Fashion 2016
FASHION HOT LOOKS FOR COOL CYCLING
Women in Cycling Heath Cockburn Interview Rio 2016 Teams Announced Jocelyn Lovell Remembered Bikepacking is the New Rage $4.95 w w w. p e d a l m a g . c o m
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ContentS spring 2016, volume 30, issue 3
SPECIAL FEATURES 28
interview with heath Cockburn at the 11
30
Jocelyn lovell a Canadian legend
32
by Tim Lefevbre
by John Symon
road to rio: Canadian teams announced
56
by John Symon
34
Women in Cycling
36
nora young: Canadian sports pioneer
56
bikepacking: the new rage in Cycling
60
tour of alberta preview
62
Canadian Worldtours preview
by Jack Cracker
by William Humber
38
by Mike Sarnecki
by Chris Redden
by John Symon
GEAR 38
bianchi intenso dama ultegra biKe test
39
felt verza-e 30 s biKe test
41
2016 fashion guide
by Ashley Barson
by Linda Shin
by John Symon and Jack Cracker
41
68
COMPETITION
DEPARTMENTS
64
tour de beauce
65
gp Cycliste gatineau
89
Canada Mtb Cup recap
Fashion 2016
90 fashion HoT LookS ForCooL CyCLing
Women in Cycling Heath Cockburn Interview Rio 2016 Teams Announced Jocelyn Lovell Remembered Bikepacking is the New Rage $4.95 w w w. p e d a l m a g . c o m
HOT RIDES
Bianchi, Felt
RAPS
Registration Number 9874 Agreement Number 40064311 Printed in Canada
Pedal Fashion 2016-Cover.indd 1
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Castelli’s fashionable new lightweight and compact Idro Jacket will help get you home on time... and dry. MV Canada
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by John Symon
by Sandra Walter
uCi Mtb World Cup update by Sandra Walter
4 8 18 20 22 24 26 70 71 72
tread out in front Mtb frontlines tuft enough track swart’s swagger Clubs back pedaling sportif stieda last Word fashion 2016 PEDAL 1
publisher/editor Benjamin Sadavoy graphic design Wendy Pease contributors Ashley Barson, Curt Harnett, William Humber, Tim Lefebvre, Audrey Lemieux, Gaelen Merritt, Claire Michaud, Catharine Pendrel, Chris Redden, Mike Sarnecki, Linda Shin, Pasquale Stalteri, Alex Stieda, Monique Sullivan, John Swart, John Symon, Svein Tuft, Sandra Walter photographic contributions Fraser Britton, Michal Cerveny, Cycling Canada, Clara’s Big Ride, Freewheeling, Ethan Glading, Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, Grand Prix Cyclistes de Quebec et de Montreal, IOC, Peter Kraiker, Lovell Collection, Marin, pedalmag.com, Mike Sarnecki, Pasquale Stalteri, Alex Stieda, Guy Swarbrick, The 11 Inc., Tour of Alberta/Jonathan Devich, Velodonnas Cycling Club, Cor Vos copy editing Claudia Brown circulation/admistration Crystal Burs production Crackerjack Enterprises advertising sales Benjamin Sadavoy webmaster David Irving head office 260 Spadina Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto Ontario, Canada M5T 2E4 Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 info@pedalmag.com; www.pedalmag.com subscriptions (2016) Newsstand $4.95 Annual Buyers Guide $5.95 1-yr Subscription (6 issues) $20.95 2-yr Subscription (12 issues) $36.95 US Subscribers: US$28.95 (1-yr); US$51.95 (2-yr) Int’l Subscribers: US$50.95 (1-yr); US$91.95 (2-yr)
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2016 Pedal fashion Pedal, a division of 1198189 ontario inc., is published 6 times annually: annual buyer’s guide, spring, fashion, summer, fall, holiday, at 260 spadina ave., suite 200, toronto, ontario m5t 2e4. the entire contents are the property of Pedal magazine and may not be reprinted or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. unsolicited material or contributions must be accompanied by return postage. Pedal assumes no responsibility for such photographs or manuscripts. 2nd Class Publications mail registration #9874, paid at 969 eastern ave., toronto, on m4l 1a5. if undeliverable please notify: 260 spadina ave., suite 200, toronto, ontario m5t 2e4. u.s. office of Publication: 240 Portage road, Po box 670-25, lewiston, ny, 14092. Periodicals postage paid at niagara falls, ny. 2nd Class u.s. Publications, usPs registration #011807. return all undeliverable mail to: Pedal magazine, Po box 553, niagara falls, ny 14304.
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#Girlpower With Team Canada’s Olympic squads announced and the Games soon here the focus will now shift to Rio and the potential hardware that all athletes have trained long and hard to acquire. With excellent showings leading up to the Games, optimism is running high and while anything can happen on race day our best bets will come at the track and the mountain bike competitions. The Canadian Women’s Team Pursuit squad won bronze at London 2012 Games and recently took home silver from the Track Worlds, while Emily Batty won bronze at the MTB Worlds, which Catharine Pendrel has won twice. How fitting that our Women in Cycling feature in this issue highlights Nora Young, who blazed a trail on her bike years ago as a pioneer of #girlpower in cycling during the 1930s and early ’40s. We wish all of our athletes success in Rio, yet as Olympians they have already achieved a milestone in their careers. May the best men and women win. – BAS 4 PEDAL fashion 2016
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The Canadian Women’s Pursuit team of Jasmin Glaesser, Kirsti Lay, Allison Beveridge and Georgia Simmerling took home silver from the Track Worlds and hope to claim the gold at Rio 2016. www.pedalmag.com
fashion 2016 PEDAL 5
Contributors
sandra walter Sandra Walter began contributing regularly to Pedal magazine in 2002, while earning a B.A. in writing at the University of Victoria and training to be an Elite XC MTB racer. Walter has traveled all over the globe in pursuit of podiums and sweet trails and has participated in four World Championships. She spent three seasons in Europe, and traversed Costa Rica in La Ruta de los Conquistadores in 2008. Despite having sampled some of the planet’s best off-road offerings, she still prefers home dirt to anything else, which she confirmed while contesting the BC Bike Race in 2009. In addition to race reports and bike reviews, she shares with readers the inside scoop on many of Canada’s top cyclists and her lifelong passion for the sport.
BionX is the e-bike system of choice for more OEMs, including:
Mike sarnecki Based in Edmonton, Alta., Mike Sarnecki has contributed to Pedal magazine since 2008. He is a commuter who rides to work year-round and is also a racer who focuses on MTB and cyclocross events. Sarnecki is the 2014 Alberta MTB XCO provincial champion and his love of cycling is steadfast. Driven by the lifestyle of a cyclist, he hopes to share his passion with others on the road, the trails, or over a good cup of coffee.
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William Humber of Bowmanville, Ont. is a multi-sport historian known for his groundbreaking narrative Freewheeling: The Story of Bicycling in Canada from Boston Mills Press, released almost 30 years ago in 1986. He writes a history column, “Backpedaling,” for Pedal, a pleasure for more than 20 years, and has a special interest in examining the bicycle’s central place in urban place-making and neighbourhood planning. He’s even written a bicycle song, as he continues to explore the many features of cycling culture, while at the same time relishing the manner in which his Sekine bike has gone from a state-of-the-art touring road companion to a vintage relic, kind of like life itself. www.pedalmag.com
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BY John Symon
Cycling Canada Announces Partnership with Lexus
I
n May, Cycling Canada announced that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with Lexus Canada as the official automotive partner of the association, the National cycling team, as well as of a number of key cycling events across the country. Canada’s National cycling team includes some 90 cyclists in all major disciplines of the sport. Lexus Canada’s support will include vehicles for use by the National team and Cycling Canada staff at major events, training camps and competitions. The team will also enjoy the comfort and style of Lexus luxury vehicles based at key high-performance centres in Victoria, B.C. (Bear Mountain Resort) and Milton, Ont. (Mattamy National Cycling Centre), as well as the Cycling Canada national office in Ottawa, Ont. A Lexus vehicle will also be Canada’s official team car for National team’s road competitions throughout the season. The multilateral partnership will also present Lexus Canada as the official automotive partner at a number of the country’s biggest cycling events, including the Canadian Cycling Championships (road and track disciplines) and major gran fondo events in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec. Lexus vehicles will serve as official pace cars and support vehicles at the following events: • GranFondo Garneau-Quebecor p/b Cascades - Trois-Rivières, Que. (Aug. 14) • RBC GranFondo Banff - Banff, Alta. (Aug. 20) • RBC GranFondo Whistler - Whistler, B.C. (Sept. 10) In addition, the partnership will present Lexus with unique and 8 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Cycling Canada
Canada on the Road to High-Performance Excellence
exclusive customer-engagement Lexus Canada is now the official opportunities at each of these major automotive partner of Cycling events. Canada, the National Cycling Team “Lexus understands that high and a number of key cycling events across the country. performance requires dedication and commitment by those who are passionate about excellence,” said Jennifer Barron, director of Lexus Canada. “It’s why Lexus Canada is excited to be supporting Canada’s National cycling team and its programs designed for the development of exceptional young athletes.” “We are thrilled to welcome Lexus to our family of partners,” said Jacques Landry, high-performance director and head coach for Cycling Canada. “With [its] relentless pursuit of perfection and passion for innovation, design and performance, the alignment with our approach to high-performance sport and our pursuit of the Olympic podium could not be stronger.” Lexus Canada is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Lexus luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles through a sales and service network of 38 dealers across the country. The range of luxury and performance vehicles includes 12 Lexus nameplates, with the company claiming to have the largest luxury hybrid line-up of six models. Lexus is the luxury-vehicle division of Toyota and marketed in more than 70 countries worldwide. Lexus, headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, is reported to be the country’s best-selling brand of premium cars, with worldwide sales of more than 650,000 units in 2015. For more information, visit www.lexus.ca. www.pedalmag.com
out in front BY John Symon Moberg and Walter Win 2016 Test of Metal
Roth and Perry 1-2 at GP Saguenay
The final edition of the renowned Test of Metal mountain-bike race in Squamish, B.C. saw first-time winner and Squamish local Quinn Moberg end up on top of the podium in the men’s race, while Sandra Walter of Coquitlam, B.C., who last won the Test in 2013, topped the women’s field. Moberg won in a time of 2:37:56, just 10 seconds ahead of Craig Richey of Smithers, B.C., with Jamie Sparling of Squamish two minutes back in third. Richey had a small lead on Moberg at approximately 10km to go, but Moberg’s local knowledge made the difference in the final singletrack section. Walter, who won in 3:03:17, dominated the race and led the women’s field from start to finish. Second place went to Jean Ann Berkenpas of Valemount, B.C., who was 5:29 in arrears and finished in third, eight minutes behind the winner Carey Mark of Nanaimo, B.C. The 21st annual event was the final edition of the iconic race as the Test of Metal organization will terminate all of its activities this year, and its other races including the Orecrusher, Gearjammer and Just Another Bike Race will also end this season.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay
Silber Takes Team Classification
10 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Sean Mackinnon (Team RaceClean Canada) was the top Canuck in sixth, while misfortune struck reigning Canadian road champion Guillaume Boivin (Academy Cycling Team), who crashed while leading out teammate Raim and suffered a fractured collarbone. Perry continued to lead, with Roth in third and their Silber teammate Cataford in fourth. The final stage, a 149.8km road race in Chicoutimi, was won by Eric Young (USA, Rally Cycling), with Roth second and Edward Walsh (Team RaceClean Canada) in third. Of the 93 riders who started the day, a total of 37 did not finish. Roth secured the overall victory for Silber Pro Cycling for the second year in a row, with teammate Perry second at 0:06 back, followed by Raim in third. Silber also won the Team Classification, while Matteo Dal-Cin, who won the series in 2015, finished sixth overall.
Final GC podium at GP Saguenay (l-r) Benjamin Perry (Can), Ryan Roth (Can) and Mike Raim (Est)
GP Cycliste de Saguenay - June 9-12 Final GC 1. Ryan Roth (CAN) Silber Pro 12:52:54; 2. Benjamin Perry (CAN) Silber Pro 0:06; 3. Mikhel Raim (EST) Academy Cycling Team 0:10; Other 4. Thomas Vaubourzeix (FRA) Lupus 0:38; 5. Alexander Cataford (CAN) Silber Pro 0:47; 6. Matteo Dal-Cin (CAN) Silber Pro 0:52; 7. Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly 0:52; 8. Daniel Turek (CSE) Academy Cycling Team 0:54; 9. Pierrick Naud (CAN) Rally Cycling 01:03; 10. Nicolas Masbourian (CAN) Silber Pro 05:55.
Fraser britton
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anada’s Ryan Roth (Silber Pro) was the overall winner of the third annual edition of the UCI Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay stage race held from June 9-12 in northeastern Quebec. While there was much rivalry between the 19 teams present from seven different countries, the real story was rivalry within the winning squad. Roth, who didn’t win a stage, edged out teammate Benjamin Perry by six seconds on the last day to take the title. Perry had been leading the race since the opening stage. The weather proved difficult for the 130 senior men’s riders starting in cold, windy and wet conditions on the 151km Stage One road race on the streets of Saguenay’s La Baie borough that saw 27 DNFs. Despite the weather, Perry crossed the line first, averaging 39.2 kph, followed by Mikhel Raim (EST, Academy Cycling Team) in second and Alexander Cataford (CAN, Silber Pro) in third, while Roth was fifth. Bryan Lewis (USA, Lupus) won the 156km Stage Two Kenogami circuit in Jonquiere, followed by Angus Morton (AUS, Jelly Belly) in second, with Roth third. Perry in eighth continued to lead the GC, with Roth now third overall. Travis Livermon (USA, Astellas) took the 74.2km Chicoutimi Criterium on Stage Three, with U23 rider Michael Hernandez (CCB) in second and Chad Beyer (USA, Lupus) in third.
Quinn Moberg
Sandra Walter
Dirt Camp in Bromont Celebrates 20th Anniversary Dirt Camp, the longest-operating mountain-bike camp in Canada, celebrated its 20th anniversary in June 2016. Located in Bromont, Que., it is a specialized summer camp dedicated to the development of mountain-bike and BMX skills for boys and girls aged seven to 17. Offering a complete summer-camp experience, Dirt Camp improves fitness and boosts the self-confidence of riders at all skill levels. The camp is a member of the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclists (FQSC). Instructors are hand-picked by its director, Jeff Silas; a maximum ratio of five campers per instructor is in effect at all times. Instructors are certified in First Aid and CPR. The Dirt Camp lodge accommoContinued on page 14 www.pedalmag.com
BY John SYmon
Perce - Québec 2016 sept 3-4
Russia’s Doping Saga McLaren Investigation Report
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ith the 2016 Rio Olympics just around the corner, the release of the McLaren Investigation Report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added more fuel to the fire regarding banning Russia from the Games. Ultimately the International Olympic Committee (IOC) passed the buck to the respective sport federations, creating more controversy just prior to the Games. The story began with allegations of systemic doping in Russia as first revealed by German TV broadcaster ARD in late 2014. WADA has now issued three reports on the subject, two authored by Canadian Dick Pound, a longtime IOC board member, and a third by Canada’s Richard McLaren, a law professor at Western University. While these reports focused mostly on track and field, other sports named include cycling, swimming, weightlifting and winter sports. Meanwhile, the IOC has been re-testing samples from the 2012 London Olympics, finding positive results in 23 athletes from five sports and six countries out of 265 samples. Fourteen Russians from the 2008 Beijing Olympics were found positive after re-testing. In mid-July, WADA released its McLaren Investigation Report, claiming confirmation of state-sponsored doping in Russia. WADA also recommended that all names submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Paralympic Committee be declined for the 2016 Rio Olympics and for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. There were suggestions of letting individual Russians compete, but under a neutral flag. Following the IOC ruling, only the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) voted to ban the Russians from Rio. ARD’s information came from Vitaliy Stepanova a former official with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), and from Grigory Rodchenkov, who ran Russia’s now-discredited drug-testing lab during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Stepanova and his wife, Yuliya, a former track star on the Russian team, exposed the state-sponsored doping prevalent in Russia; this led to the team being suspended from international competition. Rodchenkov apparently boasted about making positive doping tests “disappear” and of developing a cocktail of three anabolic steroids – metenolone, trenbolone and oxandrolone – reportedly used by many top-level Russian athletes leading up to the London Olympics in 2012 and throughout the 2014 Sochi Games. This cocktail – dissolved in either Chivas whisky or Martini vermouth – speeded recovery times, allowing athletes to compete in top form over successive days. Part of the scheme involved breaking into “tamper-proof” self-locking glass bottles produced for international competitions made by Swiss company Berlinger. The scheme was deemed a success: at Sochi, Russian athletes won 33 medals – including 13 golds. Now living in exile in the U.S., Rodchenkov also indicates that not all athletes on the “protected” list at Sochi won medals. Many Russian athletes have also tested positive for meldonium (trade name: Mildronate). On Jan. 1, 2016, WADA added meldonium to its list of banned substances, but questions remain as to how long traces of this drug can remain in the body. Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister, confirmed that 40 Russian athletes have recently tested positive for meldonium.
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Nibali Wins 2016 Giro d’Italia Three Canucks on the Start Line
Cor vos
V
incenzo Nibali (ITA) of Astana Pro Team won the 2016 Giro d’Italia, which ran from May 6-29. The 99th edition of the race was Nibali’s fourth victory in a Grand Tour and his second Giro win. Canada had three riders participate in the race – Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo) pursued his GC ambitions before abandoning due to intestinal problems on Stage 14, while strongman Svein Tuft supported GC-hopeful Esteban Chaves on Orica-GreenEDGE. Hugo Houle of AG2R La Mondiale rounded out the Canadian contingent and provided domestique support for Italian teammate Domenico Pozzovivo. The first three stages of the 2016 Giro were held in The Netherlands, where native Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) won the opening short time trial. The following two flat stages marked a return to form for Marcel Kittel (GER, Etixx/Quick-Step), where he was far and away the fastest man on both days. Stages Four through Eight provided breakaway-win opportunities. Diego Ulissi (Lampre) produced a memorable stage victory in Stage Four, leaping clear on a gravel climb and soloing to the line. Stage Five saw Andre Greipel (GER, Lotto) win the sprint by several bike lengths on an uphill cobbled drag in the city of Benevento. Greipel
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would add Stage Seven to his palmares as well. Stage Eight was marked by the opportunism of Gialucca Brambilla (Etixx/QuickStep), who seized the day with help from teammate Matteo Trentin and took the Maglia Rosa by seconds ahead of the GC favourites. The 40.5km Stage Nine time trial was won by Slovakian Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo). Opportunistic breakaway riders Giulio Ciccone (Bardiani CSF) and Ulissi (Lampre) took Stage 10 and 11 honours respectively. Greipel took another sprint win in Stage 12. Mikel Nieve was allowed off the Team Sky leash following the abandonment of team GC leader Mikel Landa and took a resounding mountain-stage win on Stage 13. In Stage 14, the GC battle really heated up. Chaves took the stage victory just ahead of Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) and the pair gained time on other GC rivals. In Stage 15, Nibali lost a massive 2:10 to Kruijswijk in a disastrous mountain time trial, where a derailleur malfunction forced Nibali to make a dramatic bike change mid-race. Stage 16’s medium mountains saw Kruisjwijk take more time from Nibali and Chaves, while Alexandro Valverde (Movistar) took stage honours. Stage 17’s “sprint stage” was notable, thanks to trackie Roger Kluge’s (IAM Cycling) massive stage-winning flier with one kilometre to go. Stage 18 was won by Trentin, thanks to more exceptional Etixx/Quick-Step teamwork from Brambilla.
The stars aligned for Vincenzo nibali (ITA, Astana Pro Team), who claimed his second Giro victory and fourth Grand Tour title.
In Stage 19, Nibali made a miraculous comeback in the overall GC battle, as Kruijswijk crashed hard into 12-foot-high snowbanks at high speed while descending the massive Col dell’Agnello and lost more than five minutes. Chaves would take the GC race lead going into the penultimate stage, with Nibali hot on his heels at only 44 seconds back. Nibali finally took the Maglia Rosa from Chaves on Stage 20 with an epic long-range attack – leaping clear on the penultimate climb following a relentless pace set by his Astana teammates. Rein Tarramae (Katusha) hung on from the early break to take Stage 20 honours. The final stage ended in a bunch sprint in Turin. Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin) took a yet another German sprint win after a controversial relegation of Giaccomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) for irregular sprinting. Nizzolo would triumph in the overall Points classification (Red jersey), while Nieve of Team Sky took home the King of the Mountains jersey. In the end, the 2016 Giro was marked by breakout GC rides by Kruijswijk and Chaves and, most notably, the miraculous comeback of Nibali. Final GC 1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Astana Pro Team 86:32:49; 2. Esteban Chaves (COL) Orica-GreenEDGE 0:52; 3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 1:17; 4. Steven Kruijswijk (NED) Team LottoNL-Jumbo 1:50; 5. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff 4:37; 6. Bob Jungels (LUX) Etixx/Quick-Step 8:31; 7. Rigoberto Uran (COL) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:11:47; 8. Andrey Amador (CRC) Movistar Team 0:13:21; 9. Darwin Atapuma (COL) BMC Racing Team 0:14:09; 10. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) Dimension Data 0:16:20; CAN 72. Hugo Houle (CAN) AG2R La Mondiale 3:20:38; 146. Svein Tuft (CAN) Orica-GreenEDGE 4:43:04; DNF. Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo).
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out in front
BY John Symon Continued from page 10 dates 20 campers and four supervising staff members. It is just steps away from Bromont’s two main chairlifts and its water park. Bromont’s BMX course, cross-country trails and pump track are situated nearby. “Our mission is to teach kids to ride mountain bikes safely and with confidence. But part of our mission is also to get kids off their phones and tablets!” says Silas. Dirt Camp offers eight sessions running from June 26-Aug. 19. Each sixnight session, including accommodation and a full-meal plan, costs $775, while the five-day “day camp” session (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) costs $345. Dirt Camp also operates the “Vélobus,” bringing riders and their bikes from Montreal to Bromont every weekend.
Team RaceClean Launched for 2016
Cycling Canada
Edmonton Velodrome to Open by 2020
C
ycling Canada’s men’s track-endurance (MTE) program continues to progress and will compete in 2016 as Team RaceClean Canada. The NextGen MTE program was launched two years ago with the goal of being medal contenders in the men’s Team Pursuit at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The team remains firmly on target to achieve that goal after the 2015-16 track season that included a top-10 World Cup result and a 12th-place finish at the UCI Track World Championships. The foundation for this success has been in selecting an MTE group that trains and competes together throughout the year. For 2016, the program is stepping up to the next level by bringing together 10 riders to train and compete as a Cycling Canada trade team for the entire season. The team will race under the banner of Cycling Canada’s RaceClean anti-doping program. The young riders and staff strongly believe in the importance of fair play, clean sport and the obligation racers have to compete within the rules. The team is kicking off its 2016 campaign with a 10-week block of road races in Europe, starting with a training camp in the south of Spain before moving to Cycling Canada’s base in Belgium for the competition phase. This is a similar program to other successful Team Pursuit nations, including Australia and Great Britain. “It was very important for us to create a team to enable our riders to enter more races especially in Europe,” said Luc Arseneau, Cycling Canada’s road development coach. “We now 14 PEDAL FASHION 2016
have more than 90 days of racing planned over the next few months. To be honest, it’s been a longtime dream.” Team RaceClean, along with Arseneau and physiologist Emily Wood, will start the season in early April and stay in Europe to attend the UCI Nations Cups, followed by a string of stage races. The team will return to Canada for the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay (UCI 2.2) and the Global Relay Canadian Championships and then return to Europe for some high-level Belgium races. Depending on the development of the new UCI track calendar, further races will be announced on the team’s agenda. This program would not be possible without funding and support from the private sector. “Louis Garneau will ensure the team’s clothing is fast and aerodynamic. On the equipment side, the team will be well equipped with Canadian-made Aquila bikes, RealSpeed wheels, Shimano components, as well as Pioneer power meters,” said Ian Melvin, NextGen MTE coach. “Many people are backing this program, and we thank everyone for their support.” With a European base in Belgium and a robust season ahead Team RaceClean is a dream come true while targeting the 2020 Games down the road.
Team RaceClean 2016 Willem Boersma (Portage La Prairie, Man.), Evan Burtnik (Edmonton, Alta.), Aidan Caves (Vancouver, B.C.), Alexander Cowan (Calgary, Alta.), William Elliott (Barrie, Ont.), Adam Jamieson (Barrie, Ont.), Jay Lamoureux (Victoria, B.C.), Sean Mackinnon (Hamilton, Ont.), Bayley Simpson (Lindsay, Ont.), Edward Walsh (Halifax, N.S.).
In May, the City of Edmonton entered into a partnership with the Edmonton Triathlon Academy (ETA) and the Argyll Velodrome Association (AVA) to develop the Coronation Community Recreation Centre. Edmonton councillors Bryan Anderson and Bev Esslinger, along with representatives from the ETA and the AVA, confirmed that the planned recreation-centre development will open in 2020.
Edmonton Velodrome “The new facility will include a stateof-the-art indoor cycling track that will service the competitive cycling community and provide recreational opportunities for Edmontonians,” says Anderson. The multi-use facility, located in Coronation Park, will be linked to the pre-existing Peter Hemingway Pool, and will include a gymnasium, running track, fitness rooms and a cafe, as well as the indoor cycling track. In addition to offering regular fitness classes and community sporting events, the facility will also offer coaching and training resources to encourage athletic excellence in cycling, swimming and running. When complete, it will be the first indoor triathlon-training centre in North America. Ward Hanson, ETA president, and Eric Oddliefson, AVA president, were Continued on page 16 www.pedalmag.com
M o u n t a i n s - R o a d s - Tr a i l s
Choose Yo u r Challenge
1 Hour West of Red Deer, 2 Hours From Edmonton or Calgary
out in front BY Ashley Barson Continued from page 14
Canadians Contend at U.S.A. Crits
also on hand for the announcement and spoke favourably about the project and the benefits to the communities in the region. The 250-metre cycling track will be the second international-level indoor track in Canada, providing an excellent venue for local cyclists to train and enjoy cycling year-round.
Aitcheson Second, Gilgen Third Overall
Antoine Duchesne to the Tour de France
courtesy of Astellas Cycling Team
Catherine Fegan-Kim (instagram: @cottonsox_photo twitter: @cottonsox)
C
anada’s men and women have been busy across the border, with results to show for it, placing amongst the top Professional riders in the 2016 U.S.A. Crits Championships Series after the seventh (men’s) and fifth (women’s) round. Ryan Aitcheson (Astellas Cycling Team) sits second overall, with two wins to his name in the men’s series – first at the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium in Georgia at Speedweek on May 7, then a win on June 4 in Illinois at the Glencoe Grand Prix, as he lapped the field with two other riders. With the support of his teammates, Aitcheson pushed on to take the win. Also from Ontario and on fire is Ed Veal of RealDeal D’Ornellas p/b Garneau. Veal has been racing aggressively and making his presence felt (NCC), while racing for Rise Racing. Her persistence and drive saw her attain her first Professional contract for 2016 with the Dallas (left) Jamie Gilgen is poised for the best result of her DNA Pro Cycling team. career in her first year as At the Glencoe Grand a pro. Prix, Gilgen rode aggressively, getting into a late-race break of three. With two laps to go, she broke away, taking a solo win. Barson has also been racing consistently, progressing with each event. Among her top results are a sixth at Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium and a fourth-place finish at the Glencoe Grand Prix. She now sits fifth overall in the series, with only two more races on the women’s calendar. Glencoe Grand Prix was yet another event where Canadian men and women took top honours in the Pro fields. U.S.A. Crits Championship Series 2016 (remaining races): Andersen/Banducci Twilight Criterium on July 16; Red Bank Championship Cycling on Aug. 6; and Men’s Only, Iron Hill Twilight Criterium on Aug. 20. The 2016 Canadian Road National Championships from June 25-29 was yet another test of how these and other Canadians stacked up against each other at the final Criterium event on June 29, when Team Canada’s Rio 2016 squad was also named. Then riders head back down to the U.S. to wrap up the Crits series and, hopefully, bring home more hardware. (above) Ryan Aitcheson on the top step of the podium in May at the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium in Georgia.
throughout the series. At the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium, he raced in the lap leader’s jersey; points are awarded on each lap to the first rider across the line. Veal now sits sixth overall in the series. On the women’s side, the series started at Speedweek with stop #1 at the Charlotte Criterium on April 30 in North Carolina. At Speedweek, Quebec-based rider Marie-Soleis Blais (guest-riding for Fearless Femme) rode her way to a career highlight on May 7, taking the win at the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium. This put Canadians on the top step of both the men’s and women’s Professional races. Now sitting amongst the top five overall in the series is Ontario’s Jamie Gilgen (Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling) in third and Ashley Barson (Rise Racing) in fifth. Gilgen made a name for herself last year on the U.S. Criterium circuit 16 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Quebec cyclist Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie) from Saguenay made the roster for the 2016 Tour de France (TdF). As such, Duchesne becomes the third Quebecer selected to compete in the world’s most prestigious bicycle race after Pierre Gachon (1937) and David Veilleux (2013). Duchesne, a.k.a. “Tony the Tiger,” distinguished himself at the 2016 Paris-Nice Classic in mid-March by capturing the KOM polka-dotted jersey. Duchesne, 24, was also the top Canuck at the 2015 UCI Road Worlds in Richmond, Va., finishing 61st overall. Duchesne also completed the 2015 Vuelta in 138th place. Before that, Duchesne distinguished himself by winning the U23 Canadian Road Championships in both 2012 and 2013. At the 2013 Tour of Alberta, he raced with Cadel Evans (AUS, BMC) – winner of the Tour de France that year – in the winning break on Stage Four to finish fifth, while Evans took the stage victory. The Classics specialist began riding for Team Europcar in 2014, which changed its name to Team Direct Energie for the 2016 season.
Cycling Canada Welcomes Swagman, Vittoria, ZiZU, Jelly Belly as Partners Leading into the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Cycling Canada has signed on four new suppliers to its National team. Canada’s top riders will be rolling toward Rio on some of the world’s best tires and inner tubes thanks to a new partnership with Vittoria, which has an annual production of more than seven million tires. The team will benefit from Vittoria’s Graphene Thread technology with Open Corsa G+ clinchers and the Corsa G+ tubulars for the team’s road programs. The track program will be using Vittoria’s Pista Evo CL and CS tubular tires. Swagman Carrier Systems based in Penticton, B.C. has also joined the official supplier pool with a long-term commitment to provide its line of bicycle racks for National cycling-team programs, as well as at select events across the country. www.pedalmag.com
New products
Based in Ottawa, Ont., ZiZU Optics has also signed on and is now a supplier to five of Canada’s National teams, including cycling, triathlon, canoe/kayak, cross-country skiing and biathlon, as well as to some of the biggest running events across the country. Also joining the National team are Jelly Belly Sport Beans via Canadian distributor Uno Imports. Its sports nutritional chews are loaded with carbohydrates for fuel, electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance and vitamins to optimize energy release. With colours and flavours from natural sources, they’re packaged in convenient re-sealable bags, perfect for carrying in a jersey pocket.
Correction: team Norco Premier tech p/b chewpod In our Spring edition, which featured our annual round-up of Canadian road and MTB teams, we apologize for missing Norco Premier Tech p/b Chewpod, a domestic road trade team based out of Quebec City. Traditionally, the squad has raced primarily in Quebec, but in 2016, a considerable amount of travel is planned, with participation in the Vuelta Independencia (Dominican Republic), BC Superweek and the Tour of Sharjah (Dubai/UAE) at the end of the season in November. The team is headlined by David Drouin, who finished third in the Young Rider Classification at the Vuelta Independencia in March and secured a strong 10th overall at the Tour de Beauce as a guest rider for Ride with Rendall p/b Biemme. Other notable team members include veterans Etienne Samson and Sebastien Rousseau (winner of the Charlevoix GP Criterium), along with young up-and-coming riders Simon Ouellet and Jean Simon D’Anjou, who placed a strong second place at the Charlevoix GP hill climb, enroute to claiming fourth in the GC. Follow Norco Premier Tech p/b Chewpod at www.norcopremiertechpbchewpod.com.
Oakley EVZero Range At an incredibly light 24g, the brand-new Oakley EVZero Range model has been designed specifically for cyclists who need everything out of a pair of sunnies. Taking a page out of its past, the newly shaped EVZero lineup of sunglasses resembles the old Sub Zeroes from the late 1990’s in appearance. What is new is just about everything. The frame is constructed with a lightweight durable plastic that Oakley enjoys referring to as O Matter. Except this time there really is no traditional rimmed frame, just a lens attached to arms – so no interchanging of lenses. However, there are 27 different styles available based on lens, colour and fit. It is the lens where Oakley continues to shine, using a prizm-coated indigo-coloured lens that maximizes peripheral clarity and minimizes distortion from any angle the eye moves, while filtering 100% of all harmful rays. With this Plutonite toric shield, Oakley offers
an extended range of view, especially in the upper region due to the fact that the glasses have no obstructing rim. Testing this eyewear on the bike was a pleasure. These sunglasses are so incredibly light, you may forget they are on your face. The fit is perfect across the nose and gives more than enough coverage across the eyes. The lens on this model is an excellent fit from sun to cloud, providing clarity and diminishing distortion on the road. There is no ear pain from the arms, no sliding down the nose, no wind buffering in when you turn your head at speed. Aesthetically, the look goes very well with a number of different helmets, providing that uber-Euro personna and feel. Oakley has once again done its homework in designing specific sunglasses for road cycling. The EVZero line has numerous models to facilitate any athletes’ needs, and at a $215 SRP price point, it won’t break the bank.
Michal Cerveny
Shimano RP9 Road Shoes
Kiara Bisaro
Canada’s Bisaro 13th at 2016 UCI Marathon Worlds Former top Canadian rider Kiara Bisaro finished a solid 13th in the women’s 70km race at the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships on June 26 in Laissac, France. The race was won by World Cup series leader Jolanda Neff (SUI) with Sally Bigham (GBR) in second and Sabrina Enaux (FRA) in third. Bisaro is a former World Cup rider herself, having represented Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. At those Olympics, she finished 15th, with teammate Marie-Hélène Prémont winning the silver while Alison Sydor was just off the podium in fourth. At the Marathon Worlds, fellow Canuck Mathieu Belanger Barrette was 89th in the men’s 80km competition, with Portugal’s Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira winning the gold over defending champion Alban Lakata (AUT) in second, with Kristian Hynek (CZE) in third. Continued on page 18 www.pedalmag.com
Shimano’s flagship performance RP9 Road Shoes are designed for long days in the saddle that strike the balance between aesthetics, comfort and power transfer. The heat-moldable custom-fit technology on the upper and insole ensures a comfortable, performance-enhancing fit and the adaptable closure system adjusts to various instep heights and shapes. Air vents on the toe and exhaust ports on the sole help keep your feet dry and fresh as the surround upper pattern provides the perfect blend of holding power with all-day comfort. Available in black or white and sizes 36, 37-47 (in half sizes), 48, 49, 50. SRP is $399.99
Nutcase Tracer Helmet The Nutcase Tracer is a lightweight, in-mold helmet that provides full coverage, modern bright colours for visibility, and a stylish sporty look. Channel venting allows air to flow when you need it and the CoolControl on-the-fly vent closure mechanism blocks the air on those chilly mornings. The removable cloth visor shields your eyes from sun and rain, while the adjustable retention system, multiple pad sets, and magnetic buckle provides a customized fit. Offered in six colours in sizes S/M and M/L. SRP is $114.90 FASHION 2016 PEDAL 17
out in front
BY CAThARInE PEndREL Cotton sox PhotograPhy
MTB Frontlines The Gifts of Injury
P
miChal Cerveny
reparation for an event rarely goes according to plan. How you respond to challenges and imperfect scenarios is often what determines your success and whether you walk away happy, knowing you did your best. In an Olympic year, the last thing you want is an injury, yet that’s what happened to me. One week before the first race of the year, I broke my right thumb. It’s just a thumb; no big deal, right? And it didn’t seem to be. Thanks to electronic Shimano shifting, I was able to be back on my mountain bike in two days by switching all my shifting to be operated on the left. With a thumb splint and a few days to heal, the vibrations of riding didn’t bother me so much and I felt safe to race. Thanks to the wisdom of our sport psychologist, I was
able to turn my head around to a winning attitude too. “Don’t embrace excuses and allow yourself to be less than you are. Focus on what you can ride 100% and go do that!” she said. To my surprise, I won! I rode away from Emily Batty and Erin Huck on the first lap and never looked back. But perhaps I didn’t respect the injury enough. I could keep going. I was training for the Olympics, so a thumb wasn’t going to slow me down, and honestly it didn’t feel like it needed to. So when I was X-ray’ed again at three weeks, I was surprised to find that the bones had shifted and needed to be pinned; two weeks before the first World Cup. I had to miss another lead-up race, but was back on the start line one week later and then rode to a fourth place at the first World Cup in Australia. Things were ticking along, but the thumb wasn’t getting any less inflamed. Hands have notoriously 18 PEDAL fashion 2016
poor circulation, making them slow to heal, but I started worrying I had an infection so I traveled to the next World Cups in May with some antibiotics just in case. Sure enough, my thumb started becoming more tender, warm and red. I started the antibiotics, raced my butt off in Europe to two podium finishes and then within 24 hours of returning from Europe I had the pins removed. An X-ray showed the fracture had healed, but the bone infection had caused the bone to erode. It was now one month from the World Championships and my thumb was as fragile as it was in March. I was back in a thumb splint, on to heavy antibiotics and restricted from mountain biking for a couple weeks. In sport and life, you have to make the most of what you have. A road-only program in my last training block before Worlds and seven weeks of antibiotics wasn’t the perfect scenario, but it was the one presented to me. If I were perfectly healthy, I would have been doing technical-skills training, I would have been spending lots of time riding trails, but by being forced to the road, I strengthened other aspects of my riding. I explored amazing road rides, climbed awesome climbs and embraced more mental training as a way of keeping or improving skills that needed work, such What can make the as my starts and jumping. biggest difference between a great ride Thanks to some patience, two and a disappointing weeks later, I was approved to one is your frame be back on the trails. of mind. In a big year, such as an Olympic year, what can make the biggest difference between a great ride and a disappointing one is your frame of mind. I know my preparation wasn’t textbook perfect, but it was good. Darn good. And in a time when your nervous system can be overloaded by all the excitement, taking a mid-season break from racing, staying home and logging some solid training rides could make it perfect. Injuries both ground you in the moment and make you even more excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. They remind you that you can only control what you can control and that the outcome is what you make of it. I’m excited to be back on my mountain bike, pushing as hard as I can and going fast. I’m confident in the knowledge that even when things aren’t perfect, I can make the best of the situation. These are the gifts of an injury.
ryan roth taKes Winston-saleM ClassiC In late May, Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling) won the 2016 Winston-Salem Classic, Round Nine of the USA Pro Road Tour. Roth had a strong start to 2016, winning the Valley of The Sun Stage Race in February. However, shortly thereafter, he was sidelined by injury. The former Canadian road champion returned cautiously, riding at the Joe Martin Stage Race in late April, where he placed a strong second overall. His victory at the Winston-Salem Classic was a signal that he had returned to top form just before some big races that included Philly, GP Saguenay, Beauce and the Canadian Road Nationals. Roth is noted for winning tough, tactical races from reduced fields such as that at Winston-Salem. In 2011, he won the Univest Grand Prix in a remarkably similar finish. In 2012, Roth was the Canadian road champion, and that same year, he also won the prestigious Tro Bro Leon race in France. The win is Silber’s second USA Pro Road Tour top podium of the season following its historic victory at the Redlands Classic, won by Matteo Dal-Cin. The team has been the most consistent squad on the U.S. circuit this year. “Ryan is very experienced. He’s our leader for a reason, and he’s lethal when he gets a chance to win a race. He got tailed off a little bit on the very last climb, but he was able to manage his bullets and come back to the lead three and then take that sprint,” commented Gord Fraser, Silber’s directeur sportif, summing up Roth’s win. “I like to see that initiative. You can die by trying to lead out a sprint, but it’s kind of like buying a ticket for the lottery, and, thankfully, that number was good today.”
shiMano to aCQuire laZer sport Shimano Europe (Shimano) announced this July that it has signed an agreement to acquire Lazer Sport NV (Lazer), the Belgian helmet company. The deal is subject to regulatory clearances and other closing conditions. Shimano and Lazer expect to finalize the transaction in the second half of 2016. Continued on page 22 www.pedalmag.com
out in front BY SVEIN TUFT
Tuft Enough The Little Colombian, the Little Legend
I
Cor Vos
’ll take this opportunity to share some experiences of riding this year’s Giro d’Italia, as well as the background of, in my mind, the coolest Grand Tour rider. His name is Esteban Chaves. On the outside, he is a smiley little teenager, and on the inside, he is one of the toughest, most centred and grounded people I know. His ability to cope with the stress and rigours of a Grand Tour are like nothing I’ve seen before. His outlook on life is so different than that of your average WorldTour bike racer. Family and friends are what’s most important to him, and his understanding that this is just bike racing is what makes him stand out from the rest. He is truly enjoying the moment. I started this year’s Giro in a bit of a negative spot. I was truly questioning my ability to compete in another Grand Tour and if I was physically and mentally capable. Mental being the big question. It is amazing what the body can put up with, but when the brain goes, everything else follows. It didn’t help that I got a virus the day before the Opening Prologue. Lying in bed with the shivers and barely able to get
up, you start to wonder how it will be possible to race 200km stages in the heat of the coming days. While we raced over the windy Holland roads, my duties for the day to look after Esteban, I started noticing subtle things. I realized quickly that he was in the form of his life. Everything was easy for him, even in the crosswind sections where teams would try to blow things apart. He was just ticking along. When you have a guy who can win a Grand Tour, your job becomes very different than our usual tactic of focusing on a few key stage wins. From Kilometre Zero, you are switched on and constantly working to stay in the sweet spot in the peloton. With some leaders, this can be a very tiring job, but with Esteban, I couldn’t ask for any better. In every sketchy moment, he was right there, putting his faith in me. When someone gives you that faith, you gain extra strength from it. The responsibility is on you and you can really surprise yourself how much harder you can push. From those windy days in Holland, Esteban continued to blow our minds every day, and we all began to realize what was possible as we headed into the hilly terrain of Italy. He continued his trajectory with a stage win on one of the hardest stages of the Tour, and on Esteban Chaves’ ability to cope with the stress and rigours of a Grand Tour are like nothing I’ve seen before.
20 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Stage 19, he took the Pink jersey. I remember listening so intently to the radio as it crackled in my ear – I was way out of radio range as I crept up the final climbs of the day in the grupetto. I wasn’t surprised. I’d seen the quality of this young fella, and I look forward to watching him in the coming years. I still remember the first time I met Esteban. I was meeting up with our Team Time Trial crew at our Girona service course. For cyclists, they’re a big bunch of guys. All 80 kilo and 6 feet plus. As I rolled in, there was a little kid in Team Colombia kit standing around. I was told by the doctor that he (Esteban) would be joining us for the ride. I thought, “Hmm, that’s interesting. Curious to know how they reckoned this guy was going to hang onto six blokes riding 60k an hour plus in aero positions, but we’ll see.” The team was taking a look at Esteban. He had just recovered from a very serious shoulder injury where many different doctors told him he would never ride Professionally again. The team was interested in Esteban and was willing to take a risk. First though it needed to be determined that he could ride a bike. This is where I learned just how tough Esteban is. With no riding experience in the previous six months, he suffered like you cannot believe to keep pace with us. We were all riding TT bikes with aero wheels and helmets, and here’s Esteban weighing in at 50 kilos on a normal road bike with 32-spoke wheels. He finished every effort with us and you could see the determination in his eyes. Esteban’s view on life is unique and refreshing. To him, each day is a gift – that’s why he smiles so much. When you understand his story, you realize why this is true. So many days he would tell me how lucky he is to be racing his bike. I remember one stage where we went through a town in Northern Italy and he told me that this was where one doctor told him he would never race again. And here he was wearing the Pink jersey in the Giro d’Italia!!! I could feel the emotion pouring out of him. It’s things such as this that allow him to appreciate life and not get too carried away with the stresses of a Grand Tour. He knows each day is special for him, and he genuinely appreciates it. Many people know this, but few are able to put it into practise, and very few practise it in this extreme environment. Coming into Stage 20, the team had an energy I’ve never felt before. We were buzzing. We were going to die thousands of deaths to stay with our leader, our friend, and hope he would have the energy to take on his rivals in the final. Luck was not on his side and he lost the jersey to an older, more experienced rival. This did not shake him or change the way he conducted himself. He was proud of his work and the outcome was secondary. This, for me, is the behaviour of a true champion. You do the hard yards and eventually the results will come. Esteban’s close family flew from Colombia for the final two stages. His family was so genuine and full of love that it spread over the team in waves. On the Sunday night after the race, we spent the evening at a restaurant re-telling stories with his family. It was a super-emotional time, and many of us were in tears. This will be a Giro I will never forget, and not because of the final result. Because of the collective work of my teammates and my friends, we all grew a little more and learned a lot about ourselves. This is why I still do this sport; this is why I still love it. www.pedalmag.com
by Audrey Lemieux
A
s a former pro cyclist and currently a Paralympic national team member, I was looking forward to taking on this year’s Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant with a more relaxing approach to the sport as I’d heard great things about the ride and Tremblant has excellent trails as well. I had just returned from a UCI Paracycling World Cup in Belgium with my tandem teammate, Robbi Weldon, and Audrey Lemieux ready to tackle Gran Fondo a gran fondo-style ride was exactly Mont-Tremblant. the type of event to keep the wheels turning in a more stress-free environment with other passionate cyclists. This year, my old buddy David Veilleux was also hosting a new event, the Devinci Sunset Ride. I was also curious about this gran fondo that began with 300 participants four years ago and has grown to accommodate more than 2,000 cyclists on those repaved roads all over the welcoming Tremblant municipalities. Marketing director Marie-Elaine Boudreau explained that the organizers are constantly innovating and reviewing how to improve the experience and are pleased with the growth as well. “We are always trying to improve things each year by adding new concepts,” she said. “Now we offer a full weekend of activities surrounding the gran fondo with the Sunset Ride on Friday, the main ride on Saturday and a Coffee Ride on Sunday. These extra events provide a complete experience for those who want to spend the weekend here at Tremblant.” This year’s edition featured timing via a GPS system to follow each participant in real time on the web, which allowed riders to check their stats online for a more dynamic experience while also helping organizers ensure everyone’s safety on the course. Simon St-Arnaud, producer of Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant, wanted to offer a variety of distances to make the event inclusive and challenging for all participants. Riders can now select from 45km, 80km, 125km or 160km routes. Over 75 cycling guides help ensure all security aspects are covered while monitoring speeds and time along with group sizes. Feed zones with access to toilet facilities, food snacks and water for hydration are well placed during the ride to help everyone make it to the finish line. So how was my ride? Superb, with Mother Nature providing beautiful sunshine and some international riders coming to enjoy the festive atmosphere in addition to the great riding around Tremblant. I took on the 80km route and had a great workout on the rolling course which included a longer hill in the middle where we were able to push our limits if we wanted. At the finish, we were treated to a fabulous meal with lots of smiling faces, an exhibition village, live music and a party atmosphere. Like many others, I’m ready to return to Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant in 2017 (May 26-28) and perhaps join my pal Veilleux on the Sunset Ride, which drew more than 150 riders. For more information, visit www.granfondotremblant.ca. www.pedalmag.com
courtesy of Audrey Lemieux
Taking on Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant
FASHION 2016 PEDAL 21
out in front
BY Monique Sullivan
Sullivan Report
during training because the sugar is easily digestible and it also helps with hydration. I find if I don’t have enough carbs, then I start to get bonky in the afternoon sessions and I am not able to be explosive.
As a track sprinter, I go way outside the mold of traditional cycling philosophies to find my speed.
Less Time on your Bike - More Time in the Gym
I have substituted almost all of my road riding for high-quality gym work. It was hard at first to begin foregoing my road rides until I realized that by doing too much endurance, I was compromising my sprinting. My legs were confused – do you want me to go long or fast? I think this is one of the reasons sprinters on the road have shorter careers; the massive miles of road racing will progressively dampen their sprint. (Or is it their spirit? Haha!) It’s Okay to be Big
In a sport where most disciplines favour the tiny, track cycling is a home for the rest of us with big butts and big legs. On the track, you are never climbing, so any additional muscle mass in your glutes and quads will always work in your favour. Protein, Protein, Protein
Nutritionally, my priority is always ensuring that I get the good stuff in, instead of worrying too much about restricting calories. A serving of good-quality protein every three hours is probably my most important guideline; if my legs are hungry, there better be some aminos there for them to gobble up! Carbs are next, especially on big double days. I like to munch on melon 22 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Rest
Sprinters could be compared to big old lions, lazing around all day until it’s time to attack. We often take lots of rest between efforts because quality trumps quantity. (Depending, of course, on the training phase.)
Legendary Curt Harnett Joins Pedal Magazine’s Roster With Rio Olympics soon here, we’re pleased to announce and welcome legendary Curt Harnett, Canada’s chef de mission for the Games, to our roster of esteemed columnists. Harnett joins fellow former cycling greats Steve Bauer and Gord Singleton in our column “The Last Word,” at the close of each issue.
Warm-up
Our current warm-up takes 90 minutes. I’d say it’s verging on the long side for a warm-up, but when we race, we don’t get a neutral lap or a few kilometres to get into the groove. When the race starts, it’s all out. Our warm-up starts with a few easy minutes on the rollers followed by a progression of sprints, mobility and plyos. Racing
We don’t race very much at all. Unlike on the road, where you can race yourself into shape, our season is only four to five key races per year. Doing lots of racing improves your tactics, but doesn’t usually make you faster or stronger. That work is done at home base on the track and in the gym. Attitude
I can’t really explain it, but we sprinters tend to be a bit dramatic. Can someone tell me why?
Heinz Ruckemann
I
was inspired by Svein Tuft’s last column, where he spoke about how sometimes you have to go against traditional training methods to attain your best performance. As a track sprinter, I go way outside the mold of traditional cycling philosophies to find my speed.
Guy Swarbrick
Thinking Out of the Box
Continued from page 18 Lazer, founded in 1919, is the world’s oldest helmet company, designing, manufacturing and marketing its protective headwear products for cycling, leisure and winter sports in more than 50 countries. Lazer headwear complements Shimano’s own clothing, footwear and eyewear products, as well as Pearl Izumi clothing, also owned by Shimano, bringing to the company a complete top-totoe line-up. “By combining Shimano’s customer base with our unique patents, technologies and products, the Shimano group will be well positioned to equip road, MTB, urban and leisure-bike riders with a full mix of innovative components and accessories,” said Sean van Waes, Lazer’s managing director. Under the terms of the agreement, Lazer company owners Van Waes and Peter Steenwegen, sales director, will remain an integral part of the Lazer management board. All staff will also remain with the company in Antwerp, Belgium.
Curt Harnett at the 1996 Games in Atlanta Harnett, a four-time Olympian who brought home three Olympic cycling medals – two bronze and one silver – was inducted into the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2006. Check out Harnett’s first column in this issue on page 72, where he writes about doping in sport, the Russians, WADA’s McLaren Report and the Olympic movement. Along with Harnett, Bauer and Singleton, Pedal’s great list of columnists includes Alex Steida, Catharine Pendrel, Svein Tuft and fellow newcomer to the magazine, Raphaël Gagné. Learn more about Harnett at www.curtharnett.ca.
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The best seats to the world’s fastest
CyCling Canada Week Presented by
Mattamy national Cycling Centre 2015 Pan Am Boulevard Milton, ON
Buy your TiCkeTs Today aT hoponCanada.Ca/shop
sept 24-26 Canadian Track Championships Presented by Lexus Canada’s best battle for the coveted red & white stripes
sept 29 – oct 1 Milton International Challenge Team Canada goes head to head against the world’s best
oct 2 Cycling Canada Legends Ride & Hall of Fame Luncheon Ride and celebrate with Canada’s cycling greats
out in front
BY John Swart
Swart’s Swagger Politicians and Cycling – Two Thumbs Up
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e are so lucky to be Canadian cyclists. Our political leaders across the country are intimately attuned to the needs and wants of road racers, sport cyclists, mountain bikers, track aficionados, commuters – basically anyone who rides a pedal-powered two-wheeler and can vote. The Lapine, one of Canada’s most trusted sources for “real news,” stated in an Aug. 4, 2015 pre-election issue: “Liberal leader Justin Trudeau donned Spandex shorts and a Canadian Tire bicycle helmet this morning to unveil a key part of his election platform to reporters. Bicycle-only lanes along the entire 8,030 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway. ‘Highway bike lanes for the middle class have been shamelessly ignored by the Harper government,’ said Trudeau.” If you ask me, there’s a prime minister with his priorities straight! Imagine the tourism boost as tens of thousands of European cycle tourists flock to Canada to ride thrilling sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. However, as they say, when the United States sneezes, Canada catches a cold; so the real question is, who’s better for Canadian cyclists, Trump or Clinton? Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese imports will be good for Canada. If you think the pot growers and exporters in the Kootenays make a lot of money now, imagine the trade they’ll do by sneaking illicit, duty-free Taiwanese bicycles into the U.S. Demand in Portland, Ore. and Seattle, Wash. alone will keep half British Columbia busy riding bicycles across the border, selling them on the black market to urban hipsters, then hitchhiking home. Clinton has been pushed by Sanders to a more enlightened attitude on all things environmental, including bicycles, so she’ll try to repatriate the huge number of jobs lost through NAFTA to bicycle assemblers in Mexico. This would mean more bike production in the U.S., except the Chinese have put Mexican bike manufacturers out
of business too. Net affect on Canadian cyclists, zero. The Wall: Trump’s plan to use IMBA volunteers to build the wall, and pay for it too, could go either way for Canadian mountain bikers. He is likely to freeze the accounts of IMBA Canada, which could hurt trail-building and education here. However, the huge numbers of IMBA members expected to flee to Canada could be a blessing if they get their money into secret off-shore accounts and then spend it in Canada on bikes and gear. Clinton’s more moderate approach to immigration will definitely be a boon to Canadian bike-sharing companies. Her representatives have already initiated talks with Bixi, Motivate and CycleHop Canada to operate fat-tire bike-sharing systems along remote desert and marsh border crossings. The goal here is to reduce the number of discarded bicycles left just inside the U.S. border by returning bikeshare bikes back across the border for re-use. When it comes to fitness, neither candidate is into cycling. Trump likes golf to relax and stay away from the fridge, and Clinton has a personal trainer for early-morning workouts and yoga on the weekend. The nod has to go to Trump, because someone as really smart as he is will soon realize cycling is the new golf. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter which one becomes president. Without any government assistance, competitive American cyclists will undoubtedly continue to provide Canadian riders with free non-stop entertainment – just like streaming Netflix using your friend’s password. What could beat the story of what’s-his-name from Texas; the ups and downs, intrigue and melodrama. Or his teammates George, Tyler, Floyd, Levi to name a few, spinning imaginative yarns that put Russell Peter’s stories to shame. By the way, before you buy new touring panniers, check out The Lapine. It may be a while before those bike lanes on the Trans-Canada are built.
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Join cyclists from around the globe in a closed circuit ride with professional standards for a true “feel like a pro” experience at Canada’s first-ever Velothon! Plus, watch the professionals ride a portion of the Velothon Edmonton course as they compete during the final stage at the UCI 2.1 sanctioned Tour of Alberta presented by ATB Financial. Option to ride Velothon 100 km, Velothon 60 km, or a 5 km family version of the route.
TOUROFALBERTA.CA/VELOTHONEDMONTON
WALES | BERLIN | EDMONTON | STOCKHOLM | STUTTGART
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out in front
by Claire Michaud
Clubs Winnipeg’s Velodonnas Cycling Club
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photos: Velodonnas cycling club
he genesis of Winnipeg’s Velodonna Bike Club dates back to 2003 when Erin Carter, then a member of the National track team, and friends discussed the need for a club just for women. And thus Velodonna was born. “Today, the group counts some 75 members, all of whom hold a Manitoba racing licence of some type. Annual club membership fees are $75. The road-bike season in Winnipeg can extend from late March through October, but by then most of us are doing cyclocross,” explains Velodonna co-founder Karin McSherry. “We are mostly Winnipegers with an age range from 13 to 68, but the average is 43. This is a fun fact,” continues McSherry. “We run the gamut from brand-new to cycling riders to triathletes with a whole range of abilities and fitness levels. ” She further describes the peloton dynamic as being very different when the group is only women. “There is a sense of community and mutual encouragement with no judgment. Women don’t tend to beat each other up. We want to know how to ride, but there is not
(above) Weekly group rides provide a sense of community and mutual encouragement with no judgment. (far left) The club’s Dirt Skirt skill clinics are well attended. (left) Members are interested in becoming good cyclists, not just faster cyclists, yet “we sprint for the town sign like our lives depend on it.”
so much learning when there are men around. As a downside, we do get a bit chatty, which can make us less attentive. But there have been no crashes and our speed slows down a bit.” But not all rides are slow. McSherry mentions “one section of road that we accelerate/sprint to – the Strava segment.” To help its members learn more about bicycling, the club puts on weekly rides and monthly clinics, dealing with such topics as the dirt scene, cornering, sprinting, team time trials, etc. Such clinics typically last for a half-day. “For three years, we went with our Dirt Skirt series of races for road, MTB and XC. For a while, this was very popular, but eventually participation rates went down, so we have not held it this year. Nonetheless, we kept the name for our skill clinics which remain well attended by women who are also interested in special events like the 100km century ride, etc.” As for the weekly group rides, a popular destination is the Grande Pointe loop. “It’s 10km south of Winnipeg and the subdivision loop is 9km. Makes for a nice ride with light traffic, generally. If we want a longer ride, we do more loops, but usually not more than three (close to 50km) as the sun starts to set.” From all of this, there seem to be positive spinoffs within the 26 PEDAL FASHION 2016
cycling community. “Reaction to the club has been all positive in the Manitoba cycling community. Because of our programs, there is an increase in the number of women now registering for cycling events. Velodonna seems to responsible for doubling or tripling registrations for different cycling events across the province.” Still, women competitors remain in the minority at such events. It is unclear how many women learned to ride well with Velodonna before going on to bigger things. One of Canada’s top-ranked woman road cyclists, Leah Kirchmann (riding for Netherlands-based Liv-Plantur), was not involved much with the club, however. “Despite being from Winnipeg, I think she passed through when there was a lull in activities. She did participate in a Dirt Skirt event and we have adopted her.” As an addendum to the question about how women-only rides are different, McSherry provides one last parting shot: “Generally speaking, I have found that women tend to underestimate their ability more than men. So, as a leader of an all-women group, I’m surrounded by people who are eager to learn, ask questions and take instruction. I feel that women are very interested in becoming good cyclists, not just faster cyclists. But, believe me, we sprint for the town sign like our lives depend on it.” www.pedalmag.com
CHAMPIONS’ BREAKAWAY
QUEBEC CITY SEPT 9 /MONTREAL se 1
BRINGING YOU THE WORLD’S GREATEST CYCLING EVENT IN NORTH AMERICA
interview with
Heath Cockburn At the 11
“Sometimes you just have to slam it into ‘The 11’ and go.” In the context of bicycle racing, the preceding statement is synonymous with full commitment – the concept from which “The 11” bike shop emerged.
by Tim Lefevbre
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aunched in early 2015, The 11 Inc. is more of a bicycle retail boutique quickly gaining a reputation in Toronto, Ont. for service and quality when it comes to purchasing top-end equipment, as well as professional bike-fitting, a specialty of owner Heath Cockburn. The shop recently signed on as sponsor of Silber Pro Cycling, one of Canada’s top Continental teams. Pedal Magazine caught up with Cockburn to get the inside scoop on how the business is finding its way. Heath, we love this quote from your site – any bike racer can appreciate the analogy. Please share your philosophy of the store. Heath Cockburn: The 11 is to be the place where cyclists feel most connected to. We want this store to be welcoming, inspiring and a place that you just want to be. We love cycling and want to help people in the best manner possible to ensure they have a great experience and they leave The 11 happy.
photos: The 11
(top) A cool lounge area invites customers to feel comfortable, watch a bike race or enjoy an espresso.
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(facing) The bright and airy new store features merchandise that is displayed in a stylish, attractive format. (left) All aboard... Heath takes a spin on the Miniature Train at CF Shops at Don Mills where the The 11 is located. www.pedalmag.com
Located at The Shops at Don Mills in Toronto, tell us how The 11 Inc. has blossomed in this high-end retail environment. HC: I thought this would be a good location, but, in fact, it is a great location. There are so many things for people to do here – go for lunches, dinners, there’s a train for the kids in the summer, skating in the winter, VIP movie cinemas and a ton of great shops. The fact that it’s also centrally located in Toronto allows our customers to come from many different areas. What brands of bikes has your store chosen to represent? HC: The bikes we carry are Pinarello, Bianchi, Scott, BMC, DeRosa, Look, Factor, Open Cycles and Focus. We understand you have a dedicated team of experts assembled to help with the store? HC: I feel that my staff is probably the best staff in the entire cycling industry. We have experts in many different fields and, most importantly, we work together as a team to just see through common goals, which ensures our customers’ happiness. Bike-fitting has experienced major growth in the industry, and your name is synonymous with expertise in this area. Can you tell us a little about your Radlabor bike-fit system and how you are incorporating it into your business? www.pedalmag.com
HC: The Radlabor is a great tool that we use for anyone who is looking for a new bike. Its vast database has tons of fits and almost every brand of bike in the industry and all of the corresponding geometries, so it is a great tool that we utilize in helping people choose the right bike from the get-go.
Ten personal questions
The bike industry as a whole has experienced strong growth these past few years with the advent of gran fondos, etc. What’s your impression of this, and is it sustainable? HC: As someone who has been riding bikes for the past 30 years, I can tell you I have never seen so many cyclists or bikes on the road. I don’t think that this is from being almost a social app; now any social event I go to, people are always asking about bikes because bikes are cool.
Post-ride drink? Prosecco.
Can you tell us a little about your relationship with the Silber Pro Cycling team this past year? HC: I think the Silber team is the most exciting Canadian cycling team ever. You can easily see the results, and that alone speaks volumes (Matteo Dal-Cin became the first Canadian to win the 32nd annual Redlands Bicycle Classic). However when you speak to the riders, the owners and the staff of the team, you see so much more, so much potential and so much drive and focus, and as a bike rider and a small-business owner, I just feel very, very strongly it is something that we all need to support and see through.
Favourite bike racer? Fausto Coppi. Favourite place to ride? Prince Edward County, where I grew up.
Carbon or titanium? Carbon. Best Ontario Cycling Association race? Strangely, I will answer Effingham, which makes no sense. Hours you get to ride per week? Not enough. Place for a ride one day? Malibu Canyon, California. Tour or Giro? Giro. Best part of the morning? My family and Jet Fuel [Coffee Shop]. In 10 years? Hopefully fitting people, drinking Prosecco and riding my bike . . . maybe not in that order. FASHION 2016 PEDAL 29
(1950 –2016)
jocelyn lovell
The MuhammAd Ali of Cycling by John Symon
Canadian cycling legend Jocelyn Lovell was considered by many as Canada’s first cycling icon. Dubbed the “Muhammad Ali of Cycling” he passed away at age 65 on June 3, the same day as the great boxer. Lovell dominated national road cycling during the 1970s and early 1980s. A member of Team Canada from 1968 to 1983, he amassed 35 national titles along with many international accolades and records that marked his stellar career.
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orn in England, his family moved to Canada in 1954 where he started racing at age 13. Lovell’s first major international success came at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, winning three medals including gold in the 10-mile scratch race to become the first Canadian to win cycling gold at those Games in 32 years. He was selected to the Canadian Olympic Team three times, beginning in 1968 as a teenager at the Mexico City Games where he finished a respectable
seventh in the 1,000m time trial and 26th in the men’s road race. Later, he won gold in the 1,000m time trial at both the 1971 and 1975 Pan-American Games, setting a record for that distance which would stand for 28 years. His greatest success came at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton where he won three golds in record times. Later that year, he won silver in the 1,000m time trial at the UCI Track Worlds in Munich, Germany. His cycling career came to a tragic end after being hit and dragged by a dump truck while training in Milton, Ont., on Aug. 4, 1983; spinal cord injuries left him a quadriplegic. Later he took a leadership role in advocating for research into spinal cord injuries. “Colourful and controversial” are adjectives that suited Jocelyn Lovell well. In 1975 he received the Norton H. Crow Award as Canadian male amateur athlete of the year, and in 1985 he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Lovell married speed skater and competitive cyclist Sylvia Burka in 1981 but they separated; Lovell later married Annie ‘Neil’ Sumner who was with him at the end. In 2014, Lovell appeared in The Fire in the Frame, a movie about legendary frame builder Giuseppe Marinoni, who built bikes for Lovell in the 1970s. The film features an emotional reunification of the two men after many years apart. Marinoni, along with many others, sent Pedal eulogies for their friend. In October 2015, Lovell was among those inducted into the newly established Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton Lovell could not attend the ceremonies but sent this statement: “It is an honour indeed to be included in our first Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame. As I look at the list of accomplishments of all these individuals, wow, it’s all pretty major stuff. And now a sophisticated velodrome, a Hall of Fame, and a place where, finally, Canadian cycling can hang its hat. Fantastic.” Ironically, the Milton Velodrome stands today near the very spot where Lovell had his fateful accident in 1983.
pedalmag.com
CAPTIONS
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Jocelyn Lovell put cycling in Canada on the map. He was an exceptional human being and a kind soul; the contrary of what some who don’t know him believe. [Lovell was] the Muhammad Ali of cycling; a very sensitive man who had to play tough guy to become a champion. – Giuseppe Marinoni, bike manufacturer and UCI world record holder for age 70-plus
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I believe that JL was Canada’s and possibly the world’s best all-round cyclist. He could sprint on the track, beat any comers in a criterium and still win the sprint in any road race you threw at him. He was the ‘Peter Sagan’ of his era, including the gregarious personality! Jos had souplesse like no one I knew. He was truly ‘one with his bike’. When he pedaled, it was like listening to poetry. He was simply an amazing human being. – Alex Stieda, the first North American ever to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey in 1988.
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A hilarious mime, a prankster, a showman, a mentor, an inventor, a perfectionist, a fierce competitor, an outstanding athlete and a friend. But for a very silly incident (The Cookie Caper), Jos was banned from the national team and missed the 1974 New Zealand Commonwealth Games. So he trained hard in Holland and returned to Canada to win almost every event at the 1974 National Championships for both road and track. Ride like the wind, my friend. – Ron Hayman, a two-time Olympic cyclist and seven-time Canadian national champion on road and track
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Jos, you were certainly an innovator with equipment, always ahead of everyone else. Your approach to training and attention to detail was one of the best. Thank you for paving the way for many of us who followed you. P.S. Remember the time in Florida when we snuck away from the group and bought five gallons of chocolate ice cream each? Then sat on the side of the road and ate it all? LOL. It was our little secret. – Gordon Singleton, the first Canadian rider to win a World Championship
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Lovell Collection
The greatest teammate, Jos was motivating and made me race harder than ever. He made me tough and aggressive, and I was there when he called on me to put the hammer down. – Eon D’Ornellas, a two-time Canadian road champion who earned spots at four Olympics, representing either Canada or Guyana
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In racing, Jocelyn’s turn of speed and crafty timing were legendary. His humour was sometimes hilarious, and he also had a brilliant mind for innovation. I am so fortunate to have known you, Jos, and I am proud to reiterate that you taught me everything I know. Godspeed, my friend. – Steve Bauer, an 11-time Tour de France veteran who spent 14 days in yellow
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I’ve recently been described as a ‘rider’s coach.’ For me, Jos was a ‘coach’s rider’ and we became life-long friends. I am sure going to miss him. R.I.P. Jocelyn, Jos, JL, there will never be another YOU. – Barry Lycett, former Olympic coach”
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Cycling Canada
(opposite) Friends and family at the lake for a tribute “L” at Jocelyn Lovell’s Celebration of Life.
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(above) Jocelyn Lovell, dubbed the Muhammed Ali of Cycling, was a superstar for Canada in the 1970s and 80s; he also designed and built over 100 custom bicycles like the Lovell-branded model pictured here with fork-integrated bars, a skill he learned from his friend and master craftsman, Giuseppe Marinoni. (left) Team Canada 1978 Commonwealth Games (l-r) Frank Ludtke (Coach), David Watkins, Erick Oland (Mgr), Eon d’Ornellas, Hugh Walton, Ward Kemerer, Jocelyn Lovell, Martin Cramaro, Pierre Harvey, Louis Garneau, Normand St-Aubin, Ron Hayman, Norman Sheil (Coach); (front l-r): Steve Bauer, Gord Singleton, Peter Suderman. FASHION 2016 PEDAL 31
Peter Kraiker
Canada’s Cycling and Para-cycling Teams for Rio 2016
In June, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced the riders who will represent Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from Aug. 5-21, as well as the team for the Paralympic Games from Sept. 7-18. by John Symon
On June 29 Team Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic cycling teams were announced during the Criterium races at the Road Nationals with some of the athletes on hand for the presentation. (standing l-r) Isabelle Charest (Assistant Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Games), Denise Kelly (Team Canada Coach), Jacques Landry (High Performance Director/Head Coach, Cycling Canada), Mike Woods, Kirsti Lay, Georgia Simmerling, Jasmin Glaesser, Allison Beveridge, Laura Brown, Tara Whitten, Marie-Ève Croteau, Marie-Claude Molnar (front l-r) Charles Moreau, Karen O’Neill (CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee) 32 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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total entourage of more than 315 Canadian athletes is heading to Rio, Brazil, and 19 cyclists will be part of the Games, including Olympic medalists Tara Whitten and Jasmin Glaesser, as well as returning London 2012 team members Catharine Pendrel, Emily Batty, Laura Brown, Tory Nyhaug and Monique Sullivan. The team also includes Georgia Simmerling, who competed in alpine skiing at Vancouver 2010 and in ski cross at Sochi 2014. She looks to become the first Canadian athlete to compete in a different sport at each of three Olympic Games. “We have proven ourselves to be contenders for the top step of the podium at every competition we have attended since London 2012, and I fully expect us to be ready to challenge for the gold in Rio,” said Glaesser, an Olympic bronze medalist in the women’s Team Pursuit at London 2012. Pendrel, a two-time MTB Worlds champion, is also looking forward to battling for the medals. “I am really excited to represent Canada for a third time at the Olympic Games. I am always proud to wear the Maple Leaf, and will do my best to put it on the podium where it belongs,” she commented. www.pedalmag.com
Canadian Olympic team and events
“I’m very proud of what our athletes, coaches and staff have achieved in securing the highest number of Olympic quota spots for cycling in recent years. I am confident that we have the systems and processes in place that will put our cyclists in the best possible position to generate top Olympic performances,” said Jacques Landry, high-performance director and head coach. The legendary Curt Harnett, Team Canada’s chef de mission for Rio 2016, added, “Cycling is obviously a sport that is close to my heart. We are incredibly lucky to have medal potential across the board. This group has a wide range of experienced athletes – some who have stood on the podium at every level in international events.” Canada’s para-cycling team consists of six men and six women, including two medalists from the London 2012 Paralympic Games and five riders with Paralympic Games experience, along with four world champions. Veteran cyclists Daniel Chalifour, Marie-Ève Croteau, Shelley Gautier, Marie-Claude Molnar and Robbi Weldon all competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Weldon won gold in the road race, while Molnar won bronze in the time trial. In 2012, Weldon, a blind tandem cyclist, was paired with Lyne Bessette; this year, Weldon’s pilot is former pro rider and national team member Audrey Lemieux. National Team rookie and world champion Tristen Chernove has taken the para-cycling world by storm this year with double gold at the World Track Championships in March and two victories at the World Cup road event in Belgium in May. The four world champions on the team are Chernove, Weldon, Gautier and Croteau. Para-cycling is one of 22 summer sports on the Paralympic Games schedule for athletes with disabilities that include visual impairments, arm and leg amputations or cerebral palsy. The para-cycling track events occur Sept. 8-11 and the road events Sept. 14-17. In total, Canada is sending approximately 155 paralympian athletes to Rio. “Canada is fielding a large and accomplished team in para-cycling, and we have a solid core of veterans to lead the way, along with talented newcomers,” said Chantal Petitclerc, Canada’s chef de mission for the Paralympic Games. On hand for the announcement was The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all national sport federations. www.pedalmag.com
TEAM Track Cycling Hugo Barrette (Îles de la Madeleine, Que.) Allison Beveridge (Calgary, Alta.) Laura Brown (Vancouver, B.C.) Jasmin Glaesser (Vancouver, B.C.) Kirsti Lay (Montreal, Que.) Kate O’Brien (Calgary, Alta.) Georgia Simmerling (West Vancouver, B.C.) Monique Sullivan (Calgary, Alta.) Mountain Bike Emily Batty (Brooklin,Ont.) Léandre Bouchard (Alma, Que.) Raphaël Gagné (Québec City, Que.) Catharine Pendrel (Kamloops, B.C.) Road Cycling Karol-Ann Canuel (Gatineau, Que.) Antoine Duchesne (Chicoutimi, Que.) Hugo Houle (Ste-Perpétue, Que.) Leah Kirchmann (Winnipeg, Man.) Tara Whitten (Calgary, Alta.) Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ont.) BMX Tory Nyhaug (Coquitlam, B.C.)
EVENTS Road Cycling Men’s Road Race – Aug 6 Women’s Road Race – Aug 7 Men’s Time Trial – Aug 10 Women’s Time Trial – Aug 10 Track Cycling Men’s Team Sprint – Aug 11 Men’s Team Pursuit – Aug 11, 12 Women’s Team Pursuit – Aug 11,13 Women’s Team Sprint – Aug 12 Men’s Sprint – Aug 12-14 Women’s Keirin – Aug 13 Men’s Omnium – Aug 14-15 Women’s Sprint – Aug 14-16 Women’s Omnium – Aug 15-16 Men’s Keirin – Aug 16 BMX Men’s BMX – Aug 17, 18, 19 Women’s BMX – Aug 17,19 Mountain Biking Women’s Cross-country – Aug 20 Men’s Cross-country – Aug 21
Coaches Track, Endurance: Craig Griffin (Milton, Ont.) Track, Sprint: Erin Hartwell (Hamilton, Ont.) Road, Women: Denise Kelly (Smithers, B.C.) Head Coach: Jacques Landry (Ottawa, Ont.) BMX: Adam Muys (Maple Ridge, B.C.) Mountain Bike: Dan Proulx (Victoria, B.C.) BMX: Pierre-Henri Sauze (Cavaillon, France) Team Leader: Kris Westwood (Ottawa, Ont.)
Canadian Paralympic team and events TEAM MEN Daniel Chalifour (Ste-Thérèse, Que.) Tristen Chernove (Cranbrook, B.C.) Jean-Michel Lachance (Quebec City): pilot for Daniel Chalifour Charles Moreau (Victoriaville, Que.) Michael Sametz (Calgary, Alta.) Ross Wilson (Edmonton, Alta.) WOMEN Nicole Clermont (Laval, Que.) Marie-Ève Croteau (Quebec City) Shelley Gautier (Toronto, Ont.) Audrey Lemieux (Alma, Que.): pilot for Robbi Weldon Marie-Claude Molnar (Lemoyne, Que.) Robbi Weldon (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
EVENTS Para EVENTS Road Cycling Time Trial Women – Sept 14 Time Trial Men – Sept 14 Road Race Women – Sept 15-17 Road Race Men – Sept 15-17 Mixed Team Relay – Sept 16 Track Cycling Individual Pursuit Men – Sept 8-11 Individual Pursuit Women – Sept 8-11 Women’s Individual Kilo – Sept 9 Men’s Individual Kilo – Sept 9-11 Women’s Individual 500m – Sept 10 Mixed Team Sprint – Sept 11
Coaches Head Coach Sébastien Travers (Bromont, Que.) Eric Van den Eynde (Longueuil, Que.) Cam Jennings (Edmonton, Alta.). FASHION 2016 PEDAL 33
iN cycLiNg
More and more women are getting on bikes and joining forces to form clubs, associations and race series, including female-owned bike shops. This year, Pedal profiles Nora Young, a pioneer of cycling and other sports as well including hockey and javelin throwing. Young’s cycling heydays were back in the 1930s and early 40s where she excelled on dirt roads, highway and indoor velodromes. Plus we look at female-driven cycling initiatives along with women’s bike tests. 34 PEDAL fashion 2016
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fast and female
fast and female Fast and Female is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2005 by a young Canadian ski racer from Canmore, Alta. named Chandra Crawford, who went on to win Olympic gold at Torino 2006, and led in the U.S. by Kikkan Randall, a four-time Olympian and world champion. Collaborating since 2008, Fast and Female has grown to reach more than 3,000 girls aged eight to 18 annually. More than 250 athlete ambassadors and sports American star Kikkan Randall, who heads up experts (without whom events would not be posU.S.A, operations, and Fast sible) have joined, and all are volunteers. In 2015, and Female founder Chandra Fast and Female hosted 50 events all over North Crawford. America, with ambassadors from 25 different sports. Fast and Female’s mission is to keep girls healthy, happy and active in sports throughout their teens. This mission is actionable and measurable, thanks to past participant surveys. The dream is that girls remain active at least through their teens. This provides them with leadership skills and a foundation to be healthy and active for the rest of their lives. Fast and Female hosts fun-filled, non-competitive events all over North-America. The events come in two formats: Champ Chat (three to four hours) and Summit (eight hours). Champ Chats are steered by Fast and Female event coordinators and athlete ambassadors. To learn more about Fast and Female, become an athlete ambassador (if you are a National-level or Elite athlete), or to inquire about sponsoring one of its events, drop a line to info@fastandfemale.com or visit www.fastandfemale.com.
marin
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The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders. CAAWS provides a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, health professionals and recreation leaders. Renowned olympian Since 1981, CAAWS has worked in close co-opera- Clara hughes receives the prestigious meritorition with government and non-government organizaous Service Cross (Civil tions on activities and initiatives, advocating for sport division) from Governor and physical activity systems that are equal and fair General david Johnston. for girls and women. CAAWS also compiles a list of “Canada’s Most Influential Women” who have demonstrated their influence in all roles of sport and physical activity. Examples are Karen O’Neill, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, who are role models for future generations. Other categories include “Ones to Watch” and “Wall of Influence Inductees”, such as former Olympic cyclist Clara Hughes and former para-cyclist and wheelchair athlete Chantal Peticlerc. CAAWS offers many other programs, workshops, seminars, awards, grants and bursaries including various publications designed to educate and promote the advancement of women in sport. With multiple community partnerships both local and national, the organization has created a unique platform to service the many facets of women’s needs and aspirations in sport and beyond.
Courtesy of Clara’s big ride
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Canadian sports pioneer
Nora young
Photos courtesy of freewheeling
(1917-2016)
Cycling, in fact all of Canadian sports, lost a true pioneer on March 26, 2016 with the passing of Nora Young at the tender age of 98. It’s become a bit of a cliché to say some people have a full life, but if anyone exceeded that description, it was Young. by William Humber
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he spent the last part of her life golfing at her Wilmot Creek retirement residence near Bowmanville, Ont., but her competitive days were largely spent growing up in Fort William, Ont., now Thunder Bay, and then, for most of her life, in Toronto. Her accomplishments were extraordinary: basketball with the Montgomery Maids; professional hockey throughout Canada, including one memorable encounter with Eddie Shore’s Boston Bruins in western Canada in the 1930’s; softball at the famed Sunnyside Stadium by Lake Ontario; and javelin throwing – just some of the sports in which she excelled. And she was a mean (and I mean that in a good way!) card player, according to her friends at Wilmot Creek, where her competitive juices might be washed down with her favourite gin and tonic. But it was cycling in which she made her biggest mark and which she enwww.pedalmag.com
joyed well into her eighties. At her funeral, a wonderful eulogy was read by one of Young’s many friends, Laura Robinson. “In the early 1980’s, we had a meeting of the women’s section of the Ontario Cycling Young, third from the left, at the Association [OCA],” says Robinson. “We start of a women’s race held at were all brash young women until this older the Broadview Boys’ Fall Fair in Toronto in 1936. lady appeared, asking if this was the meet(l-r) marj Ward, nora Young and ing of the OCA. We humoured her (which Betty Craddock at a special race never went over well with Nora) and asked if for women held during the 1936 she meant the Ontario Curling Association. men’s six-day race in Toronto’s maple Leaf Gardens. Now it was her turn to humour us. ‘No,’ – I recall her saying somewhat disdainfully – ‘the Cycling Association, isn’t that what you’re here for!’ “Only as I got to know Nora did the fullness of her past become apparent, and yet there was so much more to come,” says Robinson, author of Great Girls: Profiles of Awesome Canadian Athletes. Young had distinguished herself almost 50 years before the OCA meeting in Toronto with trailblazing success on dirt roads, highways and indoor velodromes. On one of the latter surfaces she competed as an amateur, but it was on the same card as some Professional races. Though not part of those events, she was nevertheless suspended for a brief period by the officious and undoubtedly misogynist Ontario officials of the Canadian Wheelman’s Association, for whom a female rider was outside of their small-world purview. It didn’t stop Young however, as her athleticism was just unfolding. She might have made a great auto racer. During the Second World War while stationed in Europe, she drove top generals around at breakneck speeds in Army-issued jeeps. I first met Young around the same time that Robinson did, and fortunately never made a faux pas in addressing her obvious sporting talent. In my favour was her participation in a World’s Masters competition in Toronto, in which, of course, she triumphed in the women’s age-group cycling events and even surpassed times of women younger than her late-sixties age. Over the years, we’d meet occasionally, as she had a wealth of stories and information on Canada’s sporting past. I’ve often thought it a shame that her athletic peak was in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, when following the Berlin Summer Olympics of 1936, we would not see another Summer Games until those in London, England in 1948, and thus she lost what was perhaps her best chance for Olympic stardom and a greater public notoriety than even that afforded by her long and glorious career in sports. Cyclists, softball stars from the sport’s remarkable years and even her fellow card players all attended her funeral. We were treated to a documentary on the making of Young by Julia Morgan, which everyone hopes will one day find a supportive media agency, though in a quiet moment, Morgan bemoaned the tendency of such agencies, even the CBC, to show little interest in stories about “old people.” Morgan possibly had the best description of the day: “It takes a village to celebrate Nora.” How true, how true! Now if there’s a media group with an ounce of imagination, jump on this story, for it’s not about people of a certain age, but about humans pursuing excellence regardless of time. (clockwise from far left) nora Young and Bill Trempe, a prominent cyclist in the 1930s, at the 1985 masters Games.
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fashion 2016 PEDAL 37
BIKE TEST
Bianchi Intenso Dama Ultegra by Ashley Barson
the ride Bianchi’s Intenso Dama with Ultegra takes to the pavement with Italian design and style, while delivering a top-performing bicycle for women. With its renowned celeste colour combined with matching bar tape, the look is stunning. But don’t be fooled by its classy look, as the Intenso Dama is a workhorse designed with women’s endurance-road bike geometry, ready for any distance and road surface you throw at it. To accomplish what is known in the bike world as “compliance,” Bianchi uses BAT (Bianchi Active Technology) and K-Vid (Kevlar Vibration Isolation Device) in various key areas of the frame. It is always a fine balance to design a bicycle with enough stiffness to deliver the best possible power transfer while maintaining rider comfort, and Bianchi gets two thumbs up in this department. The Intenso Dama has an external threaded bottom bracket, which is somewhat unique in the marketplace, offering several performance benefits that most would agree outweigh any style points given up. While offering a greater range of compatible cranksets for potential future upgrades, this style of bottom bracket can easily be serviced by any mechanic or even at home if you have the right standard tools. In my testing, I found the bottom bracket plenty stiff, making power transfers on the bike very quick, with smooth acceleration. The Shimano Ultegra 6800 groupset is a great fit for this bike and it performs flawlessly on all terrain. One thing to note is that the crank is a step down to a Shimano RS500, with compact 50/34T gearing that is appropriate for riders new to the sport or those desiring more challenging terrain. And, as said before, the crankset may be something to consider upgrading down the road. 38 PEDAL FASHION 2016
The first time I got out on the road on the Intenso Dama, I was pleasantly surprised with the way the bike handled. When cornering, the bike immediately responded and required minimal effort to make turns. At the same time, it does not feel overly responsive, like that of a Professional racer’s set-up. To me, this was the perfect performance blend, given what this geometry is designed to accommodate. One important ergonomic feature I noticed immediately was the appropriately proportioned handlebar for women, which, again, will affect the rider’s handling and overall long-term comfort. Another huge challenge that any cyclist can relate to is finding the right saddle. In this case, Bianchi has delivered an immediate solution, taking care of its female riders right out of the box with the Selle San Marco Era Startup Glamour Open saddle. If you plan on doing a lot of climbing, you might also consider something lighter than the stock Fulcrum Racing Sport wheelset. For some, shedding weight is the name of the game and wheel upgrades are worth a look when the time is right. Ultimately the Intenso Dama offers a great package and is well worth adding to your list. When you purchase a Bianchi, you’ll own a signature piece of true Italian passion for the sport of cycling, even more special as the company is celebrating its 125th year as the world’s oldest bicycling manufacturer that’s still in existence today. Whether bold or subtle, the iconic celeste bike colour that we all know as Bianchi will forever remain amongst the top pedigree of cycling machines in the sport. The Bianchi Intenso Dama’s SRP is $3,999.99. www.bianchicanada.com www.pedalmag.com
BIKE TEST
Felt Verza-e 30 S by Linda Shin
the ride The electric-bike industry has been booming, allowing for more options than ever for any type of rider. From commuter bikes to performance lines in road and mountain, e-bikes offer a new freedom to ride with more speed and distance with less effort. I was excited for the opportunity to test-ride the Felt Verza-e on my regular commute to work. Inspired by classic European city bikes, the Verza-e is a stylish commuter with many bells and whistles. The bike features a step-thru design for easy mounting, a well-padded gel saddle and suspension fork with just enough squish to make for a comfy ride. With four different pedal-assist levels, riders have various boost options from Eco, Tour, Sport or Turbo with a top speed of 32kph, or ride the bike with the motor off, but then what’s the point? I couldn’t help myself and kept the Turbo on at all times with an average speed that was about the same as my usual commute on my carbon cross bike – it was a lot easier to ride 30kph with a lot less exertion. My goal was to not break a sweat, yet cruise at a nice easy effort. I did glisten a bit with the hot and humid summer temperatures, but the strong headwind felt cool and refreshing as I motored along in a very non-aero upright position. I couldn’t help but grin and give a polite greeting as I passed other commuters on road bikes. I was not surprised to see quality components on a Felt bike: Shimano Deore 10-speed cassette and derailleur, Magura hydraulic brakes, comfy ergo grips, Suntour suspension fork and Schwalbe tires. I would even go so far as to say that the bike is “fully loaded,” with its digital display, left-hand display control, rear rack, full fenders, integrated LED front and rear lights, rear-wheel café lock, a bell and a sturdy kickstand. The only thing missing is a bottle cage mount, which was a little surprising as there’s plenty of room on the downtube and seat-tube with its step-thru www.pedalmag.com
frame design. I would even love to see a coffee-mug holder off the handlebars to make for a true commuter dream bike. On any of the boost levels, the instant acceleration was impressive with minimal effort. I especially noticed the pedal assist on hills. Once I started to coast, the motor backed off, but quickly kicked in again once I started to pedal. The 1x10 drivetrain allows for plenty of gear options, but with the electric assist, I was only using the top gears. The Bosch eDrive system is center-mounted by the cranks to provide evenweight distribution for stability. The removable lithium battery sits under the rear rack, and I especially like that you can charge the battery without taking it off the rack. The battery ranges from 50 to 110 kilometres depending on which boost level it’s set on, and takes 3.5 hours to fully charge. The controls are simple and easy to use, scrolling through options with the handlebar-mount control. The display features an odometer, assist levels, battery life, distance range, clock, trip time, and max and average speeds. I love that the LED lights are a standard feature and powered by the battery. I was able to flip the lights on with a push of a button on the display. One thing to keep in mind is that e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes for obvious reasons. The Verza-e tips the scales at a hefty 55 pounds and was a bit of a challenge to get into the back of my compact SUV. But okay, I’m also a weight-weenie, so anything more than 20 pounds feels heavy. A hitch bike rack would be ideal for transport for a ride like this. At $3,999 SRP, the Verza-e offers comfort and utility with many features and is a great alternative mode of transportation, whether you’re cruising around town or commuting to work. www.feltbicycles.com/Canada.aspx FASHION 2016 PEDAL 39
#HOPONCANADA DROP EVERYTHING. EVEN DOUBT.
Become part of a leading cycling nation. Ride. Cheer. Support. HopOnCanada.ca
BY John SYmon And JACK CRACKER
fAshioN guiDE 2016
B:11”
S:10”
T:10.75”
Biemme’s Poison short sleeved-jersey for men is made with anti-bacterial Coolmax Carbonio fabric along with Lycra side panels and full covered zipper plus three rear pockets and a side pocket with zipper and reflective cover. $149 www.pedalmag.com
fashion 2016 PEDAL 41
FASHION GUIDE 2016
Castelli’s Free Aero Race Bib Shorts for women feature an aerodynamic fit, muscle support, flat-lock stitching and new improved women’s-specific Progetto X2 Air Donna seat pad for comfort plus GiroAir mesh-like leg elastic gripper for a great fit. $239.99 42 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Garneau’s Stella Top for women features asymmetric stitching and Icefil technology to help keep temperatures down while efficiently turning natural sweat into a cooling agent. Comes with front and back reflective accents. $69.99
● Sportful’s Hot Pack 5 Jacket offers the perfect mix of wind protection, water resistance, breathability and light weight packability. Features Schoeller® NanoSphere® water-repellent fabric, dual cuff, high collar and rear ventilation. $129.99 ● Sugoi’s RSE Bib Shorts are high performance, durable and light weight with 4-way stretch woven Squall fabric and proprietary Formula FXE chamois technology along with 3d molded shaping plus fused silicone leg grippers. $250 www.pedalmag.com
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Biemme’s Italia Bib Shorts for men feature Lycra 210 gram fabric, carbon composite leg grippers, parachute-style straps with mesh inserts and a BRT gel pad. Available in XS to 4XL. $159. ● Sugoi’s RPM Jersey features a relaxed fit and Active Melange technical fabric for optimal performance with wicking properties to keep you dry and comfortable, plus three back pockets and a chest pocket allow for easy storage. $70. ● Gore’s Element GT AS Lady’s Jacket features zip tags for easy opening, adjustable cuffs, Velcro fastening for separate hood, two front zip pockets along with reflective accents. $279.99
● Parentini’s Gilet K-Dry Elastic Vest is windproof and waterproof made with 100% Poliamide 2-way stretch fabric that is light and breathable and also compacts into a small size to carry as needed. $150.
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
Garneau’s Course Race 2 Bib shorts are optimized for summer riding with ColdblackŽ technology that offers superb temperature control plus their patented 5Motion chamois features multi-directional movement for superb comfort. $249.99 www.pedalmag.com
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
Sportful’s Bodyfit Pro Team Jersey is aerodynamic and made with lightweight Kontatto 100% polyester Multibava fabric featuring excellent stretch and wicking along with full-length zipper and spacious pockets. $119.99. The Bodyfit Bib Shorts offer exceptional anatomic fit with AeroFlow Compress fabric and plush TC Pro pad for total comfort along with perforated lie-flat bib straps for excellent support, comfort and ventilation. Both tested by Pro Team Tinkoff. $199.99. 46 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Garneau W’s Stunner RTR jersey is part of the #Reclaimtheroad collection and features moisture-wicking, antibacterial fabrics for cool comfort along with fitted shoulders, laser-finished arm hems and reflective trim. $199.99
● Parentini’s Tiger.2 Bib Shorts are re-designed with Granfondo Light fabric that offers a polyester/polyamide/lycra mix for better temperature control and comfort, and a more durable thermal taping bonding system. $340 ● Castelli’s Climber W Jersey is ideal for all conditions with lightweight Flusso 3D fabric on front and shoulders to help keep you dry and StradaPro 3D fabric on back with UPF 16 protection plus 3/4-length zip and three rear pockets $149.99 www.pedalmag.com
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Sugoi’’s RS Zap Jacket is a pro-fit, breathable, thermal training jacket, with full garment illumination. The fabric is designed to be visible from 140 meters, producing a “silhouette effect” so motorists can identify a cyclist in motion. $160. ● The Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Lady+ shorts offer abrasion-resistant material on the inside leg and saddle area, with shifted seams for less chafing, Xenon women’s seat insert plus a hem with wide gripper elastic and reflective accents. $189.99 ● Garneau’s Icefit Jersey keeps heat at bay with cooling mesh and Icefil fabric plus silicon gripper to keep the jersey in place. The full-length front zip allows for easy adjustment while you enjoy your ride. $94.99. 48 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
REPOUR Fashion
Parentini’s P. Trentasei Jersey is made with light weight, abrasion-resistant Multibava Polyester fabric that features a non-run structure for improved aerodynamics along with mesh sleeves for breathability plus a hidden zip. $190 The matching P. Trentasei Race.2 bib shorts feature high performance fabrics with aerodynamic fit, muscular support and elasticity along with thermal tape bonding system and new elastic band at the end of the legs. $259 www.pedalmag.com
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Sportful’s Fiandre Light No-Rain SS jacket/vest offers 4-way stretch, wind protection and breathable NoRain Light fabric with rain resistant back, zippered openings for access to pockets plus reflective heat transfer strips. Tested by Pro Team Tinkoff. $199.99 ● Castelli’s Omloop Thermal Bib Short was inspired by Cervélo Test Team rider Jeremy Hunt and features Thermoflex fabric for warmth, stretch and breathability, seat pad for long-distance comfort, mesh bib straps and reflective strips. $229.99 ● Biemme’s Sharp Jersey for women features a full zip, Phoenix Interlock fabric on front and collar, side panels and sleeves in Avatar mesh, back in Micropallino fabric with double side opening rear pocket. $139 50 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
Sugoi’s RSE Jersey (Directoire Blue) is made with ultra-lightweight, premium 4-way stretch TI Grid Lite fabric for optimal moisture management and breathability plus a waterproof media pocket. $230 www.pedalmag.com
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
Garneau’s Derby Shorts are made with a tough denim-like outer fabric and feature detachable inner shorts with built-in chamois and powerband for superior comfort, plus two front pockets and one at the back for storage. $129.99. 52 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Impac’s Vapor Rain Shell for commuters features a stylish tartan outer shell that is light weight, waterproof and easily packable plus seam-taped shell, vented armpits, long drop tail with zippered rear storage pocket and reflective bands. $65.98. ● Club Ride’s Pipeline pants feature 2-way stretch, quick-drying, water/abrasion-resistant fabric with body armor-friendly reinforced leg opening, UV protection, side storage and venting pockets plus reflective accents. $109.99 ● Sombrio’s Shore Shirt epitomizes an all-in-a-day philosophy from your morning meeting, to your lunch break ride, to postwork drinks and can be paired with their Lowline Shorts for a versatile kit. $85 www.pedalmag.com
FASHION 2016 PEDAL 53
FASHION GUIDE 2016
● Sombrio’s Smuggle Bib Liner features strategic mesh paneling for maximum breathability, premium Formula FX chamois with triple density construction and Poron for ultimate vibration dampening, plus zippered storage. $135 ● Garneau’s Factory shirt is soft against the skin and capable of wicking moisture away from the body while keeping you cool on warm days. Features mesh sections under the arms with two pockets on the front. $89.99. ● Club Ride’s Wheel Cute Women’s Jersey features a sport fit and is made from lightweight, wicking, quick-drying burnout fabric, that offers UPF 20 UV protection and RideLight reflective accents. $54.99 54 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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BikePacking The New Rage in Cycling photos and story by Mike Sarnecki
56 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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Crossing Nihahi Creek near the Little Elbow River in Kananaskis Country
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FASHION 2016 PEDAL 57
REPOUR
Coupled with the growth of fatbikes and the versatility they provide, bike packing has exploded in popularity, as it is a fun and rewarding way to experience Nature by bike.
I
n the simplest terms, bikepacking is a combination of backcountry hiking and mountain biking. Fundamentally, there is little difference between traditional touring by bike and bikepacking, as both achieve the same objective: carrying gear and supplies for a self-sufficient trip. With the emergence of bicycle-specific bags (frame, seat-tube, toptube and handlebar) designed to carry gear in line with the center of the bike, gear no longer hangs off of the bike as it does with a traditional pannier set-up, and the centering of the load makes it more conducive to off-road pursuits. Coupled with the growth of fatbikes and the versatility they provide, bikepacking has exploded in popularity, as it is a fun, rewarding way to experience Nature by bike. I had a chance to head out and experience the great outdoors on a couple of overnighter trips, and I can’t wait to get back out there. Here is the lowdown . . .
The Route
(above) Camp is set up...life is good. (left) A proper campfire always lifts Mike’s mood. (facing top) Mike Sarnecki (l) and James Turkington...smiles for miles with the spectacular backdrop of the Rocky Mountains
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Similar to backcountry hiking, bike camping allows you the freedom to go further into Nature, off the beaten path, with the efficiency of the bicycle. Where to go? Anywhere really! Overnight, multi-day, multi-week – the possibilities are endless with bikepacking. Singletrack, dirt roads, gravel or pavement; it is all fair game to add to your plan. What is most important is a good route, and choosing the right route is not as difficult as you might think. It doesn’t need to be an epic loop to be enjoyable. In fact, my two overnight trips had drastically different routes, and I prefer the mellow one, as it delivered a much more enjoyable experience. For the first trip, my riding buddy and I chose the incredibly scenic route of Mist Ridge in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary, Alta., up the mountain along the ridgeline. It made for day-long spectacular views, however the trail was tough to navigate with the conditions and all the gear, and left us with www.pedalmag.com
little time at the end of the day. Conversely, my second outing along the Little Elbow Trail in Kananaskis Country was much more enjoyable, as we kept it shorter and less epic to ensure that we had adequate camp time to enjoy the entire experience.
The Gear There are a few basic necessities required to camp overnight: food, shelter, water and clothing, along with the bags to carry everything comfortably on the bike. A bikepacking trip can be accomplished with a simple backpack filled with gear, however, investing in a bike-specific bag makes carrying the load for your trip much more enjoyable (and easier on your back). A frame bag that sits between the downtube, seat-tube and toptube is an excellent place to pack heavy items such as food and cooking equipment. The handlebar roll is perfect for lighter weight items such as a sleep system and shelter (lightweight tent or bivy), and the seat bag is great for food, extra clothes and a repair kit. A backpack that can hold a bladder for water and jacket is also required for most, as I found it near impossible to carry absolutely everything on my bike. For your sleep system, striking a balance between weight, bulk and func-
tionality is the trick. You need a sleeping bag that is warm enough for the region in which you are sleeping, while being as light and as packable as possible. A down-filled bag is the way to go, as it is warm, light and compressible. The overnight-temperature low will dictate the amount of fill and bulk you will require. For my trips, I chose a Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag that packed up into a very small package and weighed less than 500g. Providing the cushion and warmth between you and the ground is a sleeping pad. There are many options out there, with the choice of insulated or non-insulated. How well you sleep on hard surfaces will guide the decision on which sleeping pad. If you can sleep anywhere on any surface, you can probably go pretty minimal. If, like me, you need some comfort to get shut-eye, you’ll need something a little heavier and bulkier to meet that need. My Big Agnes Q Core SL strikes the perfect compromise, as it is thick and warm enough to sleep on, yet light and compact enough to carry. Food is a choice of personal preference, and there is a lot of pre-packaged backcountry food to choose from. All that is required is the addition of some hot water from a lightweight backpacking stove. The ability to boil water is key, as it enables you to make great mountain coffee when you find room to pack along coffee-making equipment. With plenty of streams nearby, water treatment equipment is a must, and the Camelbak All Clear Water purifier provided a simple and quick way to treat water with its UV lamp, zapping the DNA of bacteria, viruses and protozoa, making them harmless. Wool is a must for clothes: socks, shirts, underwear, etc., as it will keep you warm even when it is wet. Camp shoes are a nice luxury to have and an extra pair of socks is a must.
The Experience Bikepacking is a great way to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Whether it is a week-long journey over your summer holidays or just a quick weekend overnighter, there is something for everyone with bikepacking. With careful gear selection balancing the minimum amount of gear required for the trip with a few extra comforts to add to the experience (think whiskey, rum, chocolate and coffee), bikepacking can quickly become your go-to outdoor pursuit for all four seasons. The serenity of Nature provides an excellent backdrop to reconnect with good friends or to be alone with your thoughts. Bikepacking has something special to offer for everyone – it’s time to hit the trails!
Gear List (clockwise from bottom left) Camp shoes
Mini butane torch
Giro insulated vest
Battery
First Aid kit
iPhone 6 Plus
Porcelain Rocket frame bag for Salsa Beargrease
Hydrapak stash collapsible bottle
ExPed compression dry bag for sleep system
Revelate Designs harness
45NRTH wool T-shirt
Serfas handlebar light
Camelbak UV bottle
Saw
Patagonia Nano-puff pants
Bear spray
MEC basecamp pillow
Rogue Panda Designs Alamo toptube bag
Long underwear (wool)
OR dry bag
Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag
Pearl Izumi rain jacket
Oveja Negra seatbag Camelbak Charge pack Salsa Titanium mug MSR Carbon Reflex tent Jetboil stove with extra fuel Salsa trucker cap
OR primaloft jacket Flask (rum) Bug spray toothpaste and toothbrush Aeropress coffeemaker with stainless-steel burr grinder
Big Agnes Q-Core SL sleep pad www.pedalmag.com
FASHION 2016 PEDAL 59
PREVIEW
Tour of Alberta by Chris Redden
• Edmonton •
Drayton Valley
• Rocky Mountain House
• Olds • Kananaskis • Lethbridge
T
The Tour of Alberta offers a variety of opportunities to showcase the province and feature its diverse landscapes. The race has succeeded in doing this, as well as drawing some of the top teams in the world. The fourth edition of Tour of Alberta presented by ATB will be held from Sept. 1-5 and take riders to some new parts of the province they’ve not raced on before. Covering 606 kilometres in total distance it consists of five stages this year.
he first stage is a 106.9km circuit race through the City of Lethbridge on Sept. 1. The race used this circuit two years ago and the 11.7km loop proved to be challenging, with a steep climb out of the river valley and a chance for riders to break away from the pack. Stage Two on Sept. 2 is a new stage route that runs for 182 kilometres from Kananaskis to Olds. The stage starts in a provincial park at the base of the Rockies and goes up the event’s largest climb before rolling up to Olds. The third stage on Sept. 3 starts in Rocky Mountain House and proceeds for 181 kilometres on mostly flat roads to finish in Drayton Valley. This stage features seven kilometres of gravel roads, the only ones in this year’s race, and will most likely end in a sprint finish. The Tour then heads to Edmonton for Stage Four on Sept. 4 for the Individual Time Trial. The 12.1km ITT will be a critical stage that gives time-trial specialists a chance to gain valuable time. This course uses part of the province’s ITU World Triathalon course as well. The fifth and final stage on Sept. 5 is a 124km event that runs 11 laps of an 11.9km circuit. The race could be decided on this stage, as it features a 10-second time bonus to the winner. Once again the top teams in the world are coming to Alberta, this time to test their post-Olympic fitness. WorldTour Team Trek-Segafredo, the squad of 2015 defending champ Bauke Mollema, will be looking to keep the title. Fans will be excited to cheer on Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal who rides for Team Trek-Segafredo and this will be one of his last races before retiring. Cannondale Pro Cycling is the second WorldTour team on the start line and will be looking for the title as well.
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The other nine teams include top Pro Continental squad UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA) and Continental teams including Silber Pro Cycling (CAN) and H&R Block Pro Cycling (CAN), Jelly Belly presented by Maxxis (USA), Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear (USA), Rally Cycling (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (USA), Lupus Racing Team (USA) and SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team (UAE), the first Professional team from United Arab Emirates. Jelly Belly presented by Maxxis will be bringing up-and-comer Canadian Jordan Cheyne, while Rally Cycling has Canadians Will Routley and Rob Britton on its roster, with Team Silber and H&R Block also having a strong contingent of Canadian riders. New for this year is Velothon Edmonton, which is the newest addition to the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) Velothon Majors circuit. This unique mass-participation event hosted in “cycle-iconic cities worldwide” will be hosted on Sept. 5 in Edmonton. The Velothon aims to create premier urban-cycling events in major cities around the globe, including Wales, Berlin, Stockholm, Stuttgart – and now Edmonton. It enables fans of the sport to experience “the Pro feeling.” Participants in Edmonton can anticipate closed roads, feed stations, full support and announcing by the (opposite) Tour of Alberta same Professional emcees of the Tour of Alberta as presented by ATB Financial a part of the Professional standards and “Pro ex- will see the world’s best perience.” Riders cover a 20km loop in either the cyclists race across the spectacular Alberta landscape 60km or 100km event. For more information on throughout the five-day stage race. the Tour of Alberta visit www.tourofalberta.ca. www.pedalmag.com
Tour of Alberta/Jonathan Devich
REPOUR
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2016 preview Quebec City and Montreal WorldTours Many of the world’s best road cyclists will ride streets of Quebec City and Montreal for the seventh annual edition of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM), bringing 18 WorldTeams as well as Team Canada and perhaps two Pro Continental teams into “La Belle Province.” These are the only two Union Cycliste Internationale WorldTour-event road-cycling races in the Western Hemisphere. by John Symon
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he two main events are the 201.6km Grand Prix Cyclistes de Québec WorldTour races, to be held on Friday, Sept. 9 in Quebec City, and the 205.7km Grand Prix Cyclistes de Montréal, held on Sunday, Sept. 11. Other events include the Criterium National, Fans Square and charity rides. Both WorldTour races feature extensive hill-climbing. In Montreal, for instance, the peloton will climb Mount Royal 17 times for a total elevation gain of 3,893 metres or almost four kilometres of vertical! Despite its steep climbs below the imposing Chateau Frontenac, the Quebec City race is “flat” by comparison, with only approximately three kilometres of climbing. While the names of top riders will probably not be announced until 48 hours before the start-gun fires, we will likely see many of the Canadians now riding for WorldTour or top Continental Pro teams. Among these, Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo), winner of the 2012 Giro, may ride his last official Pro-cycling race, as he is retiring this year. Mike Woods (Cannondale), Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie), Christian Meier and Svein Tuft (both of Orica-GreenEDGE) and Hugo Houle (AG2R), along with other top Canadians, are all likely starts in both races. For the second year, a sideshow event will be Criterium races, including one for women, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 in Montreal. In total, there will be three “Criteriums,” designed to be a development competition for riders with a Union Cycliste Internationale license. Racing categories include junior, Espoirs and Elite (17-29 years old), as well as Masters. This year sees three start times: 3:30 p.m. for the Masters men; 4:00 p.m. for the women (junior, senior, Masters) and 5:00 p.m. for the junior and senior men. For the Criteriums in 2015, some $13,000 in prize monies were split equally between the men and women; Pedal understands that this same formula will be used for 2016. Registration is open to Canadian, American and Mexican riders. Peripheral events include the creation of the Place des Amateurs (“Fans
62 PEDAL FASHION 2016
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Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal
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Square”), a festive stage blending musical ambiance with live broadcasting of the Montreal race. There will also be various exhibitors at both venues, featuring expo areas with exhibitor booths and much more. “The Fan villages have become quite popular over the years, last year with over 60,000 visitors in both Quebec and Montreal,” said Marcel Leblanc, vice-president of GPCQM. Fans will be able to watch racers at the Grand Prix Cyclistes de Montréal from stands that will be set up on Park Avenue across from the start/finish line. Many spectators also flock to Montreal’s Camillien Houde Way or Quebec City’s hilly inner-city course for great views. For a closer look, there are several options. “The Leaders Club has a limited number of tickets that we put on sale for the VIP Village, a great way for fans to get up close to the action and even interact with riders before the race. With a Leaders+ Pass, you can ride in one of our support vehicles during the race. We give back $100 on each ticket to the IRIC [Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer] and FQSC [Fédération Québecoise des Sports Cyclistes] for cycling-development programs for the young riders,” added Leblanc. A charity ride for the IRIC will take place on Sept. 10-11 on the same circuit in Montreal that the WorldTour riders will use later on Sunday. Television coverage is provided by TVA Sports in Quebec, SportsNet in other parts of Canada, together with beIN Sports in the U.S.A., and broadcasters including Eurosport, ESPN, Fox, J Sports, SNTV, Sony Six, Sporza and TSN in other regions. The total potential reach for these two races is one billion households within 130 countries. It is estimated that the cycling events provide ecoThe Pro peloton at the nomic benefits of more than $30 million during the renowned Georgeweek of the two WorldTour races. For more informaÉtienne Cartier Monument in Montreal. tion, visit www.gpcqm.ca. FASHION 2016 PEDAL 63
COMPETITION | BY Pasquale Stalteri
photos: Pasquale Stalteri
ROAD
Tour de Beauce 2016 Canada’s Houle Second Overall
(top right) Overall winner Gregory Daniel (USA, Axeon Hagens Berman), takes the final stage at the 31st Tour de Beauce. (above) Final podium (l-r): Hugo Houle (Can), Gregory Daniel (USA), Robin Carpenter (USA) (left) Robert Britton (CAN, Rally Cycling) finished a strong sixth overall.
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he 31st running of the Tour de Beauce, a UCI (2.2) Continental stage race, ran from June 15-19 and welcomed nearly 130 riders from 18 teams. The Tour got underway with an initial 185km stage in Saint-Georges that included eight laps of the 14.7km circuit in Saint-Odilon with its 15% climb. Estonia’s Mikhel Raim (Cycling Academy Team) won the final sprint with five breakaway riders, as Gregory Daniel (USA, Axeon Hagens Berman) took second and Chad Beyer (USA, Lupus Racing Team) finished third. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling) was the top Canuck in seventh. The five top finishers were the remains of a seven-man break that had a seven-minute lead at one point when the chasing peloton misjudged things and could not reel them in. Raim also claimed the White Points jersey, as well as the Yellow leader’s jersey. Next up was the 170km Queen Stage, with Hugo Houle sporting a new Team Canada kit to honour its new national sponsor, Lexus Canada. He claimed a stellar third-place podium finish on the grueling Mont-Mégantic final climb. Sepp Kuss (USA, Rally Cycling) took the win over Luis Lemus (MEX, Cycling Academy Team), with Daniel in 12th to take over the race lead. An early break of 25 riders was reduced to 12, which then shattered to seven on the final climb. Houle was leading the chase group behind at 20 seconds and made the final selection to move into fourth overall at 19 seconds behind Daniel. Roth delivered a strong sixth, while Robert Britton (CAN, Rally Cycling), who was instrumental in helping his teammate to the top step on the podium, finished 10th on the day. 64 PEDAL FASHION 2016
Stage Three-A in Saint-Prosper, Que. featured a morning 19.4km ITT followed by an evening circuit race. Houle charged into second overall at only seven seconds back after landing another podium finish in third, while Axeon Hagens Berman’s Neilson Powless (USA) took the win over Robin Carpenter (USA, Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportwear) in second. Daniel in eighth retained the leader’s jersey, with four Canadians making the top 10, as Britton moved up to fifth in the overall GC. At the early-evening 78km Stage Three-B, a break of approximately a dozen riders, and none a GC threat, escaped during the first of four laps of the Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande circuit, but their lead slowly evaporated. In the end, Australia’s Michael Rice of the Garneau-Quebecor squad opened a two-second gap over the field in the last 100 metres at the top of the 178th Street 21% “wall” in Saint-Georges to win. Daniel was second, with Isaac Leblanc (Lowestrates.Com) the top Canuck third, delivering his new team its first UCI podium. Houle stayed close to Daniel the entire race, but lost contact near the end and missed the final surge to the line, finishing ninth and 18 seconds behind. Stage Four featured another highlight of this year’s Tour, a 70km Criterium in Quebec City. Here Raim grabbed his second stage victory and two Canucks made it to the podium, with Pierrick Naud (Rally Cycling) taking second and Benjamin Perry finishing third. After an initial early break was caught, a group of five riders jumped, led by Raim. The escapees soon had a minute over the chasing pack with 10 laps to go. The break barely held off the chasing peloton as Perry, the reigning Canadian Criterium champion, charged the final uphill sprint, with Naud surging as well. However, it was Raim who proved to have better legs, taking the win. Houle was sixth, with Daniel finishing eighth with the same time and retaining a 16-second advantage over Houle. The action began early in the 122.4km final Stage Five circuit race in Saint-Georges. Five riders with four Canucks, including Britton, escaped on the second of 12 laps of a 10.2km circuit that included one big climb. But when the gap reached two minutes, Daniel’s Axeon team upped the pace, seeing as Britton was now the virtual leader, and nearing the end of the race, the break was reeled in. Houle, who was unable to drop Daniel, launched his sprint with 300 metres to go, but Daniel came around him to take the win by a few bike lengths and was crowned winner of the 31st Tour de Beauce. Houle finished second overall, his best result at Beauce since finishing third in 2012. Britton finished seventh overall, Alex Cataford (CAN, Silber Pro Cycling) was ninth and David Boily (CAN, Garneau Quebecor) was 10th. There were four Canucks in the top 10 overall. Boily seems to be the revelation at this year’s Tour, and his 10th-place finish is even more special, as he hails from the Beauce region.
2016 Tour de Beauce June 15-19, 2016 – Beauce, Que. Final GC 1. Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 15:37:34; 2. Hugo Houle (CAN) Canada 0:22; 3. Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportwear 1:07; 4. Lachlan Morton (AUS) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 1:32; 5. Daniel Turek (CZE) Cycling Academy Team 1:53; 6. Sepp Kuss (USA) Rally Cycling 2:03; 7. Robert Britton (CAN) Rally Cycling 2:09; 8. Angus Morton (AUS) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 2:16; 9. Alex Cataford (CAN) Silber Pro Cycling 4:23; 10. David Drouin (CAN) Canada 5:11. www.pedalmag.com
COMPETITION | BY John Symon
ROAD
Pasquale Stalteri
2016 GP Cycliste Gatineau Canada on Both Podiums
(above) Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau Hydro Quebec road race podium (l-r): Joelle Numainville (Can), Kimberly Wells (Aus), Leah Kirchmann (Can) . (left) Chrono TT podium (l-r): Tara Whitten (Can), Amber Neben (USA), Karol-Ann Canuel (Can).
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peter kraiker
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he seventh edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau Hydro Quebec, held on June 2, saw two Canadians land on the podium, with Joelle Numainville (Équipe du Québec) claiming second and Leah Kirchmann (Team Canada) third. Kimberly Wells (AUS, Colavita-Bianchi) timed her sprint finish perfectly to claim the victory in the 104km road race. The attacks began from the first kilometre as the peloton made its way toward Gatineau Park in the hills east of Ottawa, Ont. Canada’s Allyson Gillard (TRJ Telecom-Desjardins) and Aliya Trificate (USA, Stringray/Trek/Lacasse) gained approximately 30 seconds on the pack. Soon after they were caught, fellow Canuck Leah Guloien (Trek Red Truck) escaped solo with a 45-second lead. But the pack, led by Karol-Ann Canuel (Team Canada), was on her, and after Guloien was reeled in, a dangerous group of 12 riders formed at the front, including Numainville, Kirchmann, Steph Roorda (Team Canada), Alison Jackson (Team Canada) and others. Upon leaving Gatineau Park and entering the lower circuit of the race course, the break had a 30-second gap, but a chase pack of 30 riders hunted them down. Near the end of the finishing circuits – five laps of a 9.4km loop – a group of 25 riders pulled away. But as the pace picked up, this group shattered and nine riders, including Canuel and Numainville, were away. On the last lap, the peloton regrouped once again as more attacks resumed, but none would stick, and the stage was set for a bunch-sprint finish. Team Canada led through the last few corners and seemed poised for victory with sprinters Kirchmann and Numainville in front. But Wells made her well-timed sprint, stealing the win from the two Canucks, who settled for the final spots on the podium. “I just finished a big block of training at altitude, and it’s my first week back. You never know how it will be until you’re in the race, but I felt great and in control the whole time. I’m happy with my performance,” said Numainville, who won here in 2010 with multiple podium finishes. “Every single one of our riders needed to come to the start line with the attitude that they could win the race,” said Wells. “That’s the way our Colavita squad raced today, and we’ve taken home this giant trophy. [It was] such a relief to throw my hands in the air after all the hard work that my team did today.”
Pasquale Stalteri
(right) Kimberly Wells (Aus) wins the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau Hydro Quebec road race.
Chrono Gatineau ITT
The next day, on June 3, two other Canadian riders raced onto the podium at the 19.3km Chrono Gatineau. Tara Whitten (The Cyclery Opus) claimed second, while Canuel, this time racing for her trade team, Boels Dolmans, finished third. Taking the victory was Amber Neben (USA, Bepink), who won the Individual Time Trial (ITT) with a time of 26:44.06. Canada placed six riders in the top 10 of a field of 45 starters. “I always love coming back to Gatineau,” said Neben, the 2008 UCI World Time Trial champion. “The park and the people here are so amazing!” “I came in with big expectations, but wasn’t sure I could fulfill them,” said Whitten, who had a neck brace removed just a week before the time trial. To gauge her fitness, she said, “I was hoping to have a few more races under my belt at this point.” Whitten admitted to feeling nervous as a result of her accident (she rear-ended a vehicle while training in April). Whitten finished 11.21 seconds behind Neben. Canuel finished 12.20 seconds behind Neben. The Quebec rider was part of the Specialized–lululemon team in both 2014 and 2015 that won the UCI World Championship Team Time Trials (TTT). Later in June, Canuel, Whitten and Kirchmann made the selection for Canada’s road-cycling team going to the Rio Olympics.
2016 Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau June 2-3, 2016 – Gatineau, Que. Road Race 1. Kimberly Wells (AUS) Colavita-Bianchi 2:48:25; 2. Joelle Numainville (CAN) Équipe du Québec; 3. Leah Kirchmann (CAN) Team Canada; 4. Sara Bergen (CAN) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes; 5. Joanne Marie Kiesanowski (NZL) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank; 6. Alison Jackson (CAN) Team Canada; 7. Mandy Heintz (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling; 8. Jamie Gilgen (CAN) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling; 9. Irena Ossola (USA) SAS/Macogep-Acquisio/Mazda; 10. Gray Patton (USA) PHI Hotel Group/P-K Express; ITT 1. Amber Neben (USA) Bepink 26:44.06; 2. Tara Whitten (CAN) The Cyclery Opus 11.21; 3. Karol-Ann Canuel (CAN) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 12.20; 4. Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 17.88; 5. Joelle Numainville (CAN) Cervelo Biglia Pro Cycling Team 29.18; 6. Leah Kirchmann (CAN) Team Liv-Plantur 49.08; 7. Tayler Wiles (USA) Orica-AIS 1:03.0; 8. Brianna Walle (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 1:28.5; 9. Alison Jackson (CAN) TWENTY16-Ridebiker 1:54.0; 10. Annie Foreman-Mackey (CAN) The Cyclery Opus 1:56.5. FASHION 2016 PEDAL 65
COMPETITION | BY Sandra Walter
MTB
Canada MTB Cup Mid-Season Report
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Peter Kraiker
Pasquale Stalteri
Pasquale Stalteri
fter a break of more than two months, the Canada Cup picked up again in Quebec with the second round of the cross-country and third round of the downhill series, followed by another two cross-country stops in Ontario to establish some solid rivalries and reveal who is on fire domestically this season.
XC #2 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. – May 22
Mont-Tremblant hosted the event on the Victoria Day long weekend that saw the next generation of MTB stars get some limelight, while many of the country’s top racers were competing at World Cups in Europe. Mikaela Kofman (ON, Ridebiker/Liv), in her first year of dental school, took over the leader’s jersey with her win in the 22km Elite women’s race. Second and third places went to Americans Ellen Noble (USA, Ridebiker) and Jena Greaser (USA, Women’s Pedal Project) respectively. Evan McNeely (ON, Norco Factory Team) snagged the Elite men’s victory by nearly a minute over second-place Jeremy Martin (QC, iWill Pro Cycling), while Andrew L’Esperance (NS, Norco Factory Team) powered to an impressive third. Alberta’s Sidney McGill (Juventus) captured gold in the junior women’s contest, besting fellow top guns Sophianne Samson (QC, CVM Sigma Assurances) and B.C.’s Emily Handford (BC, Rocky Mountain Factory Team). Sean Fincham (BC, Cycling BC) was the fastest junior man of the day, out-riding Ontario hotshots Quinton Disera (ON, Team Ontario/Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco and Garneau) and Gunnar Holmgren (ON, Team Ontario/My Progressive p/b 3Rox/Maverix), who settled for second and third respectively. XC #3 – Horseshoe Valley Resort – June 5
June saw the return of the Canada Cup for a second year to Horseshoe Valley Resort, where Ontario MTB heroes Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) and Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) sped to the top spots in the Elite women’s and men’s competitions respectively. Batty, who only a week previously stepped onto the third spot of the prestigious World Cup podium in France, cruised to the finish nearly two minutes ahead of second place, fellow Ontarian Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team), while Kofman secured third place. For Peter Disera, winning the 32-kilometre contest was extra-special, as he 66 PEDAL FASHION 2016
(top) Evan McNeely wins at Tremblant and continues to lead the Elite men’s series. (left) Emily Batty took two rounds and tops the Elite women’s field. (above) Mikaela Kofman grabbed the Elite women’s win at Tremblant. (opposite top) Hugo Langevin charged into the men’s DH Leader’s jersey after Round One in Tremblant. (opposite right) Ontario junior DH rider Sky Follas was the fastest down the mountain in Tremblant.
is a true local boy, living only a few hundred metres from the venue. He clearly used home turf to his advantage as he pulled away from Evan Guthrie (BC, Norco Factory Team) and Derek Zandstra (ON, Scott-3 Rox Racing) on the second lap to eventually win over second-place Guthrie by 49 seconds, while Zandstra was another 10 seconds behind for third. It was a tight race in the junior women’s race, as Handford managed to eke out a slim advantage on lap one, which she held throughout the contest to win by 11 seconds over Samson. Juliette Tétreault (QC, Skinouk VDM) finished third. It was no surprise when the younger Disera, Quinton, took the junior men’s “W” on his home course, rocketing into the lead from the gun and gaining nearly two minutes over second-place Holmgren. Félix Longpré (QC, Équipe du Québec/cc Mont-Ste-Anne) pedaled to third spot. XC #4 – Hardwood Ski and Bike – June 12
Batty was back at it in Hardwood for Round Four of the XCO series at the perennial favourite venue that has hosted events throughout Canadian mountain-biking history, including last year’s Toronto Pan Am Games, which the Trek Factory Racing superstar won. She took the lead immediately, while eventual second-place finisher Cindy Montambault (QC, Trek GPL) chased www.pedalmag.com
in St-Felicien and Whistler with an advantage of 115 points over his closest rival, Fincham.
hard before she dropped off the pace and charged on her own to maintain her position. The American, Greaser, rolled into third spot, followed by a rapidly gaining Maghalie Rochette (QC, Luna Pro Team) in fourth. After earning the Leader’s jersey in Horseshoe Valley, Batty gained an even tighter hold on the series with her win at the fourth round. Guthrie put everything together on the day, starting aggressively and building a considerable lead early in the race. Despite Zandstra doing everything he could to pull it back in the latter half, he wasn’t quite able to catch the B.C. escapee and had to settle for second place at 21 seconds in arrears. McNeely managed to defend his Leader’s jersey, finishing third. Handford won her third Canada Cup of the season, but it came down to a mere two seconds between the B.C. rider and second place, Ontario’s Dana Gilligan (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco and Garneau). Samson sped onto the podium again to finish third. Handford has an 80-point lead over Samson in the overall standings with only two events left in the XCO series. Quinton Disera followed Handford’s example, winning his third of four races in the junior men’s competitions, while Fincham and Longpré charged to second and third, respectively. Quinton Disera goes into the final two races
A sunny holiday Monday kicked off the Canadian DH series at Mont-Tremblant as young shredder Skye Follas (ON) flew down the hill in a winning women’s time of 4:18.45. The junior rider logged the fastest overall women’s time to take the Elite and junior victories. Sarah Konefal (QC, Equipe Laferte/ Trou du Diable) finished second in the Elite competition, followed by Audree Vaillancourt (QC, Kon-Trees-Sports aux Puces) in third. After a moment of silence for Steve “Chainsaw” Smith, the Elite men’s comp got underway. Hugo Langevin (QC, Cycles Performance) posted the quickest run of 3:06.59 to earn the win and the leader’s jersey. Philippe Ricard’s (QC, Major Cycles/Devinci) run, less than three seconds slower, was good enough for second place, while Jonathan Lefrancois (QC, Independent) trailed by another second for third place. B.C.’s Stephanie Denroche (BC, Norco/C4) careened to second place behind Follas in the junior women’s category, followed by Maude St-Pierre (QC, Riki Cycle) in third. Adam Robbins (ON) also showed that the next generation is now, as
Pasquale Stalteri
Pasquale Stalteri
DH #1 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. – May 23
he stopped the clock with a race that was the fastest junior men’s run and fifth-fastest Elite men’s time. Blake Bunting (BC, C4 Rider Training) and Anthony Poulson (QC, Kona Factory Team) zoomed to second and third respectively.
Canada MTB Cup XC #2 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. – May 22 Elite Men 1. Evan McNeely (ON, Norco Factory Team) 1:37:41; 2. Jeremy Martin (QC, iWill Pro Cycling) 1:38:38; 3. Andrew L’Esperance (NS, Norco Factory Team) 1:42:01; 4. Davis Ross (ON, AWI Racing) 1:42:15; 5. Cameron Jette (ON, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 1:43:25; Elite Women 1. Mikaela Kofman (ON, Ridebiker/Liv) 1:39:21; 2. Ellen Noble (USA, Ridebiker) 1:40:37; 3. Jena Greaser (USA, Women’s Pedal Project) 1:41:53; 4. Heather Gray (ON, Angry Johnny’s CC) 1:42:24; 5. Elyse Nieuwold (ON, PHI Hotel Group/P-K Express p/b Holiday Inn) 1:42:25. XC #3 – Horseshoe Valley Resort – June 5 Elite Men 1. Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) 1:32:04.2; 2. Evan Guthrie (BC, Norco Factory Team) at 49.3; 3. Derek Zandstra (ON, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 1:00.1; 4. Marc Antoine Nadon (ON) 3:13.5; 5. Davis Ross (ON, AWI Racing) 3:15.0; Elite Women 1. Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) 1:31:51.4; 2. Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team) 1:59.5; 3. Mikaela Kofman (ON, Ridebiker Alliance p/b Sho Air) 02:13.6; 4. Jena Greaser (USA, Women’s Project Pedal) 2:29.0; 5. Cindy Montambault (QC, Équipe du Québec/Trek GPL) 4:24.5. XC #4 – Hardwood Ski and Bike – June 12 Elite Men 1. Evan Guthrie (BC, Norco Factory Team) 1:36:13.31; 2. Derek Zandstra (ON, Scott-3 Rox Racing) at 21.5; 3. Evan McNeely (ON, Norco Factory Team) 1:42.6; 4. Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) 2:00.9; 5. Davis Ross (ON, AWI Racing) 2:09.4; Elite Women 1. Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) 1:34:42.23; 2. Cindy Montambault (QC, Équipe du Québec/Trek GPL) at 2:47.4; 3. Jena Greaser (USA, Women’s Project Pedal) 3:31.7; 4. Maghalie Rochette (QC, Luna Pro Team) 3:54.4; 5. Elyse Nieuwold (ON, PHI Hotel Group/P-K Express p/b Holiday Inn) 05:17.7. www.pedalmag.com
Overall Standings after Four Events Elite Men 1. Evan McNeely (ON, Norco Factory Team) 615 points; 2. Andrew L’Esperance (NS, Norco Factory Team) 510; 3. Derek Zandstra (ON, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 505; Elite Women 1. Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) 575 points; 2. Jena Greaser (USA, Women’s Project Pedal) 450; 3. Cindy Montambault (QC, Équipe du Québec/Trek GPL). Downhill DH #1 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. – May 23 Elite Men 1. Hugo Langevin (QC, Cycles Performance) 3:06.59; 2. Philippe Ricard (QC, Major Cycles/Devinci) 3:09.22; 3. Jonathan Lefrancois (QC) 3:10.29; 4. Sidney Slotegraff (BC, Dunbar Cycles) 3:12.24; 5. Adam Robbins (ON, Eastern States Cup North America) 3:18.45; Elite Women 1. Skye Follas (ON) 4:18.45; 2. Sarah Konefal (QC, Equipe Laferte/Trou du Diable) 4:20.24; 3. Audree Vaillancourt (QC, Kon-Trees-Sports aux Puces) 4:22.32; 4. Stephanie Denroche (BC, Norco/ C4) 4:25.54; 5. Monika Luebke (ON, Cycles Solutions) 4:28.71. Overall Standings after One Event Men 1. Hugo Langevin (QC, Cycles Performance) 200 points; 2. Philippe Ricard (QC, Major Cycles/Devinci) 175; 3. Jonathan Lefrancois (QC) 155; Women 1. Skye Follas (ON) 200 points; 2. Sarah Konefal (QC, Equipe Laferte/Trou du Diable) 175; 3. Audree Vaillancourt (QC, Kon-Trees-Sports aux Puces) 155.
FASHION 2016 PEDAL 67
COMPETITION | BY SANDRA WALTER
MTB
UCI MTB World Cup Update Canadians Land on XCO and DH Podium
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Michael cerveny
shadow fell across the mountain-biking community and extended around the world as Canada lost beloved young DH star Steve Smith (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) in May. Tributes were held at Round Two of the XCO series in Albstadt, Germany, followed by an epic homage to the late great at Round Three of the DH series in Fort William, Scotland. Despite heavy hearts, Canadian riders soldiered on, riding bravely, with multiple podium performances in both disciplines.
Michael cerveny
(above) Canada’s Finnley Iles earned two historic wins and leads the junior men’s DH series.
XC #1 – Cairns, Australia - April 23-24
Canadians started the Olympic year off on a high note in Cairns as Catharine Pendrel (CAN, Luna Pro Team) powered onto the Elite women’s podium, finishing fourth. Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized Racing), who won the final World Cup round in 2015, put her stamp on the new season as she flew to an amazing solo victory. Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing) finished a strong seventh. In the Elite men’s contest, Canucks showed great form with Raphaël Gagné (CAN, Team Canada) and Léandre Bouchard (CAN, Team Canada) smashing to 12th and 19th respectively behind Swiss winner Nino Schurter (SUI, Odlo Scott), while his archrival Julien Absalon (FRA, BMC) fought back heroically to third place after a devastating puncture. Catherine Fleury (CAN, Team Canada) delivered another podium for Canada in the U23 women’s race, finishing a career-best second, while Kate Courtney (USA, Specialized Racing) took the win. Samuel Gaze (NZL, Specialized Racing) came out on top in an incredibly tight race to the line, with only two seconds separating the top-three U23 men. Marc-André Fortier (CAN, Team Canada) was the fastest Canadian in 25th. 68 PEDAL FASHION 2016
#2 – Albstadt, Germany - May 21-22
Pendrel bettered her previous World Cup result by one spot as (left) Canada’s Catharine Pendrel took she rode to third in Germany behome 2nd and Emily Batty was 3rd in La hind winner Langvad. Bresse France as Jolanda Neff (Sui) won It was a fantastic day for Canathe Elite Women’s XCO race. da’s Derek Zandstra (CAN, Scott-3 (opposite top) Canadian Catherine Fleury Rox Racing), who mastered Alb(l) claimed her first U23 women’s XCO World Cup podium at the opening round in stadt’s notoriously steep climbs to Cairns, Australia. finish a career-best 16th, while the (opposite below) Canada’s Miranda Miller storming Swiss Schurter took his (r) was a stellar 3rd in the Elite women’s second consecutive win in a sprint DH race at Leogang, Austria. with Absalon. Fleury was pumped for another go at the U23 women’s podium, but her race was cut short when she crashed early on and sprained her ankle, making it impossible for her to finish. Soren Meeuwisse (CAN, Team Canada), in her first World Cup and her first season as a U23, earned the top Canadian finish in 32nd, while Sina Frei (SUI, JB Brunex Felt Team) earned top honours. As Gaze took his second win in as many World Cups, Canada’s Peter Disera (CAN, Team Canada) fought in the U23 men’s melee to a respectable 39th spot as the highest-ranked wearer of the Maple Leaf jersey. #3 – La Bresse, France - May 28-29
France was friendly to Canadians as Pendrel raced to the front of the Elite women’s race after a bobble at the start. She was briefly in the lead when eventual winner and defending World Cup champion Jolanda Neff (SUI, Stöckli Pro Team) flatted. However, the animated Swiss regained her advantage and Pendrel had to settle for second. The Canadian was pleased with her performance, as was Batty, who racked up a valiant third. Langvad leads the series with 576 points, followed by Pendrel in second, while Batty sits in fourth. Luck was on the side of the host nation in the Elite men’s race, with Frenchmen grabbing the top-three spots led by local boy Absalon, who marked his 31st World Cup win on the rocky and technical track that saw many punctures, including two for race-favourite Schurter. The delays caused by the flats cost the Swiss rider a chance at the win in La Bresse, but he maintains the series lead. Bouchard pulled off a gutsy ride, finishing 20th as the highest-placed Canadian. Frei was top again in the U23 women’s field, leading the series. While top-ranked Canadian Fleury was unable to start the race due to her injury, www.pedalmag.com
she is still eighth in the series standings. Meeuwisse picked up her pace to finish 25th as the top Canadian on the day. Disera charged through the U23 men’s pack to a personal-best 17th place, while Titouan Carod (FRA, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) wowed the French crowd with a victory. Gaze keeps the advantage in the series standings, with Disera the highest-placed Canadian in 30th.
#3 – Fort William, Scotland - June 4-5
To kick off the Fort William weekend, a train of 58 Pro riders decked in #longlivechainsaw jerseys and sporting “#6 Smith” plates on their bikes paid their respects to fallen comrade Smith by shredding a run of the track together, pulling big whips. In the Elite women’s category, Atherton made it three for three, while Hannah collected another second place. Canada’s Jaime Hill (BC, Juliana Bicycles) finished 20th. Race day felt more like a celebration of the sport for the Elite men as Smith’s memory rode at the forefront of competitors’ minds. Legend Greg Minnaar (RSA, Santa Cruz Syndicate) earned his 19th World Cup victory, while Forrest Riesco (CAN, Race Face Performance/Banshee Bikes) was the top Canadian in 47th. Iles recovered from his injury in Cairns to top the podium for his second World Cup win in the junior men’s contest. Fellow Canadians Adam Robbins (CAN, Eastern States Cup North American Downhill Team) claimed 13th, and Fitzgerald placed 17th for three top-20 finishes.
DH #1 – Lourdes, France - April 9-10
Riders battled rapidly changing conditions in the finals of the first round of the 2016 DH World Cup in Lourdes, France. The short and steep track was wet and super-slick in the week leading up to the race, but sunshine on race day quickly dried the mud and significantly altered lines and traction. Defending women’s World Cup champion Rachel Atherton (GBR, Trek Factory Racing) picked up where she left off last season to win in Lourdes over Tahnee Seagrave (GBR, Transition Factory Racing/FMD). Manon Carpenter (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) finished third for a Great Britain sweep. Canada’s Vaea Verbeeck (CAN, Rocky Mountain) did not start. Aaron Gwin (USA, The YT Mob) was the only rider to crack the 3:10 barrier as he successfully defended his title in Lourdes. Smith descended to what would be his last World Cup podium as he finished his screaming-fast run in second place. Smith’s speedy teammate Mark Wallace (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) had a stellar run, finishing eighth.
Michael cerveny
#4 – Leogang, Austria - June 11-12
It was a great day for Canadians in Leogang as Elite women’s national champion Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) smashed her run to earn a career-best third place. Unsurprisingly, the queen of DH, Atherton, collected her 10th consecutive World Cup victory to make it a total of 30. With four out of four wins, Atherton has a stranglehold on the series. Gwin was suitably stoked by his win in the Elite men’s comp. Wallace earned top-Canuck status with 40th position. The American, Gwin, leads the series heading into Round Five in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Canada’s Iles cruised to another podium finish, taking second place in the junior men’s event, with Gaetan Vige (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) eke’ing out the win. Fellow Canuck Fitzgerald was 15th. Iles leads the series with 160 points.
Fraser Britton
UCI MTB World Cup
Canada’s Finnley Iles (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) topped off a fantastic weekend for the Canucks to win the junior men’s race, delivering Canada its first win in the category. #2 – Cairns, Australia - April 23-24
Atherton continued her domination of the Elite women’s category to win the second stop of the series in the Australian rainforest. Local girl Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR) pleased the partisan crowd as she zoomed to second. No Canadian women competed. It was a long-overdue first World Cup victory for reigning world champion Loic Bruni (FRA, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM), as he outpaced the rest of the Elite men’s field in Cairns. The Aussies had a strong day, however, as Troy Brosnan (AUS, Specialized Racing) nabbed second and Michael Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR) captured third. Wallace was the top Canuck in 26th. Iles was denied the chance to defend his series lead after he crashed in qualification, injured his arm and was unable to start the final. Fellow Canuck Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Steve Peat Syndicate/Uberbike Global) had a strong run, finishing 13th, while Matt Walker (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) took the win. www.pedalmag.com
XC Overall Standings after Three Events Elite Men 1. Nino Schurter (SUI, Scott-Odlo MTB Racing Team) 650 points; 2. Julien Absalon (FRA, BMC Mountainbike Racing Team) 610; 3. Maxime Marotte (FRA, BH-SR Suntour-KMC) 560; Canadians 20. Raphaël Gagné (CAN, Team Canada) 173; 28. Derek Zandstra (CAN, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 146; 32. Léandre Bouchard (CAN, Team Canada) 134; Elite Women 1. Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized Racing) 576 points; 2. Catharine Pendrel (CAN, Luna Pro Team) 510; 3. Linda Indergand (SUI, Focus XC Team) 373; Other Canadians 4. Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing) 365; 38. Sandra Walter (CAN, Team Canada) 97; 51. Haley Smith (CAN, Team Canada) 59; 57. Cindy Montambault (CAN, Trek GPL) 43; 74. Rebecca Beaumont (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) 17; U23 Men 1. Samuel Gaze (NZL, Specialized Racing) 240 points; 2. Titouan Carod (FRA, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) 220; 3. Romain Seigle (FRA, Focus Rotor G-Skin Racing Team) 175; Canadians 30. Peter Disera (CAN, Team Canada) 9; 47. Marc-Andre Fortier (CAN, Team Canada); U23 Women 1. Sina Frei (SUI, JB Brunex Felt Team) 180; 2. Kate Courtney (USA, Specialized Racing) 170; 3. Evie Richards (GBR) 140; Canadians 8. Catherine Fleury (CAN, Team Canada) 70; 16. Frederique Trudel (CAN, Team Canada) 35; 39. Soren Meeuwisse (CAN, Team Canada) 1. DH Overall Standings after Four Events Elite Men 1. Aaron Gwin (USA, The YT Mob) 810 points; 2. Troy Brosnan (AUS, Specialized Racing) 650; 3. Danny Hart (GBR, MS Mondraker Team) 518; Canadians 26. Steve Smith (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 207; 27. Mark Wallace (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 203; 62. Forrest Riesco (CAN, Race Face Performance/Banshee Bikes) 90; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton (GBR, Trek Factory Racing) 980 points; 2. Manon Carpenter (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) 680; 3. Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR) 650; Canadians 12. Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) 165; 39. Jaimie Hill (CAN) 5; Junior Men 1. Finnley Iles (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) 160 points; 2. Gaetan Vige (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) 135; 3. Matt Walker (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) 116; Other Canadians 26. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Steve Peat Syndicate/Uberbike Global) 5. FASHION 2016 PEDAL 69
BY WILLIAm hUmBER
Back Pedaling Remembering Jocelyn Lovell
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Cor vos
I
only met Jocelyn Lovell twice, the first time at the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame’s annual dinner at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ont. approximately 10 years ago. Lovell’s extraordinary cycling history and tragic accident are well known, not just to readers of this magazine, but also to sports followers in general. On the occasion of our meeting, and despite being confined to a wheelchair, it was obvious he had a new passion – the environment. As I was chair of related environment and energy training programs at Seneca College, we had much to talk about, particularly the energy-savings retrofits he was installing in the house specifically designed for his mobility needs on the shore of Lake Ontario in Mississauga. He invited me and a Seneca colleague to come out in the future and have a look at what
had been done to date and to possibly bring some recommendations. So not too long afterwards, Seneca colleague Richard Wade, a civil engineer and an avid mountain biker, and I visited Lovell and his wife, Neil. Things did not start well! I apologized for the absence of another Seneca colleague who was a specialist in new renewable-energy projects, and I innocently noted that it was said colleague’s week for bow-hunting in the Canadian North. Our conversation almost came to an abrupt end! A visibly irate Lovell railed against such attacks on nature, and Wade and I finally opined that we ourselves were less-than-enthusiastic supporters of our colleague’s hobby. Just as things appeared smoothed over, I noticed a number of newspaper crosswords spread throughout the house, and once again innocently noted that my brother Larry was the designer of such puzzles. “Not the guy in The Globe television magazine?” Lovell asked. “The very same,” I replied. He and Neil jointly declared how Larry’s choice of clues drove them crazy every Saturday when they went about filling in the blanks. By now, fortunately, the tone was less harsh, and we were free to move on to the range of energy savings contemplated by the couple. Lovell was particularly proud of one initiative. An energy-savings engineer had recommended the maximum amount of insulation necessary to reach the “R” value associated with achieving absolute energy savings. As an aside, Neil let us know that once Lovell heard this, he immediately doubled the amount of insulation for the space. We pointed out that this would have only marginal, and possibly no, advantage in exceeding possible energy savings. The resources, we suggested, might be better spent on other ideas.
There was no stopping Lovell however, and he’d had the amount of insulation doubled, if only for a tiny increase in efficiency. Then the significance of that choice hit me. In the world of sports, the difference between winning and losing is almost always measured in seemingly infinitesimal amounts, recorded in fractions of seconds. The athlete prepared to put out an additional amount of sweat and time, akin to the amount of insulation loaded into the walls and ceiling of a building, was the one who was going to come out on top. It was a small insight into the always active and forward-thinking mind of Lovell. The sporting world grieved his loss ironically on the same weekend as that of Muhammad Ali. Though the latter got more of the media play, it’s fair to say these two free-thinking men, afflicted in their later years by physical trauma, had much in common. They both excelled in their respective sport. They rose above physical limitations to justly claim an ability to always be ahead of the crowd in regard to their advocacy for special causes. They will remain justly applauded for their accomplishments. In Lovell’s case, a recent accolade was his induction last fall into the inaugural class of the Canadian cycling Hall of Fame’ers. After visiting Lovell and Neil, I told my brother the story about their response to his vexing crossword puzzles, and in respect for the enthusiasm and doggedness of Lovell’s never-ending pursuit of excellence, Larry put in a clue a few weeks later for which Lovell was the answer. I never heard whether he and Neil got that one, but hopefully they had a good laugh. 1978 Track Worlds Kilo TT podium in munich, Germany (l-r): Jocelyn Lovell (CAn), Lothar Thoms (ddR) and Rainer hoenisch (ddR)
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BY ALEX STIEDA
Sportif Stieda
W
ith the recent passing of Jocelyn Lovell, I thought it would be a good time to take stock of how far we have come since he was racing full time in the 1970’s. My memories of Lovell were of mentorship. Lovell showed us how to have fun while we trained and raced, and at the same time ensured that we understood that bike racing required a high level of dedication and work effort. As a junior, I was fortunate enough to have Lovell travel with us to the Junior Worlds in Argentina. It was my first international racing trip (actually my first international trip outside of the U.S.!) and everything was new and distracting. Lovell made sure that we stayed focused and kept things in perspective. I know that his presence helped me get the best out of myself, riding to a fifth in the Individual Pursuit.
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photos: courtesy alex stieda
Jocelyn Lovell’s Legacy
I recently attended the B.C. Youth Road Cycling Championships in Penticton, B.C. as a coach of my club, Juventus CC. We brought U17 and U19 male and female riders to this event to give them a taste of what the next level of bike racing is all about outside of our small pond here in Northern Alberta. What we found was an amazing group of dedicated athletes, coaches and parents, all there to further the sport of road cycling. Our young men and women stood tough against strong competition from B.C. and Alberta. Typically, youth racers are lumped in with categorized adult racers, making development of these young riders very difficult. Youth racers need to race with restricted gear ratios to assist in proper muscular and cardiovascular growth, which is very difficult in races where other adult riders use unrestricted gears. In order for a youth-focused race to take place, it needed a spark, someone who knows what it takes to conduct a three-race weekend at the right level so that it can be enjoyable and challenging for all involved. That “someone” is ex-Pro Ron Hayman, my mentor when I grew up racing in Vancouver in the 1970’s. Hayman has always stayed involved in our beloved sport and, more recently, has worked with key partners such as Axel Merckx’s Youth Development Foundation as well as Cycling BC to create this unique event that specifically targets youth. In a case of build-it-and-they-will-come, Hayman’s event has grown exponentially within only three years of existence, proving that there is a demand for this level of competition. With the knowledge I’ve gained from mentors such as Hayman, Lovell and Baz Lycett, I can’t help but carry on that tradition with our local club here in Edmonton, helping where I can to pass on the knowledge and ensure that our young riders Mentors such as Jocelyn keep things in perspective as they continue to Lovell showed us how to have fun while training and racing push their personal boundaries on two wheels. to ensure that our young riders continue to push their personal This winter, they now know how much harder they have to train in order to go off the front in 2017. boundaries on two wheels.
FASHION 2016 PEDAL 71
BY Curt Harnett
Last Word
IOC
I Think That the IOC Got it Right
T
here was a loud outcry for an absolute ban on Russia for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games from many corners of the sport world. The McLaren Investigation Report, a 97-page dossier that outlined systematic, state-sponsored doping violations by Russia leading up to, during and after the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was compelling reading, some of it seemingly more fictional than a Jean le Carré novel (I think I read that reference in The Globe and Mail). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had commissioned Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren to weed through the compelling and significant stockpile of evidence surrounding Russia’s covert operation of hiding positive drug tests and tampering with Russian-athlete urine samples. Some of the most significant evidence that the report unveiled was the list of sports that had positive tests from their athletes “disappear.” Russian Ath72 PEDAL FASHION 2016
letics – already banned from this summer’s Olympic Games – had a whopping 139 positives go missing (for the record, cycling had 26)! As a result of this report, WADA recommended to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Russia be banned from participating in Rio. Upon review of the report, the IOC decided it needed more time to consider its options before coming to a decision. On Sunday, July 23, the IOC announced that it was not going to impose a blanket ban on Russia. Instead, it decided, among many other recommendations, to hand the decision to ban Russian athletes and teams over to the international sport federations. This decision is fraught with potential conflicts of interest (for example, the president of the International Fencing Federation, or FIE, is Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia’s richest people and a significant investor in the sport) and the international federations may not have the capability to render such a decision without significant (legal or otherwise) backlash from the athlete or team being banned. Apart from all that, I still think it is the right approach. What was evident from the McLaren Report was that not all sports and athletes were involved. As no Russian tennis players were implicated in the report, the International Tennis Federation responded within an hour of the IOC decision to say that all Russian tennis players who qualified for Rio would be allowed to play. Who did and did not dope is still a big question that will hang over the Games, and I feel that any attempt to answer it would be a response full of holes. While the IOC did pass the buck, it did place some of the responsibility onto the individual athletes to prove to their respective international federations that they are clean. The IOC was correct in stating that due to the circumstances, the “presumption of innocence” cannot be applied to Russian athletes. This statement, to me, shows that the IOC has it right by giving the individual athlete the opportunity to put forward his or her own defense. There had been numerous calls – mostly from members of WADA’s own Athletes’ Commission chaired by Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott – for WADA to open an investigation into the accusations made by Russian athlete Yuliya Stepanova about Russia’s state-sponsored doping regime. IOC President Thomas Bach faced a number It seemed that WADA either didn’t take the claims of challenges including seriously or just dragged its feet until the German the Russia doping affair broadcaster ARD re-aired a documentary that it prior to the Games soon underway in Rio De produced in 2014 titled “Top-Secret Doping: How Janeiro, Brazil. Russia Makes Winners.” The IOC, as well, had been slow in re-testing urine samples from athletes who competed in the Beijing and London Olympic Games and had qualified for Rio. At time of writing, another 31 disciplinary proceedings with athletes from 12 countries had begun – just 15 days before the opening ceremonies of Rio 2016. This entire process has exposed the flaws in the fight against doping in sport. While great strides have been made, we are still playing catch-up. Perhaps the size and reach of this scandal will inject renewed energy and resources into the battle. I became involved in sport to test and exceed my personal physical and mental limitations. I am a firm believer in the value of sport and the lessons it teaches and the way it inspires. I feel blessed for the journey that it took me on. I want that for others. It is why we must stay vigilant in the fight against doping – even if we feel it lets us down sometimes. www.pedalmag.com
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