Para-Cycling Archives

Canadian Para cycling team arrives in London

(London, August 24, 2012) After training in Roubaix, France, Canada’s Para cycling team has arrived in London for the Paralympic Games August 29 to September 9.

The squad, comprised of 13 athletes, three tandem pilots and six support staff, spent the past eight days at the new high-tech indoor velodrome in Roubaix. The facility managed by Arnaud Tournant, a 15-time world champion, Olympic champion and world record holder in the Kilo, allowed Canada the best preparation possible for the Games.

‘’The opportunity to train at that velodrome with a high quality support staff was an ideal preparation for the athletes,’’ said Canada’s head coach Eric Van den Eynde.

In Beijing, Canada’s Para cycling team won two bronze medals. Following those Games, Canada intensified its recruiting to find new athletes for the Canadian Para cycling program.

In London, Canada looks to climb the world order in the sport. The rookies and the veterans are determined to leave their mark.

The opening ceremonies are slated for August 29 with the track cycling competition from August 30 to September 2 and the road events September 5-8.

August 24, 2012/by Communications

Broadcast Schedule of London 2012 Paralympic Games

CTV, TSN2, Sportsnet ONE, RDS, RDS2, AMI to share Opening and Closing Ceremonies and daily highlight shows

Ottawa, August 24, 2012 – Now it will be easier than ever to follow your Canadian Paralympic Team as they strive for gold in London August 29 to September 9, 2012!

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) in conjunction with its media partners is pleased to announce the complete broadcast schedule of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Broadcasters include Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium and its partners, as well as AMI. In addition, live, up-to-the minute Team Canada results, photos, videos, schedules and news will be available on www.paralympic.ca every day of the Games.

Television

The Games will kick-off with a two-hour Opening Ceremony extravaganza on August 29, which will be carried live on RDS2 beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST (plus an encore presentation on RDS on August 30 at 6:30am EST), and later in the day at 9 p.m. EST on TSN2 and on AMI with described video. CTV will also air the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, September 1 at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. in Saskatchewan).

Félix Séguin and Canada’s Chef de Mission Dr. Gaétan Tardif will call the Opening Ceremony on RDS2 while Paul Romanuk and Canada’s Assistant Chef de Mission Elisabeth Walker-Young will provide English language commentary.

A daily highlights show showcasing the day’s performances, medal winners, athlete interviews and event features will be hosted by Romanuk and broadcast from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST August 30 to September 8 between TSN2 and Sportsnet ONE. AMI will provide the highlights with description service.

Séguin will host RDS2’s daily highlights for francophones also at 11 p.m. EST most days. Viewers will also be able to watch a repeat of the previous day’s show on RDS at 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. EST daily.

Complete coverage of the Closing Ceremony on September 9 will also be available on Sportsnet ONE and AMI at 9 p.m. EST with Romanuk and Walker-Young again providing commentary. Séguin and Tardif will also team up once more on RDS for the Closing Ceremony airing at 2 p.m. one day later on September 10.

Additionally, two of the features from the Consortium’s Difference Makers series will feature Paralympians. Hosted by Rick Hansen (English) and Chantal Petitclerc (French), the series asks elite athletes to reveal inspiring stories of those who made a difference in their lives.

Click here for the complete broadcast schedule.

Online Streaming

As previously announced, for the first time in history, Canadians can watch live multiple online streams of Paralympic Summer Games throughout the 12 days of competition. Five digital streams will offer a total of 580 hours of live coverage. Three feeds will offer daily uninterrupted coverage of swimming, wheelchair basketball, and athletics, while two additional channels will cover a range of sports and will show a “best of” coverage from the day. All digital channels can be accessed from CTVParalympics.ca and RDSparalympiques.ca.

A schedule for these digital channels will be announced next week.

In addition to the live streaming, the Consortium’s digital coverage also includes a comprehensive video on demand and Paralympic news library available online and via mobile platforms.

Website and Social Media

Supporting the online streaming and television broadcast initiatives will be athlete biographies, competition updates, results and photos on both Paralympic.ca and CTVParalympics.ca/RDSparalympiques.ca.

In addition, the CPC partnered with the Consortium earlier this year to create its London 2012 Paralympic Games promotional campaign, Super Athletes. The Super Athlete spots are a dramatic and edgy look at some of Canada’s best Paralympians in short vignettes identified by the nickname of the featured athlete. Examples include: The Shark, The Heat, The Professor and The Pit Bull. To view the entire library of Super Athlete videos visit www.Paralympic.ca/superathletes.

Canadians can also stay connected through the CPC’s Twitter and Facebook accounts @CDNParalympicsandfacebook.com/CDNParalympics.

The Team Canada Today Newsletter will be produced and available for download on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s website each and every day of the Games. Users can sign up for the newsletter distribution here: http://paralympic.ca/en/London-2012/2012-News.html.

August 24, 2012/by Communications

LEGEND PARALYMPIAN ARNOLD BOLDT MAKES COME BACK TO PARALYMPIC GAMES AFTER 20 YEARS ABSENCE

Injury to Alexandre Carrier forces withdrawal from Canadian Para-Cycling Team

(Ottawa, ON – August 16, 2012) Cycling Canada announces changes to the 2012 Canadian Para-Cycling Team heading to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, with Paralympic Hall of Famer Arnold Boldt joining the line-up of cyclists named to the Paralympic cycling team.

With the persisting knee injury to paracyclist Alexandre Carrier (M Tandem), Cycling Canada will include first Alternate Arnold Boldt to the team travelling to London. The initial selection of Carrier and his pilot Luc Dionne was based on a supporting role in the road race, and with the duo unable to race at full capacity, the decision was subsequently made to include Boldt to the line-up.

Boldt started cycling competitively in 2009 and since has won six national titles, including three road race Championships and two time trial championships on the road, as well as a 1000M time trial title on the track.

Arnold Boldt, who has had an illustrious career in the Paralympic Movement, will make its fifth appearance at Paralympic Games. He first competed at the 1976 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and since then has won an impressive eight Paralympic Games medals, including seven gold in Athletics. The Associate Vice President, Academic and Research, for the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology makes a return to the Paralympic Games after 20 years of absence since his last Paralympic Games competition.

At 54 years of age, Boldt is the oldest athlete on the Canadian Para-Cycling Team. Throughout his life, he earned distinguished honours, being introduced in the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame.

At the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Boldt carried the Canadian flag in the opening ceremonies.

The 2012 Paralympic Games start on August 29.

August 16, 2012/by Communications

CANADIAN CYCLISTS BALANCE COMPETITION WITH GIVING BACK

Canadian cyclists are raising money for their sport as they get set to ride

August 7, 2012: The different Canadian Cycling teams will be raising money for all competitive cyclists as they pedal to the medal at international cycling races across the World in 2012.

Each Canadian cycling team – Road, BMX, Mountain Biking and Track – has set up its own “Giving Group” on a new online charitable platform called Chimp. And within each of these Giving Groups, the teams are asking friends, family, fans and bike enthusiasts to join. Group members can leave comments for the team’s cyclists, and they can donate as well. All the money raised in the groups will be given to Cycling Canada.

“I wouldn’t be competing in the Olympics if it weren’t for the support of the Cycling Canada. So I’m glad I have this kind of platform to give back. I hope people join and support the BMX Giving Group, so the Cycling Canada can in turn support other BMXers,” says BMX rider Tory Nyhaug, ranked fifth in the World as he prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Greg Mathieu, Chief Executive Officer of Cycling Canada: “We couldn’t be more proud of our athletes. Not only of the caliber of athleticism they hold, but also the strength of character they each have. They all want to support the cycling community as much as it has supported them. Their success helps build the sport of cycling in so many ways.”

There’s an added bonus: Every dollar given to the teams’ Giving Groups will be matched by North Vancouver’s John Henry Bikes. “We really want to help youth discover the sport, and the best way to do that is to support the sport – support Cycling Canada. We also want to reward and recognize those who are representing our sport and our country on the world stage,” says John Henry Bikes CEO Willie Cromack.

Contact:

For more information and links to each group: www.chimpfund.com/cyclingcanada

August 7, 2012/by Communications

Good luck, Canada!

August 1, 2012/by Communications

CANADIAN PARA-CYCLING TEAM LOOKING FOR SUCCESS IN LONDON

Six women and seven men nominated to compete for Canada at upcoming Paralympic Games in London

(Ottawa, ON – July 20, 2012) The 2012 Paralympic Games are 40 days away, and the Canadian Para-Cycling Team will be looking very strong as it enters its final preparations for this biggest para-cycling race in the world.

A total of 13 athletes, men and women, along with four pilots, have been nominated by Cycling Canada to the Canadian Paralympic Team that will be heading to London to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9, with the objective to secure medals for Canada and make our great nation proud.

“It’s very exciting to have the para-cycling athletes nominated for London, as they are expected to be one of Canada’s top medal potential sports at the Paralympics,” said Chef de Mission, Gaétan Tardif. “We’ll be looking to this team to lead the way for Canada with their chances to win medals early on in the Games.”

“Our team will be ready to compete with the World’s best, and come back home with medals to make our nation proud. We have all the items in place for strong performances, with resilient athletes, great coaches and a solid group of support staff,” said Jacques Landry, Team Leader and High Performance Director for Cycling Canada. “Our Canadian para-cyclists have proven race after race that they are a force to be reckoned with, in all disciplines and all categories.”

Canada has enjoyed a highly successful season in 2012, grabbing six UCI World Cup titles, an all-time high, and has been a strong medal contender in every para-cycling race it has entered in 2012.

The team will be headlined by the very powerful tandem of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette, two athletes who have dominated the international scene over the last two years, in both the road race and the time trials. The tandem won the 2010 World Championships Road Race, and in 2011 went on win the Time Trial race at the Worlds. Over the last three years, the powerful team grabbed the coveted White Jersey, awarded to the overall World Cup Champion.

The women’s tandem of Geneviève Ouellet and Emily Roy will be looking to defend and improve on their bronze medal performance from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

“I am very pleased to attend my second Paralympic Games. It is always gratifying to see that efforts Emily and I are putting in sport are recognized by the Cycling Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The very good start that Emily and I had this season and distinguished career give us hope for a podium on the road in London. One thing is certain, we will work very hard in the next 40 days to achieve this objective,” commented blind athlete Geneviève Ouellet.

The Women’s tricycle race will be another great event for Canada, with three contenders for medals. Marie-Ève Croteau won back to back World Cup titles, and won the World Championships title in both road events in the last two World Championships. Shelley Gautier could also be a medal threat, and so is rookie Dominique Mainguy, who surfaced this year and has shown great potential for success at the Paralympic Games.

“Since I was little, sport has always been part of my life and the Olympics have always been for me an impossible dream after many obstacles that life has given me, but now today, my dreams come true having the honor to represent my country at the Paralympic Games in London on August 29,” said Croteau, who is a two-time World Champions and two-time World Cup Champion. “Is this the reward for having made it through all his challenges having kept his head high, to have kept my positivism but also never giving up despite my many obstacles? Who knows! But one thing is certain is that I will have even bigger smile and my heart beating to get a medal even if I have to compete with men.”

Gauthier is thrilled about her nomination to the team: “Before my accident my goal was to go to the Olympic or Paralympic Games as a physiotherapist. Now it is to go as a paracyclist. I am almost there, going as an athlete.”

Handcyclist Mark Ledo is making his cycling debut at Paralympic Games, but is no rookie to the environment. Ledo is a convert from Athletics, and represented Canada at the 2008 Games in the wheelchair marathon and the 5000m races.

“It’s an honor to be nominated and selected to represent Canada, the country I love. I look forward to the Paralympic experience once again. I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches, trainers, sponsors and staff for making this all possible!,” said Ledo.

Mark Beggs, which became the first Canadian hand cyclist to race at Paralympic Games as the discipline was introduced in 2004 in Athens, will be making his third trip Paralympic Games. “These games will be my third and I’m still as motivated as my first. This was my most difficult selection because I really worked hard to get there and it did not come easy. With my experience of two other great games I am able to anticipate a little how it will happen, even though there are always unexpected challenges. The two other Games that I attended are undoubtedly the most beautiful experience I have lived as an athlete and those who come in will be equally as beautiful, and even more because I will not repeat the mistakes I’ve already done. I’m more prepared than ever.”

I will always be the first athlete in hand bike has represented Canada at the Paralympics and I’d even be the first athlete in hand bike has to earn a medal at the Paralympics.

Brayden McDougall, of Calgary, will race at his second Paralympic Games. “I am very proud and excited to be nominated to the London team. I represented Canada in Beijing and I am more excited this time because I know that if I race to the best of my ability I have a chance to get a medal. I want to thank Eric [Van Den Eynde], Seb [Sebastien Travers] and the rest of Cycling Canada for helping me achieve my first goal.”

Also noteworthy is Alexandre Cloutier’s fourth appearance at Paralympic Games. Cloutier, who has piloted blind cyclists to many Paralympic medals, will be looking to secure a podium performance along with Daniel Chalifour.

Canada will field seven rookies to the Paralympic Games: Marie-Ève Croteau, 2012 World Cup Champion Robert Labbé, Dominique Mainguy, pilot and Olympian Lyne Bessette, Jaye Milley, 2012 World Cup Champion and world record holder in the individual pursuit Marie-Claude Molnar, as well as World Champion and World Cup Champion Shelly Gautier.

Molnar is seeing her selection as trust from her coaches: “Each must prove that he/she belongs on the team to represent Canada in cycling at the Paralympic Games in London. I see a selection for the Games as trust from my coaches. Not only it is the confidence of a coach, but the confidence of all people involved directly or indirectly in the story of an athlete. The athlete is chosen because he/she accomplished something that is not easy for everyone, because otherwise everyone would do cycling and high-performance would not be as well. To be selected is not only an honor but an invisible contract that the athlete signs with the whole country, with an athlete promising to be at its best when it comes time to race day.

Both Road and Track events will be showcased at the Paralympic Games, which start on August 29 and end on September 9. On the road, both the traditional road race and the solo time trials will be featured. On the track, the kilo, the individual pursuit and the sprint events will be showcased for the men, while the 500m, the kilo and the individual pursuit will be presented for the women.

CYCLING NOMINATIONS – 2012 CANADIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM
Mark BEGGS (Montréal, QC) H2
Alexandre CARRIER (Matane, QC) / Luc DIONNE (Pilot) (Contrecoeur, QC)
Daniel CHALIFOUR (St-Jérome, QC) / Alexandre CLOUTIER (Pilot) (Saint-Antoine-De-Tilly, QC) B [#]
Marie-Ève CROTEAU (Québec, QC) T2 [&, #]
Shelley GAUTIER (Toronto, ON) T1 [&,#]
Robert LABBE (Québec, QC) H1 [#]
Mark LEDO (Maple, ON) (H3)
Dominique MAINGUY (Québec, QC) T2
Brayden MCDOUGALL (Calgary, AB) C1
Jaye MILLEY (Calgary, AB) C1
Marie-Claude MOLNAR (Ste-Adèle, QC) C4 [#]
Geneviève OUELLET (Amos, QC) / Émilie Roy (Pilot) (Québec, QC) B [^]
Robbi WELDON (Thunder Bay, ON) / Lyne BESSETTE (Pilot) (Knowlton, QC) B [§, #]

Legend
# [World Cup Champion, Road]
& [World Champion, Road Race/Time Trials]
§ [World Champion, Time Trials]
^ [Paralympic Games Medallist]

July 20, 2012/by Communications

CANADIAN CYCLING POOL SELECTED FOR 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES

(Ottawa, ON – July 18, 2012) Cycling Canada is proud to unveil the list of athletes who have qualified for the 2012 Paralympic Selection Pool for para-cycling, a short-list group of riders from which the 2012 Paralympic Cycling Team nominations will be drawn upon.

SELECTION POOL – CYCLING – 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Mark Beggs
Arnold Boldt
Alexandre Carrier
Daniel Chalifour
Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin
Marie-Êve Croteau
Shelley Gautier
Robert Labbé
Mark Ledo
Dominique Mainguy
Karen March
Brayden McDougall
Jaye Milley
Marie-Claude Molnar
Charles Moreau
Rico Morneau
Geneviève Ouellet
Matthieu Parent
William Stanley
Robbi Weldon

Athletes in the Paralympic selection pool have all qualified as a result of their performances since the UCI Qualification Window has been opened. As per the approved Selection guidelines, the High Performance advisory committee of Cycling Canada, comprised of many specialists, will gather and proceed with the selection of athlete who will be nominated to the 2012 Canadian Paralympic Team to represent Canada at the upcoming Paralympic Games in London, UK.

For more information on the selection protocol for Para-cycling, please visit: https://cyclingcanada.ca/para-cycling/national-team/program-policies/

The selected athletes for nomination will be announced on Friday.

July 18, 2012/by Communications

WORLD CUP SEASON ENDS ON A HIGH FOR CANADIAN PARACYCLING TEAM

Next up for para-cyclists: The 2012 Paralympic Games in London

(Baie-Comeau, QC – July 8, 2012) The 2012 World cup season has ended for the para-cyclists world-wide, and Canada ended the three-day UCI Para-cycling World Cup Finals on a high, with six World Cup titles.

In the C races, Brayden McDougall rode to the first place of the C1 category, his first win of the season. Teammate Jaye Milley was forced to abandon as he is nursing a leg injury. Reigning Canadian Champion Arnold Boldt rode to the second place in the C2 race, while Matthieu Parent was forced to abandon the same race midway.

“I am very pleased to win. It was a tough race, but I am very happy how I raced. Before the race, Team Canada had a plan of working together and doing our best to try to get all three Canadians, for sure one, on the podium. Throughout the race, we did a good job to always counter the attacks. With that hill [Côte St-Goerge] and the wind today, it was harder than a normal road race,” said McDougall.

Last year on the same course, McDougall went on to win both the time trial and the road race. “This course has been nice to me. For whatever reason, everything comes together in Baie-Comeau.”

McDougall, a strong hope for Canada at the upcoming Paralympic Games, is looking forward to some well-deserved time off before entering final preparations for the most important event of the season.

“For the next little bit, I’ll take a week or so for recovery, and then ramp it up to hopefully be faster comes September for the Paralympic Games.”

Marie-Claude Molnar finished first in the C4 women race. Molnar finished the season at the top of the rankings, and took home the World Cup trophy.

The afternoon races featured the fast tandem race. Two-time 2012 Canadian Champion Robbi Weldon and pilot Lyne Bessette rode to the first place to cap off an excellent World Cup season. The powerful duo won the World Cup trophy, which was already secured entering into the event. Geneviève Ouellet and Émilie Roy did not finish.

The men’s tandem had an American team in the mix. Canada’s top ranked tandem of Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier crossed the line first, and jumped from the third place of the world cup rankings all the way to the top of the standings. Chalifour/Cloutier attacked on the fourth of six laps, and rode solo to the finish line. In doing so, the squad secured their first UCI World Cup title, and proudly received the sought-after white jersey, as well as the trophy.

The Canadian tandem of Alexandre Carrier and pilot Luc Dionne finished third, behind in the American squad.

In the team relay, three teams were entered, including two from Canada, and one from the United States. Canada A team comprised of Robert Labbé (H1), Mark Beggs (H2) and Mark Ledo (H3) and crossed the finish line in second place, behind the American squad, who is the defending World Champion team in the event. Canada B took the third place.

The race in Baie-Comeau was organized by Paramanic International, the same organizing committee who organized the 2010 Para-cycling Road World Championships and the 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals.

Cycling Canada will announce the selection pool for the 2012 Paralympic Games on Tuesday, and the official team nomination will be held later in July.

RESULTS – ROAD RACES – 2012 UCI WORLD CUP FINALS – BAIE-COMEAU, QC

Tandem, Women

1. WELDON, Robbi / BESSETTE, Lyne WB CANADA 1:56:33

DNF. OUELLET, Genevieve / ROY, Emilie WB CANADA

Tandem, Men

1. CHALIFOUR, Daniel / CLOUTIER, Alexandre MB CANADA 2:23:24

2. RACHFAL, Clark / SWANSON, David MB USA +3:25

3. CARRIER, Alexandre / DIONNE, Luc MB CANADA +7:22

Cycle, Women

1. MOLNAR, Marie-Claude WC4 CANADA 1:27:18

Cycle, Men

1. McDOUGALL, Brayden MC1 CANADA 1:50:39

2. SCHWAB, Georg MC1 AUSTRIA +13:27

DNF. MILLEY, Jaye MC1 CANADA

1. KEITH, Aaron MC2 INDEPENDANT 1:45:11

2. BOLDT, Arnold MC2 CANADA +7:54

Team Relay

1. Team USA (LACHENAUER, William / DAVIS, Marianna / SANCHEZ, Oscar) 41:55

2. Team Canada A (BEGGS, Mark / LEDO, Mark / LABBE, Robert) 46:21

3. Team Canada B (ADAM, Myriam / HARRINGTON, Simon / MOREAU, Charles) 50:10

July 8, 2012/by Communications

DOMINIQUE MAINGUY WINS FIRST PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP RACE

Another successful day for Canada in at World Cup finals in Baie-Comeau

(Baie-Comeau, QC – July 7, 2012) The Road races were featured on Day two at the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals in Baie-Comeau, and Dominique Mainguy came away with her first gold medal in her first World Cup appearance.

Dominique Mainguy of Quebec, QC, who is attending her career first World Cup, took the victory in the 25.9 kilometer road race. World Cup leader Marie-Ève Croteau did not finish as she crashed during the race. After the race, Croteau was rewarded for her season-long continuing success with the official World Cup Jersey and trophy, winning the overall standings.

“I feel really good. I was not expecting that at all. To see all people applaud me, it warms my heart. I put a lot of effort in the race, and I’m glad to be rewarded. It’s really fun [being at a World Cup]. I really like it. This is my first World Cup, but it’s also my career second paracycling competition. The experience I acquired here is really good,” said Mainguy after receiving the gold medal. “I would love to do some more race, perform and succeed, always to improve myself. It would be really cool. And I know to do so, I’ll have to work really hard.”

In the H3 race, the reigning Canadian Champion Mark Ledo took the second place. Ledo took the early lead in the race, along with Rafal Wilk of Poland. Soon after, Wilk suffered from a puncture, and Ledo broke away in a solo lead. After gaining a large lead, Wilk bridged back with Ledo in the last lap, and dropped him with 1 kilometer left in the race. Ledo will finish just over 20 seconds behind Wilk, the new World Cup leader.

“I felt pretty good going into the road race today. I managed to break away and open up two minutes on the field after the other riders had some bad luck or blew up. I was alone out there for six laps until the chasers reeled me in with half a lap remaining. I am super happy with my performance overall and am looking forward to competing in London later this year,” said Ledo.

Shelly Gauthier also received the World Cup winner’s trophy.

In afternoon races, Robert Labbé finished first in the category H1, winning his second strait World Cup win. Labbé won the World Cup title and the overall ranking, and grabbed the trophy as well as the prestigious white jersey.

Myriam Adam took the second place in the women’s H2. In the men’s H2 race, Mark Beggs finished in second place behind the powerful Austrian Walter Ablinger. Charles Moreau surprised everyone today, winning the bronze medal and stepping for the first time on a World Cup podium. Rico Morneau did not finish.

Tomorrow, the Cycle and Tandem categories will be featured as the paracyclists hit the streets of Baie-Comeau, and tackle the challenging course that features the massive “Côte St-George”. The event will end with the Team Relay race.

The race in Baie-Comeau is organized by Paramanic International, the same organizing committee who organized the 2010 Para-cycling Road World Championships and the 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals.

RESULTS – ROAD RACES – 2012 UCI WORLD CUP FINALS – BAIE-COMEAU, QC

Tricycle, Women

1. GAUTIER, Shelley WT1 CANADA 1:17:50

1. MAINGUY, Dominique WT2 CANADA 1:10:47

DNF. CROTEAU, Marie-Eve WT2 CANADA

Handcycle, Women

1. DAVIS, Marianna WH2 USA 1:48:09

2. ADAM, Myriam WH2 INDEPENDANT [2 LAP]

Handcycle, Men

1. LABBE, Robert MH1 CANADA 1:50:06

DSQ. PEDERFERRI, Anthony MH1 USA

1. ABLINGER, Walter MH2 AUSTRIA 1:39:12

2. BEGGS, Mark MH2 CANADA +4:49

3. MOREAU, Charles MH2 INDEPENDANT +6:23

1. WILK, Rafal MH3 POLAND 1:50:08

2. LEDO, Mark MH3 CANADA +0:23

3. HARRINGTON, Simon MH3 INDEPENDANT [2 lap]

July 7, 2012/by Communications

FIVE CANADIANS SEAL UCI WORLD CUP TITLES IN BAIE-COMEAU

Time Trials featured on opening day of UCI World Cup Finals

(Baie-Comeau, QC – July 6, 2012) Baie-Comeau is playing host the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals, and Canada excelled on the day that featured the time trials with 10 medals.

In doing so, five Canadians today sealed the prestigious White Jersey, awarded to the leader of the World Cup Finals. Marie-Eve Croteau (T2), Shelley Gautier (T1), the tandem of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette (WB) as well as Marie-Claude Molnar (C4). Today, thanks to his victory, Robert Labbé (H1) is now the new leader of the H1 category and will seal the victory tomorrow.

In the tightly contested Men’s C1 race, Calgary’s Jaye Milley had the best time of the 25.9-kilometre course, showing a 12.69 seconds lead over his Canadian teammate Brayden McDougall, also from Calgary.

“The time trials today went very well for me. I brought my A-game and was ready to destroy the course. I came out on top. The progression in the past few weeks has been phenomenal for me, and I am stepping up to the challenge, and hope to go the Games,” said Milley, who was second last week at the Canadian Road Championships just last week.

“I came home from Europe, and did a lot of training at home, and it’s paying off for me. At Nationals last week I had a great race and was lucky to work with Arnold Boldt. I fought him to the line and gave it everything I had.”

Marie-Claude Molnar rode solo in the Women’s C4 race, posting a time of 28:34.28 and secured the jersey.

In the tandem races, Canada’s medal-winning squad of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette won the category against their teammate Geneviève Ouellet and Emily Roy, and also secured the coveted World Cup jersey.

Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier, Canada’s top ranked men tandem in seventh place of the World Cup standings, took the top prize in today’s race and in doing so improved their rank to third place, and could take the fifth World Cup jersey with a win on Sunday.

Canadian champion Mark Ledo raced to the first place in the H3 race, in front of Polish cyclist Rafal Wilk. Ledo jumped from the sixth to the third place in the overall standings, and could easily take the second place of the overall standings, behind Wilk, the current leader of the standings.

In the tricycle category, Marie-Eve Croteau (T2) took the victory in her category, and in doing so sealed the UCI World Cup leaders’ jersey. Croteau completed the 8.6-km lap in 17:47.59, the fastest time of the day.

“I am very pleased to be able to defend my title,” said Croteau, who also won the title last year. “I had no stress last year. This year I had to defend. I did the training, and I took it one race at a time this season. It is going very well. I do all my training sessions, I take care of business. The Paralympic Games are arriving in a month. I’ll take the next few weeks to rest at home. From August 1, I’ll get back into training and work to prepare for the Games. The progression this season is going really well. We worked on technical points and the results are following.”

Shelley Gautier, alone in the T1 race, posted a time of 22:45.27 and also sealed the World Cup title with her performance.

There were a total of six Canadians who raced their career first World Cup race today. Myriam Adam racing in the Women’s Handcycle (H3) race, Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin in the Men Tricycle (T2) race, Dominique Mainguy in the Women’s Tricycle (T2) race, Charles Moreau in the Men’s Handcycle (H3); Simon Harrington in the Men’s Handcycle (H3) race and Nicole Clermont in the Women Cycle (C5),

There are 45 competitors from eight nations racing in these World Cup finals, with 21 para-cyclists coming from Canada either racing as independent or with the Canadian Team.

The road races will be held tomorrow for the handcyclists (H) and for the tricyclists (T), while the cyclists (C) and tandems (B) will compete in their road races on Sunday, along with the team relay race.

RESULTS – TIME TRIALS – 2012 UCI WORLD CUP FINALS – BAIE-COMEAU, QC

Tricycle, Women

1. GAUTIER, Shelley WT1 CANADA 22:45.27

1. CROTEAU, Marie-Ève WT2 CANADA 17:47.59

2. MAINGUY, Dominique WT2 CANADA +4:53.50

Handcycle, Men

1. LABBE, Robert MH1 CANADA 38:56.78

2. PEDERFERRI, Anthony MH1 USA +1:25.69

1. ABLINGER, Walter MH2 AUSTRIA 29:38.97

2. LACHENAUER, William MH2 USA +5.35

3. BEGGS, Mark MH2 CANADA +2:04.58

4. MOREAU, Charles MH2 INDEPENDANT +2:06.69

5. MORNEAU, Rico MH2 CANADA +2:42.66

1. LEDO, Mark MH3 CANADA 28:39.85

2. WILK, Rafal MH3 POLAND +32.06

3. HARRINGTON, Simon MH3 INDEPENDANT +4:30.20

Cycle, Women

1. MOLNAR, Marie-Claude WC4 CANADA 28:39.24

Cycle, Men

1. MILLEY, Jaye MC1 CANADA 30:14.88

2. McDOUGALL, Brayden MC1 CANADA +12.62

3. SCHWAB, Georg MC1 AUSTRIA +31.19

1. KEITH, Aaron MC2 INDEPENDENT 26:26.87

2. BOLDT, Arnold MC2 CANADA +2:26.49

3. PARENT, Matthieu MC2 CANADA +3:45.61

Tandem, Women

1. WELDON, Robbi / BESSETTE, Lyne WB CANADA 38:54.34

2. OUELLET, Genevieve / ROY, Emilie WB CANADA +1:17.72

Tandem, Men

1. CHALIFOUR, Daniel / CLOUTIER, Alexandre MB CANADA 33:14.62

2. RACHFAL, Clark / SWANSON, David MB USA +50.36

3. CARRIER, Alexandre / DIONNE, Luc MB CANADA+1:51.20

July 6, 2012/by Communications