’s Team Pursuit]
