WINTER 2016/17
GEAR
2017 INSIDE SCOOP
RIO PARALYMPICS
Hall of Fame Road Worlds Fatbiking Tips Cyclocross Nats
9 Medals for Canada
EVOLUTION OF SPEED
Sprinting for Gold
TRANS ISRAEL
Cycling the Holy Land $4.95 w w w. p e d a l m a g . c o m
HOT RIDES
Cervélo S3 Disc Otso Voytek
RAPS
Registration Number 9874 Agreement Number 40064311 Printed in Canada
Gagné, Tuft, Sullivan, Stieda, Singleton
contentS WinTEr 2016/17, Volume 30, issue 5
SPECIAL FEATURES 24
Québec Singletrack expérience
26
Fatbike winter riding do’s and don’ts
32
cyclocross 2016 nationals
34
2016 rio Paralympic games
42
the evolution of Sprint cycling
48
trans israel
by Ben Andrew
by Mike Sarnecki
24
by Audrey Lemieux
by Sandra Walter
by Gordon Singleton
by Joe Schwartz
42 60
GEAR 28
otso voytek BiKe teSt
30
cervélo S3 disc BiKe teSt
60
2017 gear Preview
by Mike Sarnecki
by Tim Lefebvre
by Ben Andrew, MIke Sarnecki, Chris Redden and Paul Newitt
WINTER 2016/17
gear
2017 InSIDe SCOOp
Hall of Fame Road Worlds Fatbiking Tips Cyclocross Nats
Rio PaRalymPiCs 9 Medals for Canada
EvoluTioN oF sPEEd
Sprinting for Gold
TRaNs isRaEl
Cycling the Holy Land
HOT RIDES
$4.95
Cervélo S3 Disc Otso Voytek
w w w. p e d a l m a g . c o m
RAPS
Registration Number 9874 Agreement Number 40064311 Printed in Canada
Gagné, Tuft, Sullivan, Stieda, Singleton
Pedal Winter 2017-Cover.indd 1
www.pedalmag.com
1/23/17 10:12 AM
Pedal’s Tim Lefebvre test riding Cervelo’s S3 Disc (see pgs 30-31) on a fabulous fall day... get the look: • louis Garneau’s innovative Powerwool jersey, Carbon Lazer bib shorts and Heros RTR helmet • bolle’s 6th Sense sunglasses • diadora’s Vortex-Pro II cycling shoes Peter Kraiker
34
48
COMPETITION
DEPARTMENTS
52
2016 road world championships
56
canadian track championships
57
by Ben Andrew and Tim Lefebvre
by Jack Cracker
uci mountain Bike dh world championships by Sandra Walter
58
uci mtB world cup Finale by Sandra Walter
4 8 18 20 22 70 71 72
tread out in Front tuft enough mtB Frontlines Sullivan report Back Pedaling Sportif Stieda Last word WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 1
publisher/editor Benjamin Sadavoy graphic design Wendy Pease contributors Ben Andrew, Jack Cracker, Raphaël Gagné, William Humber, Tim Lefebvre, Audrey Lemieux, Mike Sarnecki, Joe Schwartz, Gordon Singleton, Alex Stieda, Monique Sullivan, John Symon, Svein Tuft, Sandra Walter photographic contributions Chris Auld, Frederic Barbeau, Fraser Britton, Canadian Paralympic Committee, CCC, Michal Cerveny, Alice Chiche, Cycling Canada, Raphaël Gagné, goisreal.com, Greg Kolz/COC, Peter Kraiker, Jocelyn Lovell Collection, Marinoni Collection, Nipika Mountain Resort, Ivan Rupes, Gord Singleton Collection, Pasquale Stalteri, Guy Swarbrick, Team RaceClean Canada, Trans Israel, 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 Newsstand Annual Buyers Guide 1-yr Subscription (6 issues) 2-yr Subscription (12 issues) US Subscribers: US$28.95 (1-yr); Int’l Subscribers: US$50.95 (1-yr);
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member of Pedal Winter 2016/17 Pedal, a division of 1198189 ontario Inc., is published 6 times annually: annual buyer’s Guide, Spring, fashion, Summer, fall, Winter, 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.
2 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
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PH. R URNATO
ACCURACY POWER
2000w
35km/h
±1%
treaD
Full House
More than 250 Canadian athletes and coaches from Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic rio 2016 teams were hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and honourable members of the House of Commons on Nov. 11. 4 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
GREG kolZ/coc
Most of us will never meet Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or even visit the House of Commons. The thought of shaking hands with the country’s leader and members of the House is a humbling moment, and Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic teams were stoked to enjoy such a prodigious welcome home. Trudeau is a cyclist himself and is engaging, like his legendary father – check out his selfie with Paralympian Tristen Chernove and others on page 70. Team Canada achieved a record 22 Games medals in Rio, Brazil, with cycling contributing two bronze, while our Paralympic team earned a record 29 medals, with cycling being the top-performing sport in Rio with nine medals – see pages 35-41. I call that a full house and then some. Wishing everyone a great off-season. – BAS
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Michal Cerveny
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WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 5
Catch the Feeling...
Contributors
Audrey Lemieux I started cycling in 1997 in Alma, Que. at age 11. Seven years later, I signed my first Professional contract with the Quark Cycling Team. I found success in 2005 with a win at the Joe Martin Stage Race Criterium in a solo breakaway, a berth on the Canadian Team at the World Championships and a ninth-place finish at the Rotterdam World Cup. In 2008-2010, I rode for a team in France and raced in the 10-day Tour de l’Aude twice. In 2014, I began training as a tandem pilot for a visually impaired athlete, and in 2016, Robbi Weldon and I competed together at the Rio Paralympic Games, finishing in fifth place in the women’s road race. It was an amazing experience. As part of my journalism gigs, I am an analyst for women’s cycling races on RDS (Réseau des sports TV network)..
Canada’s cycling hubs sandra Walter
www.fqsc.net
ontariocycling.org
cyclingbc.net
albertabicycle.ab
saskcycling.ca
bicycle.nb.ca
cycling.mb.ca
bicycle.ns.ca
Mike sarnecki
Cycling Yukonnaise Association Association of Yukon Cycliste
sportyukon.com
www.bnl.nf.ca
6 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Based in western Canada, Sandra Walter earned her B.A. in writing at the University of Victoria while training for a career as a cross-country mountain-bike racer. She grew up in an outdoorsy household, where skiing, camping, hiking, cycling and kayaking were routine activities. The longtime Canadian National mountain-bike team member has successfully combined her love of travel and the outdoors with her passion for writing and her lifestyle as an Elite athlete. For many years a contributor to Pedal magazine and Bike Trade Canada, her journalistic highlights also include reporting on Nordic events for SkiTrax during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
www.cpei.ca
www.cyclingcanada.ca
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. www.pedalmag.com
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE STAGE EVENT
7 STAGES ››› 7 DAYS ››› 7 EXCEPTIONAL DESTINATIONS ››› 1 BASE CAMP DOWNTOWN QUÉBEC CITY ››› DAY 8: ATTEND THE UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP
›››
JULY 30 TO AUGUST 5, 2017 | quebecsingletrack.com
out in front
by Sandra Walter
Canadian Men’s Team Pursuit Claim Historic Gold
T
he five-man squad of Aidan Caves, Adam Jamieson, Jay La moureux, Bayley Simpson and Ed Veal made history as they took their first World Cup podium at the opening round in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov. 4-6 with a bronze-medal performance. They bettered their result a week later in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands by winning gold and taking over the World Cup series lead in the event. Canada chose to send only its men’s Endurance squad to the first two events of the 2016-17 UCI World Cup Track season to allow riders who had competed in August’s Rio Olympics some time to recharge. At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, the Canadian men’s Team Pursuit qualified third and then faced off against France, who was second in the qualifications. Despite being bested by France, the Canucks’ 4:03.056 run was third-fastest overall and allowed them to advance to the bronze-medal round where they defeated Switzerland to land on the podium for the first time with a historic bronze. The team’s third place was by far their top World Cup result, overturning their previous best – a ninth last year in New Zealand. It has been a flurry of milestones for the team, as they broke the four-minute mark at the Pan American Track Championships in Mexico in October, which helped set the stage for a medal at Glasgow. In other Canadian results, Jamieson placed 11th in the men’s Points race behind winner Cameron Meyer (AUS), while on the final day of competition, Lamoureux powered to a strong sixth place in the men’s Individual Pursuit, won by Sylvain Chavanel (FRA). Buoyed by their success in Glasgow, the Canadian men’s Team Pursuit crew used newfound confidence to capture their first World Cup gold medal in Apeldoorn on Nov. 11-13. 8 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Guy Swarbrick
Team Completes a Milestone Year
“When we came into the two World Men’s Team Pursuit (l-r): Cups, the aim was top eight in both, so Bayley Simpson, Adam I think we’ve certainly surpassed our Jamieson, Ed Veal, Jay expectations,” said Ian Melvin, National Lamoureux and Aiden Caves men’s Endurance coach after the victory. “Glasgow certainly gave us a lot of confidence, and I think, as we came in here to Apeldoorn, we looked at the teams, we knew were going to be in the mix. . . . We went into [qualifying] with a race plan, we had a strategy and we executed really well, so we were confident that we’d be able to do that again [in the final] with Belgium, and it worked out really well.” After qualifying fourth and then winning the first round, Simpson replaced Veal in the final as Team Canada faced off with Belgium in the ride for gold. The Belgians got the early advantage with a fast start, but the young Canucks stuck to the plan, steadily taking back time as the Belgians cracked in the final 1,000 metres. The Canadians nailed the fastest split and secured a four-second bolster at the finish. France overcame Poland for bronze. Canada now has 1,800 points in the World Cup standings, followed by Great Britain in second with 1,700 points and France slotted in third, tied with Great Britain. Jamieson also contested the men’s Points race for Canada, finishing seventh behind winner Mark Downey (IRL), while Team Canada’s Caves placed 11th in the men’s Omnium, with Szymon Wojciech Sajnok (POL) taking the win. With the progress the young Canadian team has made in just a short time, and with four years still to go, things are looking bright for the next Olympics in 2020. www.pedalmag.com
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out in front
by Sandra Walter
Global Relay Bridge the Gap Fund coR voS
Making a Positive Difference for Cycling in Canada From that fortuitous encounter, Global Relay has quickly emerged as a champion of cycling in Canada, becoming a title sponsor of Cycling Canada’s National teams and championship events (left) Canada’s adam de Vos took home a stellar 9th in the U23 in 2014 as part of a four-year $500,000 Men’s race at the 2015 Road deal. Worlds in richmond, Va. “I think we’ve made some significant contributions to cycling in Canada; I think we’ve advanced the sport a great deal,” said Pinfold of the Global Relay Bridge the Gap Fund’s impact. The fund’s list of achievements includes Adam de Vos’s top-10 result at the 2015 U23 World Championships, Leah Kirchmann’s thirdplace finish at La Course at the Tour de France in 2015 and Canada fielding its largest U23 men’s squad at a World Championship – also in 2015 – due directly to support through the Global Relay Bridge the Gap program. De Vos and Kirchmann have since both signed with Pro teams – Rally Pro Cycling and Liv-Plantur respectively. Since Pinfold’s retirement from Professional racing in 2011, he has remained passionately involved in the sport, taking on the position of head coach and program director for the DEVO youth-racing program in Vancouver. It’s no surprise that his roles with Global Relay Bridge the Gap and DEVO should overlap, as he became more aware of the importance of a strong youth-cycling community in order to improve as a nation in the higher ranks. Global Relay youth initiatives helped create BC Youth Superweek, one of the highest profile series of youth races in North America, where racers compete on the same courses as Pros, receive media attention and perform in front of big crowds at such events as the Gastown Grand Prix. “It’s just unheard of anywhere else in North America to have Under-15 and Under-17 kids racing at those events,” said Pinfold. With the Global Relay Youth Club Seeding Program and the Youth Club Cycling Network Initiative, Pinfold said, “What we wanted to do is try to grow the pool of riders who are getting exposed to competitive cycling when they’re in their youth, and along with that, lifting the level of coaching and organization as well.” The Youth Club Cycling Network is a forum for youth-cycling leaders across the country to share knowledge and information, while the Youth Club Seeding Program offers direct support to selected clubs. “I think for Canada to be truly a world-class cycling nation, which is I think everybody’s goal in the country – certainly the stated goal of Cycling Canada – we really need world-class youth programs and participation numbers.” The support of a corporation such as Global Relay in just four years has already greatly impacted cycling in Canada in a positive way, not only in terms of results, but also the landscape of the sport. With another four years of funding, the potential further impact is
I
n 2012, the Global Relay Bridge the Gap Fund was launched with the aim of helping Canadian amateur Elite road racers make the leap to the Professional ranks through financial support and mentorship. Over the past four years, the fund has aided 23 athletes in finding spots on Pro teams, three of whom were named to the Canadian Olympic team for Rio 2016. More recently, the focus of the Global Relay Bridge the Gap Fund has broadened to include youth-cycling initiatives. “The future of the project looks really good,” said Andrew Pinfold, former Pro cyclist and managing director of the fund. “Global Relay has just stepped in and renewed us for another four years, which is fantastic.” Global Relay is a Vancouver, B.C.-based technology services company with customers worldwide, boasting additional locations in Halifax, New York City, Chicago, Raleigh, London and Singapore. The company’s involvement in Canadian cycling is a story of being in the right place at the right time. In 2012, two of Global Relay’s founders, Warren Roy and Shannon Rogers, struck up a conversation with a couple of riders after the Gastown Grand Prix – a high-profile Criterium held in the same Vancouver neighbourhood as the company’s headquarters. The riders turned out to be none other than top Canadian Pros Will Routley and Ryan Anderson, who made such a good impression that the Global Relay bigwigs expressed an interest in supporting the sport. Routley and Anderson, who are now members of the Global Relay Bridge the Gap Fund board, sat down a while later over coffee with Pinfold and discussed their chat with Roy and Rogers. They singled out the lack of opportunities for Elite amateur cyclists in Canada who were trying to make the next step to the Pro ranks – something they had experienced firsthand in their athletic development. “We decided we should pitch a fund that helps riders get onto Professional teams . . . [that supports] them through the lean days when they’re not earning income, [when] they might not be carded and they need to make the jump . . . ‘bridge’ funding,” explained Pinfold. In a meeting in the fall of 2012 with the leadership team at Global Relay, they pitched their idea and the company agreed to support the project for four years.
10 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
PETER kRaIkER
(above) Historic La Course by Le Tour 2015 inaugural podium (l-r): Leah Kirchmann 3rd, Marianne Vos 1st, kirsten Wild 2nd
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04/30/2017 Canada’s spring CyCling ClassiC
I
nspired by the famous and historical ParisRoubaix in France, the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race (P2A) has taken place for the past 23
years over the roughest farm lanes, trails and gravel roads in southern Ontario. Combined with unpredictable spring weather, and the largest field of riders assembled in Canada in it’s category, P2A presents a unique challenge. With three point to point race distances, 70km, 40km and 20km, P2A has become a classic race experience from everyone from recreational cyclists to professionals, including Canadian Olympians. Join us on April 30, 2017 for the 24th annual Paris to Ancaster.
significant. For more information, visit www.grbridgethegap.com.
register online today: parisancaster.com
out in front by Ben Andrew
Léandre Bouchard Signs with Team BH-SR Suntour KMC
Quebec Cycling Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees
Olympian Léandre Bouchard will join the powerful Team BH-SR Suntour KMC, based in Paris, for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Bouchard was a member of the Canadian National mountain-bike team at the Rio Games, where he finished 27th. He recorded a career-best 20th at the MTB Worlds in the Czech Republic this year, as well as finishing second behind Derek Zandstra in the Elite men’s race at the Canadian Mountain Bike National Championships this year. Bou chard had his best season yet, with a total of three top-20 finishes on the World Cup in addition to his Worlds result. “I am going to be doing a little bit more racing in Europe and continue my progression on the international circuit. My main focus will be on the World Cup and MTB World Championships next season,” commented Bouchard.
Arsenault, Hughes, Van den Eynde, Rover and Gariépy
F
ive members of the Quebec cycling community were inducted into the Quebec Cycling Hall of Fame during this year’s 30th anniversary of the Fédération québecoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC) Hall of Fame. Held at the Hôtel Château Bromont, cyclists Clara Hughes, Steve Rover, Annie Gariépy and industry builders event organizer Serge Arsenault and long-time coach Erik van den Eynde were honoured. “This year was the 30th anniversary of the FQSC Hall of Fame,” Louis Barbeau told Pedal. “On this special occasion, instead of inducting new members during our annual brunch for the Merite cycliste Quebecois, we hosted a fabulous banquet for 150 people on the evening before [Saturday] and inducted five new members instead of three as usual.” Arsenault is renowned in the province and has been organizing the Grands Prix Cyclistes Québec City et Montréal since 2010, the first and only UCI WorldTour races awarded to North or South America. Hughes, who was also a speed skater, amassed some 35 National titles between the two sports over her career, and is also the only athlete worldwide to have won multiple medals in both 12 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Pasquale Stalteri
Louis Garneau Launches a New MTB Club
the Summer and Winter Olympics. Originally from Winnipeg, Man., Hughes signed her first team contract with Specialized-Pedal and moved to Ontario in 1991 and then to Quebec in 1999. During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Gariépy was one of the best road cyclists in Canada. She won bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Points race, and in 1999 she won the Quebec International Women’s Grand Prix. During her time on the bike, Gariépy rode for teams that included Autotrader.com and Trek Plus. Van den Eynde is one of the most respected and renowned coaches in the province and across Canada. It was an emotional day for the humble coach, originally from Belgium, who began his career back in 1985 and is credited with changing the lives of many riders, including Hughes. In 1997, Rover was one of the first cyclists from Quebec to turn Pro in Europe, signing with the Mutuelle de Seine et Marne. He finished fourth at the Tour de l’Avenir in 1996, then returned to cycling as a tandem pilot for the Paralympic Games in Athens in 1996. Quebec Cycling Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees (l-r): Clara Hughes, Erik Van Den Eynde, Annie Gariépy, Steve Rover (absent Serge Arsenault)
Businessman and former Olympic cyclist Louis Garneau, in collaboration with the president of the Association régionale de vélo de montagne Québec Chaudière-Appalaches, announced a new mountain- bike division in his Club cycliste Garneau Québec, which will serve all categories of mountain bikers beginning in 2017. “Our goal is to enable families living in or close to Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures to have access to quality training. There has never been a major mountain-bike club west of Quebec City. In addition, since mountain biking was born 40 years ago this year, we thought the timing was perfect!” states Garneau. Garneau Quebec has recruited Jonathan Cantin as chief instructor for its mountain-biking activities. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in sports intervention, Cantin is well known in the mountain-biking field in which he has been actively involved for several years. He will be in charge of formulating training programs that will enable recreational mountain bikers to enjoy taking on the trails, as well as creating a training program for cyclists wishing to start or continue to advance in their sport at the competitive level.
Canada’s Kris Kurzawinski Wins Gold Canada’s Kris Kurzawinski won gold in the men’s 50-54 Points race at the 2016 UCI World Masters Track Championships in England at the Manchester VeloContinued on page 16 www.pedalmag.com
Mont-Ste-Anne Awarded 2019 MTB Worlds Masters MTB World Championships Included
www.pedalmag.com
Peter kraiker
T
he 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will be held at Mont-Ste-Anne, Que. Already a classic on the World Cup calendar, Mont-Ste-Anne has been hosting UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) events since 1991. The 2016 edition was the 24th time that a World Cup has been hosted at the venue. The move is part of UCI’s ongoing bid to continue the globalization of the sport. Eleven countries have been awarded 15 World Championship events across seven cycling disciplines up to 2020. “We were especially impressed by the strength of interest in hosting our flagship events, as demonstrated by the sheer number and calibre of the bids we received. The UCI is committed to expanding the reach of cycling worldwide and ensuring the sport continues to grow in both established and emerging markets,” stated Brian Cookson, UCI president. The 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will also include the Masters Mountain Bike World Championships within the program. “Cycling Canada is thrilled to partner with the Corporation Événements d’été de Québec in the hosting of the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike
World Championships in Mont-Ste-Anne, Canada,” stated John Tolkamp, president of Cycling Canada. The 2019 edition will be the third time that Mont-Ste-Anne will host the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the fourth time in Canadian history. Bromont, Que. first held the event in 1992. Legendary MSA will host the Mont-Ste-Anne Worlds for the third time in 2019.
WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 13
out in front by Jack Cracker
Cycling Canada Hall of Fame Six More Legends are Inducted in 2016
O
n Oct. 1-2, Canada’s Who’s Who of cycling gathered at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. for some superb racing and the second annual Cycling Canada Hall of Fame inductions. The official plaque unveiling held on Oct. 1 was followed by the Ride with Legends p/b Lexus and a fabulous luncheon induction ceremony on Oct. 2. The honoured class of 2016 Hall of Fame inductees entering the Hall of Fame included Alex Stieda, Gord Fraser, Marie-Hélène Prémont and Brian Walton in the Athlete category, Louise Lalonde in the Builder category and Canada’s 1908 men’s Team Pursuit squad as Earlier Era Athletes. The official plaque unveiling was held during a break in the action at the Milton International Challenge. Fraser, Lalonde, Stieda and Walton were all smiles for the cameras when the banner was revealed displaying their legacy to the sport. The inductees joined guests and supporters for a VIP cocktail on the velodrome infield as the final session of racing began. We were stoked to see a very proud Joan Fraser (Gord’s mother) in the crowd, who remarked that she’s “still getting Pedal Magazine.” The next day, morning sunshine greeted 100 fans who converged at the Crosswinds Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont. for the inaugural Ride with Legends p/b Lexus event despite an early-morning drizzle that soon yielded to beautiful sunshine. Cycling stars from across Canada suited up to join new inductees Fraser, Stieda and Walton and other Hall of Fame luminaries such 14 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
as Steve Bauer, Curt Harnett and Gord Singleton, along with Rio Olympic track stars Kirsti Lay, Kate O’Brien and Hugo Barrette. Later on, we got a close-up peek at Lay’s Team Pursuit bronze medal from the Rio Summer Games. Harnett held court at the ride’s quick sendoff then guests rubbed shoulders with the stars on the 50-kilometre or 70-kilometre routes on a superb fall-morning jaunt through the region’s fabulous trails, complete with Lexus support vehicles on hand. Under bright sunshine, we cycled past a few golfers, as the weather gods delivered a near-perfect day. Later, however, to keep us all honest, Mother Nature unleashed dark clouds and a severe downpour at the end of the ride that spared no one. After a quick shower post-ride, guests were soon clinking glasses and sharing stories, new and old. As everyone took their seats, emcee Randy Ferguson got things underway as the proceedings began with a touching tribute to Jocelyn Lovell, a 2015 inductee and legendary Canadian star during the 1970’s and 1980’s, who passed away earlier this year. Each of the inductees then took the stage to standing ovations, as they regaled guests with stories of their past and the many people who helped them achieve their goals and dreams along the way. The biggest laugh went to Lalonde, who began her esteemed career as a commissaire after experiencing her first bike race. “It was amazing to see so many men’s legs – I knew I had to come back,” she quipped. The day ended with closing comments by Cycling Canada’s preswww.pedalmag.com
(facing page) Class of 2016 Hall of Fame inductees (l-r): Alex Stieda, Louise Lalonde, Brian Walton, Gord Fraser (absent Marie-Hélène Prémont, Canada’s 1908 men’s Team Pursuit squad) (left) Official plaque unveiling at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre. (below left) Inaugural Ride with Legends p/b Lexus was a big success.
photos: Ivan Rupes
Louise Lalonde The primary focus at sporting events is rightfully on the participants, but behind the scenes are individuals who provide the framework that ensures the competition takes place. One such person is cycling commissaire Louise Lalonde. Highly regarded as an international commissaire for road, track and para-cycling, Lalonde has also officiated in mountain biking, cyclocross, BMX and served as an anti-doping officer. She has assisted at countless events, from local races to the Olympics to tenure on the Cycling Canada Officials’ Committee. Lalonde was also the first person certified by the Union Cycliste Internationale to train commissaires in the discipline of para-cycling and she wrote the initial curriculum.
ident, John Tolkamp, who congratulated the inductees and remarked that “the Hall of Fame is an important part of honouring contributors to the sport in Canada.” Then it was time for photo opps with the inductees and their crystal awards, along with farewells until next time. 1908 Men’s Team Pursuit 1908 Olympic bronze medal – 4,000-metre Team Pursuit: William Anderson, Walter Andrews, Frederick McCarthy and Willie Morton. At the London 1908 Olympic Games, Canada sent a team of 91 athletes, of which 16 won medals. The men’s Team Pursuit was 1,980 yards (1,810.5 metres), which was three laps of the track. In addition to the men’s Team Pursuit, the four combined for an additional 22-event entries at those Games. Gord Fraser Gord Fraser was a three-time Olympian and five-time Commonwealth Games competitor who logged more than 200 Individual race or stage victories in his career. He is considered the most successful Professional sprinter in North America. In addition to his three wins in the Tour de Langkawi (2000, 2001 and 2004), he has also had wins in the Grand Prix du Midi Libre, Criterium International and Grand Prix Rennes. Other highlights included winning two National Racing Calendar season Points titles, a Canadian National Championship and a memorable silver medal in the 1999 Pan Am Games on home soil where Brian Walton won the gold. His top Olympic result was 16th in Sydney, Australia. www.pedalmag.com
Marie-Helene Prémont Marie-Helene Prémont was the National champion in the cross-country mountain-bike discipline from 2003 to 2009. Internationally, her record is outstanding, including 2008 when she won a medal in every World Cup she entered (two gold, three silver and three bronze). The two-time Olympian claimed the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games to add to her World Cup gold medals obtained in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, she was second overall in the World Cup standings and fourth overall in 2011. She won a Commonwealth Games gold in 2006 and Pan Am Championships gold in 2000 and 2001. Alex Stieda Alex Stieda was the first North American to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey on the second day of the 1986 Tour de France. He went on to wear five jerseys in total that year, including the polka dot for Best Climber, white for Best Rookie, red for Intermediate Points, and the combination. After losing the yellow, Stieda held on to the polka-dot jersey for an additional five days over the hills of northern France. At the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, he won a bronze medal in the Individual Pursuit and claimed the same result at the 1983 Universiade. Brian Walton Brian Walton represented Canada at the Olympic Games on three occasions, with 1996 being the most successful, given his silver-medal performance in the track Points race. He was also a three-time 1995 Pan Am Games medalist with a gold in the road race and Points race and a bronze medal in the Individual Pursuit. At the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Man., Walton defended his road race title with another gold-medal performance. Walton won numerous international races, including the 1989 Milk Race during his 12-year Professional career. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 15
out in front
Will Routley Announces His Retirement After a Successful Professional Career
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ill Routley, one of the most dedicated and well-respected riders in the peloton, has called an end to his 12-year cycling career. In his time as a Professional, Routley took several high-profile victories, including the Canadian National Road title in 2010, a Stage and King of the Mountains at the 2014 Tour of California and a stunning sprint victory this year in Stage Two of the GP Liberty Seguros in Portugal on his way to second overall. “I have thought about retiring a little bit every year I raced bikes, and was pretty much certain I would stop on a number of occasions,” said Routley. “I love the lifestyle, making sure you are healthy and feeling strong, well-rested and just going out and hammering the hell out of your body. I love that, but I am also wise after so many years of racing. I have no interest in getting hurt, and was starting to race cautiously the past couple of seasons. It is time to move on from racing and accomplish other goals.”
Pasquale Stalteri
NCCH and Morning Glory Cycling Club
tum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies team, the precursor to Rally Cycling. “I got to travel the world with guys who became my (left) Routley takes best friends,” said Routley. the biggest win of his career – Stage 4 and the “There were so many KOM at the Amgen Tour experiences one couldn’t of California in 2014. get as a tourist. I drank tea with yak’s milk on the Tibetan plateau after not finishing in a race in China. I lived in an ice-cold stone apartment in the Pyrenees in southern France. I rode up a volcano to a tiny village in El Salvador in the dark and in a cloud of diesel fumes and woodsmoke from people cooking on open fires. As a cyclist, one pretty much lives out of a suitcase, and I was very fortunate to have so much family time. Shoshauna was also racing and we didn’t spend nearly as much time apart as other couples. Together, we have traveled and spent winters in California, Belgium, Spain and France. Off the bike, I am proud of how I became a voice for clean sport. I never had a problem with telling it like it is, and people respect that.” Moving forward, Will and his wife, Shoshauna, are focused on the next chapter of their lives. In addition to their farm outside Vancouver, B.C., they just launched Healthy Hooch Kombucha, a nutritional drink made from fermented tea.
Cor Vos
(above) Routley’s 12-year stellar career included the National road-race title in 2010.
Routley started riding bikes at age 10 when his family moved to Whistler, B.C. It was there that he and his father discovered a passion for mountain biking. Routley stayed focused on mountain biking until making the switch to road racing at the age of 21. He made his Professional debut a couple of years later with the Canadian Symmetrics team alongside Rally Cycling staff Eric Wohlberg, Zach Bell and Jacob Erker, before spending two seasons each with Jelly Belly and SpiderTech C10. In 2013, Routley made the jump to Europe with the Belgian Accent Jobs-Wanty team. It wasn’t until 2014 that he joined the Op16 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Continued from page 12 drome. Kurzawinski won ahead of Daniel Casper (USA) and Peter Ettles (GBR) in the 15km (60-lap) event. Originally from Lodz, Poland, Kurzawinski now lives in Toronto, Ont., where he operates the Kurzawinskicoach.com Win Cycling Centre. He is also a coach at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. and does bike fittings and sales at The Bike Zone. Fellow Canadian Peter Toth finished sixth in the event. The UCI World Masters Track Championships ran from Oct. 1-8, 2016.
The National Cycling Centre Hamilton (NCCH) and the Morning Glory Cycling Club (MGCC) have come together to form a new youth-cycling development program for the 2017 season. The partnership will see the development of the MGCC youth program with the assistance and knowledge of NCCH. In addition, a new U-23/Elite men’s and women’s trade team will be created. “The agreement between NCCH and MGCC is fantastic news for youth cycling and for Ontario cycling in general. NCCH has been running a very successful program for a number of years, and extending our expertise to assist MGCC in building a strong youth program is great news for everybody,” said Ward Black, president of NCCH’s board of directors. NCCH Elite p/b MGCC will be a stepping-stone for athletes developed by the NCCH and MGCC programs. Currently, the program has facility, coaching and funding commitments for the next three years. The NCCH Elite p/b MGCC team will recruit just Under-20-year-olds, likely making it the youngest trade team in Canada in 2017. “We have selected young riders who have potential, the commitment and are good role models for our youth to look up to,” said Rick Lee, team sport director.
Curt Harnett Appointed to Canadian Sport Three-time Olympic medalist Curt Hartnett was appointed by the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) to its board of directors in November. He joins fellow new appointees Jessica Catton Rinaldi and Nancy J. Spotton. “We are thrilled to have Curt, Jessica and Nancy join CSIO’s board of directors. The expertise that each will bring to our organization will help to strength our board of directors, and they www.pedalmag.com
will provide leadership and support to CISO’s staff and stakeholders.” Harnett, who has attended four Olympics for track cycling, has served as chef de mission for Team Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and the Rio 2018 Olympic Games, Catton Rinaldi as a corporate lawyer, while Spotton brings more than 20 years of business and strategy leadership expertise.
adam JamieSon and Sean macKinnon with euroPean SQuad Adam Jamieson and Sean MacKinnon will be riding for Ireland’s An Post-Chain Reaction, a UCI Continental Professional cycling team, for the next season. Both riders were with the NextGen Men’s Track Endurance (MTE) program in 2016. The two teammates have also raced with the men’s Team Pursuit squad that recently took home a silver medal and a sub-four-minute time at the Pan Am Track Championships in Mexico with Jamieson on board. Most recently, Jamieson was a member of the squad that won gold at the Apeldoorn UCI Track World Cup in November 2016. Jamieson, 20, won the 114km Lierde Circuit race in Belgium on July 25 riding for RaceClean Canada. In August, he finished eighth at the 113km Overijse Kermesse in Belgium and sixth at the 160km UCI 1.2 Grand Prix des Marbriers in France. MacKinnon, also 20, competed at the UCI World Championships in Doha, where he finished 16th at the U23 ITT and 135th in the road race. In May of this year, he claimed the Best Young Rider jersey at the 2016 Fleche du Sud in Luxembourg after he finished seventh on the 148.9km Stage Four and ended up 10th overall in the final GC. Registered in Ireland, the An Post-Chain Reaction team is based at the Sean Kelly Academy in Merchtem, Belgium.
nextgen mte announceS 2017 team racecLean roSter The NextGen Men’s Track Endurance (MTE) program was launched in 2014 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 a 2016 track season that included a gold medal at the Apeldoorn UCI Track World Cup in November 2016, the first-ever sub-four-minute time at the Pan American Track Championships and a 12th-place finish at the 2016 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 stepped up to the next level by bringing together 10 riders to train and compete as a Cycling Canada trade team for the entire season. “For the coming season, the immediate goal of the NextGen MTE program will be the Track World Cup series, which begins in Glasgow, Scotland. With the team setting a new Canadian record of 3:59.931 in Aguascalientes, Mexico, the 2016-2017 track season promises to be very exciting,” according to a Cycling Canada representative. For 2017, seven riders are returning, including Willem Boersma, Evan Burtnik, Aidan Caves, William Elliott, Jay www.pedalmag.com
Lamoureux, Bayley Simpson and Edward Walsh. Three new riders joining the program are Derek Gee, Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa and John Willcox. Luc Arseneau returns in his role as the National road development coach, while Ian Melvin continues as NextGen MTE coach. Riders leaving the program include Alec Cowan, who is Silber-bound, while Sean MacKinnon and Adam Jamieson have both joined the Continental An PostChain Reaction team.
annie ewart endS great career due to iLLneSS Canadian Annie Ewart has decided to retire following a diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, commonly referred to as irregular heartbeat. Ewart rode for the U.S.-based UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling women’s team.
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“I would not be the same athlete if I continued to race,” Ewart told Pedal, confirming that she was hanging up her bike. “And I don’t want to risk my health.” The 23-year-old all-rounder from Victoria, B.C. notably distinguished herself by winning both the U23 women’s ITT and road race at the 2011 Road Nationals. In 2012, she was second in the U23 women’s TT at Nationals, third in the road race and was second overall in the Criterium, winning the U23 women’s crown. In 2013, Ewart was just off the podium in fourth at the Pan Am Games ITT. She competed at the 2014 UCI Road Worlds TTT, where her team finished fourth. Ewart won Stage Two of the 2015 Tour of the Gila, and that same year, Ewart was part of a six-woman team of Amy Charity, Jasmin Glaesser, Leah Kirchmann, Alison Tetrick and Brianna Walle that won the USPRO Team Continued on page 18
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out in front
BY SVEIN TUFT
Continued from page 17 Time Trial National Championship. In 2016, she was on the podium again as part of the UnitedHealthcare TTT women’s squad that finished third on Stage Three of the Amgen Tour of California. Ewart was also an Olympic torchbearer on her bike for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Tuft Enough Bicycle Touring is the Life for Me
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’ve written a few articles now that stress the importance of changing your routine, switching things up – not only for your body to reset and strengthen again, but also for the mental break it provides. It’s funny because now I find myself coming full circle. It’s how I started out in this crazy game. Innocently enough, I just wanted to see the world. I welded BMX wheels to a steel trailer and bought a crappy used 10-speed bike from a Value Village. Loaded down with way too much stuff, I hit the highway with my dog and fell in love with the freedom of the road. Now, some 20 years later, I shake my head at the path I’ve taken from that simple life. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret a thing. It’s been an amazing journey, but I find myself craving that simplicity once again. So this summer, when faced with a month of hard training before the Vuelta, I saw two options. One was to go the same path I’ve been beating down for 15 years. Intervals, climbing efforts and time-trial workouts on the same routes that I could ride blindfolded. Or option two, which was to hit the road and explore the Pyrenees, ticking off all the boxes while seeing one of the most beautiful parts of France and Spain. I chose option two, and it revolutionized how I go about training these days. Two-hundred-plus kilometres go by quite nicely when Tuft hitting the road to throw some fun into you’re riding point to point his training program. and the terrain is mostly new
to you. It changes your entire outlook on training. You no longer dread those 5x5-minute Vo2Max efforts; you just let the distance and the parcours do the work. The adaptation will occur. Of course, you will still need to work on your intensity, but I think there’s much to be gained by throwing some fun touring into your program. Riding an hour-long climb with an extra 15 kilo strapped to your bike definitely builds the aerobic system, and the distance and hours ridden tap into an energy reserve I can’t say I’ve experienced when only doing five- and six-hour rides. I’m still a big believer in undertaking many different activities and finding that balance in life, and I really think if you’re struggling with your same old training program, it’s great to throw in a mini-tour here and there. Begin with a few days and work your way up to a week. I recommend three-day blocks. Be sure to stop somewhere interesting on your rest day and enjoy it! I’ve just come back from a team camp in Switzerland. I decided to ride from Andorra to our team base in Varese. I gave myself six days, with five days of riding the 1,000 kilometres. By the time I was closing in on Varese, I just wanted to continue right on past and carry on down south exploring the Mediterranean. I’m addicted, and will continue this as part of my training in the coming years. Travel is a beautiful part of life, and if you love biking, then traveling this way will be something you will grow to love. Happy travels.
Canada’s Ellsay and Watters Join Colavita/Bianchi for 2017 Team Colavita/Bianchi continues its long-running support of women’s cycling with a reinforced roster for 2017, as well as a new partnership with the Killington Mountain School. Canadians Gillian Ellsay and Ellen Watters will both ride their first year as Professionals with the team in 2017, joining a talented squad that includes U23 U.S. Cyclocross champion Ellen Noble, Kendelle Hodges of Australia and Emma Grant of the United Kingdom. “I’m really excited about this move! Ever since I started racing a few years ago, I have wanted to race professionally, and Colavita/Bianchi is such a great fit. I’m really looking forward to racing amongst the best Professional female cyclists in the world,” said Watters, formerly with The Cyclery-Opus. Ellsay was eighth in the junior women’s ITT at the 2015 Road Worlds and won the U25 jersey at the San Dimas Stage Race this year. “I spent two seasons with Trek-Red Truck, and their program was so instrumental in my second-year junior development and into my first year as a senior. I have not discussed my role in depth with Colavita and expect to be mainly a supporting ride as a first-year Professional, but hopefully I will be able to get in some results as well,” commented Ellsay. The Colavita/KSM women’s development program will strive to develop highly competitive junior cyclists while ensuring that every athlete receives an exceptional college-preparatory education.
courtesy of Svein Tuft
Montreal to Host the 2017 Winter Cycling Congress
18 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
The 2017 Winter Cycling Congress, Congrès sur le vélo d’hiver, will be held in Montreal from Feb. 8-10, 2017. Until recently, winter cycling was virtually unheard of outside of a few countries in northern Europe. But with cycling on the rise around the world, this form of urban transportation is growing in popularity, not only in Europe, but also in some Canadian and U.S. cities known for their harsher winter conditions. Infrastructure, education and multiple facets of the practice of cycling in Continued on page 22 www.pedalmag.com
by Sandra Walter
Pan American Track Cycling Championships 2016
PHOTOS: CYCLING CANADA
Canada Brings Home Nine Medals
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welve athletes represented Canada at the Pan American Track Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Oct. 4-9, bringing home a total of nine medals while finishing third in the overall standings. The successful development project was highlighted by Stefan Ritter’s two junior world records in the 1,000-metre and 200-metre time trials and the Team Pursuit squad’s first subfour-minute ride. Canada made three podium appearances on the first day of competition, led by Ed Veal, Aidan Caves, Jay Lamoureux and Adam Jamieson, who logged their first sub-four-minute performance while setting a new Canadian record in the men’s Team Pursuit and capturing silver. The men’s Team Sprint squad of Patrice Pivin, Joel Archambault and Stefan Ritter powered to bronze, while Jasmin Glaesser also earned a bronze in the women’s Individual Pursuit. Team Canada earned another two medals on the second day of racing, winning gold and bronze. Ritter set his first junior world record in the 1,000-metre time trial to finish third in the Elite category. The Canadian women’s Team Pursuit squad that took to the track was composed primarily of development riders, with Glaesser the only member of the Olympic bronze-medal crew. Glaesser, Ariane Bonhomme, Kinley Gibson and Jamie Gilgen qualified first and went on to catch the Mexico squad in the gold-medal final to take the Pan Am title in a time of four minutes, 21.741 seconds. The women’s Scratch race ended in a bunch sprint, with Glaesser taking fifth and Gilgen ninth. The Canadian medal run continued on Day Three when La moureux sped to silver in the men’s Individual Pursuit. He qualified first, but came up short in the final against winner Eduardo Estrada (COL). Jamieson finished 10th. Two Canucks raced in the men’s Points race, with Jamieson finishing eighth and Veal 10th behind winner Esteban Arango (COL). Ritter qualified fifth overall in the men’s sprint, stopping the clock in 9.738 seconds for the Flying 200-metre time trial, a new junior world record, to go with his previous day’s achievement. Archambault qualified eighth and Pivin was 16th. Pivin did not move on to the heats. In the following day’s heats, both Ritter and Archambault made it to the quarterfinals in the men’s sprint, but they did not advance, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. Glaesser contributed another gold to the Canadian medal haul on the Day Four women’s Points race aided by teammate Bon www.pedalmag.com
(clockwise from top left) Men’s Team Pursuit; Jay Lamoureux second in men’s indivdual Pursuit; men’s Team Sprint second; Aidan Caves (centre) winner of men’s Omnium; women’s Team Pursuit winners; Jasmin Glaesser winner of women’s Points race
homme, who grabbed bronze in what was her first Elite foray into the event. Glaesser lapped the field early on and then maintained her lead throughout the rest of the race. Bonhomme also took a lap to finish only two points out of silver, which went to Arlenis Sierra (CUB). Caves wrapped up an excellent men’s Omnium, taking gold. He started the second day of competition in the six-event contest with a perfect record of three wins, continuing his streak in the next two events – the 1,000-metre time trial and the Flying Lap. He started the final Points race with a commanding lead. This gave him the luxury of riding more conservatively to secure the overall title. Gibson was the top Canadian on the final day of competition, finishing fourth in the women’s Omnium. In the men’s Keirin, both Ritter and Archambault made it through the preliminary rounds to the final six – the race for the medals. In the end, Ritter finished fifth, with Archambault in sixth. Results Men’s Team Sprint 1. Colombia 42.772; 2. Argentina 43.805; 3. Canada 44.299 (Patrice Pivin, Joel Archambault, Stefan Ritter); Men’s Scratch Race 1. Jose Alfredo Santoyo (MEX); 2. Zak Kovalck (USA); 3. Edwing Sutherland (BAR); Canadians 5. Evan Burtnick (CAN); Women’s Scratch Race 1. Yarely Salazar (MEX); 2. Paola Muñoz (CHI); 3. Arlenis Sierra (CUB); Other Canadians 5. Jasmin Glaesser (CAN); 9. Jamie Gilgen (CAN); Men’s Team Pursuit 1. Colombia 3:55.362; 2. Canada 3:59.931 (Ed Veal, Aidan Caves, Jay Lamoureux, Adam Jamieson); 3. Chile 3:59.154; Women’s Team Pursuit 1. Canada 4:21.741 (Jasmin Glaesser, Ariane Bonhomme, Kinley Gibson, Jamie Gilgen); 2. Mexico 4:30.658; 3. Chile; Men’s 1,000m Time Trial 1. Santiago Ramirez (COL) 0:59.135; 2. Diego Pena (COL) 1:00.303; 3. Stefan Ritter (CAN) 1:00.578; Men’s Individual Pursuit 1. Eduardo Estrada (COL) 4:16.167; 2. Jay Lamoureux (CAN) 4:16.950; 3. Edison Bravo (CHI) 4:13.007; Other Canadians 10. Adam Jamieson (CAN) 4:26.157; Women’s Individual Pursuit 1. Kelly Caitin (USA); 2. Marlies Mejías (CUB); 3. Jasmin Glaesser (CAN); Other Canadians 7. Ariane Bonhomme (CAN); Men’s Sprint 1. Fabian Puerta (COL); 2. Jair Tjon En Fa (SUR); 3. Santiago Ramirez (COL); Canadians 7. Joel Archambault (CAN); 8. Stefan Ritter (CAN); Men’s Points Race 1. Juan Esteban Arango (COL) 76 points; 2. Manuel Oseas (GUA) 75; 3. Ruben Ramos (CHI) 70; Canadians 8. Adam Jamieson (CAN) 34; 10. Ed Veal (CAN) 29; Women’s Points Race 1. Jasmin Glaesser (CAN) 37 points; 2. Arlenis Sierra (CUB) 26; 3. Arianne Bonhomme (CAN) 24; Men’s Omnium 1. Aidan Caves (CAN) 246 points; 2. Julio Padilla (GUA) 228; 3. Zak Kovalcik (USA) 208; Women’s Omnium 1. Marlies Mejias (CUB) 231 points; 2. Yarely Salazar (MEX) 211; 3. Yeny Lorena Colmenares (COL) 199; Canadians 4. Kinley Gibson (CAN) 193; Men’s Keirin 1. Fabian Puerta (COL); 2. Leandro Bottasso (ARG); 3. Kwesi Browne (TTO); Canadians 5. Stefan Ritter (CAN); 6. Joel Archambault (CAN). WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 19
out in front
by RaphaEl Gagné
MTB Frontlines Season Wrap and Training for 2017
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Raphael GAGNÉ
n 2016, all eyes were on the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, and it had been my lifelong goal to make it there! It was a dream come true to race my first Olympics, with all the hard work and the highs and lows in getting there. I was disappointed with the end result, taking 40th on a day that I didn’t feel at my best, but I was proud to race at the Olympics for Canada and to be part of such a successful team, with our MTB (mountain-bike) girls taking amazing third- and fourth-place finishes. My 2016 season featured a second place in the US Cup overall as well as winning the USA Cycling Pro XCT Series. My best World Cup result was 12th place in Australia, which granted me my spot in Rio. It’s been a great season and I’m thankful for all the support this year from my new team, Cannondale. Now I’m hungry for much more in the future and I’m very motivated to work toward Tokyo in four years. I enjoyed an approximately two-month-long, well-deserved, needed recovery phase in the early fall, a lot longer than usual, in order to ensure I began the next sea-
son on solid footing. I still stayed active, riding very easy or enjoying some great hiking at a walking pace – something I’m not used to. Then I slowly picked up training and started racing cyclocross, but this fall was much different. I raced only for fun because I genuinely love racing cyclocross and because I missed it. I didn’t have the training and strength in my legs to back up such a high-intensity discipline, but I still enjoyed being out there and racing to sixth at Nationals as well as capturing the Provincial title. I had a fun fall, enjoying more MTB rides, as well as lots of gravel rides on my cyclocross bike, finding myself exploring the backcountry at home and a maze of fire-roads. I will be traveling to three short training camps this winter, as I like to keep them short and productive. It’s the time of the year for some time at home and, most of all, to enjoy my cross-country-skiing and fatbike training set-up. The first camp will be one week in Cuba beginning Dec. 10, complete with my girlfriend, base-mile focus and four-hours-a-day low-intensity training. Then I’m off to Santa Monica in California on Dec. 27 with the Quebec Provincial team for two and a half weeks of road and MTB, base miles with lots of elevation, good training partners and friends and 20 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
great times, plus keeping in touch with the younger up-and-coming athletes. Mid-January, I’m back home for a good month and will usually be out cross-country skiing three days a week, then three days a week on the bike, either on my fatbike or on my rollers. Speaking about indoor bikes, my roller had 14 years on it, so it was time for a change. I’m upgrading to a more fluid and realistic roller this winter: I just ordered my E-Motion rollers from InsideRide. It’s still a three-roller system, but it has forward and backward balance plus bumper features, so you can do easy rides as well as maximal sprints out of the saddle. I’ve tried it out a few times at indoor bike centres and loved it – it’s pretty addictive. I’ve wanted one for the past couple of years and thought it was time to invest in my indoor-bike set-up. I’ve been using a Stages powermeter on my bikes for the past three years, so it allows me to use the rollers with precise training intensity. For me, rollers are the best type of platform to improve your pedaling efficiency and velocity, something many cyclists, especially mountain bikers could work on a little more. On the other hand, when I’m on the fatbike, it’s definitely similar to the MTB in terms of lower cadence, higher torque and technical skills work. My fatbike is set up like my MTB race bike – I even use a Lefty suspension. It’s really easy to put in the hours on a fatbike. It’s such fun and always challenging to pedal up the hills and maintain control on snowy, sometimes icy descents. A warning about fatbikes though – because it’s so much fun, it’s easy to overdo it. You Find a balance between indoor training and need to realize it’s not designed for recovery or activities such as fatendurance rides. The bike is heavier, the conbiking which remains popular with more races ditions are slow and you’ll always find yourself and festivals each year. torque’ing. If you are a serious racer, you’ll need to find a balance between the indoor bike for fitness/measured training and the fatbike for the fun, technical training. I will likely race one weekend on the fat bike over the winter, around end of January, and may try to defend my Quebec Provincial champion title. The discipline is growing so much, lots of fatbike centres are opening up in my area and many festivals or races are on the schedule. Fat biking is pretty new to me, as I only took it up last January. Key things necessary to have fun on a fatbike are warm shoes and tires with very good traction, so this winter I’m upgrading to the Maxxis Minion FBF and FBR. Last but not least, your hands will freeze if you don’t have handlebar mittens, so wear thin summer gloves inside them to retain all the feel and control in the cockpit. It’s my greatest upgrade –I’ve hooked up my Fat Caad to CE UNIK compak bar mittens and my hands are happy now. My last camp will take me to Victoria, B.C. for two weeks with the Canadian National team at the end of February. It’s great that we have the opportunity to train together as a team and to push ourselves. The end of this camp will feature the start of the 2017 racing season, with the first Canada Cup in Bear Mountain, B.C. on March 6. Happy winter. www.pedalmag.com
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out in front
BY Monique Sullivan
Continued from page 18 winter (transport, leisure, tourism) and the benefits, impacts and outcomes of winter cycling will be the four main themes of the 2017 Winter Cycling Congress. An initiative of the Winter Cycling Federation, previous events have been held in Oulu, Finland (2013); Winnipeg, Man. (2014); Leeuwarden, The Netherlands (2015) and in St. Paul, Minn. (2016).
Sullivan Report Knowing Yourself
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port psychology is sometimes seen as a secondary element in preparation for an event. Of course, it doesn’t replace your physical training, and it’s true that many riders find success without specifically targeting their mental state, however most of us can really benefit from a stronger emphasis on our psychology. For example, do you think being an emotional athlete is a good or a bad thing? What about an aggressive athlete? How about a logical, questioning or confident athlete? The thing is, none of these qualities is inherently good or bad. All of them can be good, and all of them can be bad, depending on the context. It’s up to you to discover which qualities come naturally to you, so that you can harness them to your advantage, and not them hijack you. For example, I am an emotional athlete. This can be an advantage because I care a lot and can use those feelings to push myself in training. However, being emotional can sometimes sidetrack me and distract me from the task at hand. In order to manage my emotions, we started using tools such as journaling, training debriefs and short-term goals. Journaling: Journaling may sound silly, but it has very real benefits. When you journal, you have to think about how you’re feeling, and you have to come up with specific words to describe those emotions. This process forces you to use your brain more objectively, which reduces the power of the emotions. Debriefs: After each race or training session, 22 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Guy Swarbrick
Ryan Aitcheson Signs with First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy
doing a proper debrief to Sullivan says targeting analyze your performance your mental state is an objectively can be a very additional tool to your powerful tool. It will result in physical training. clear takeaways to focus on for the next session. For example, if you did your debrief and found that your tactics were off, then you know where to put additional focus moving forward. Don’t assume that important lessons will jump off the page – it often requires a thoughtful, thorough debrief to really see what factors influenced your result. Short-term goals: For each workout, I lay out specific goals for that session. These are tangible, realistic goals that fit in the bigger picture such as “ride the black line” or “focus on staying smooth in the last half-lap.” I write these out the night before and they keep me right on target for each session, regardless of how I’m feeling on each day. What about your qualities? How can you manage your unique set of abilities better? If you’re a logical athlete, does this mean you are awesome at analyzing power numbers, but unable to read a race? Are you questioning your training too much, or are you trusting the process? Are you overconfident and not learning from those around you, or is your confidence helping you win races? Each athlete will have an individual response to these questions, but it’s worth taking the time to uncover these truths for yourself. They can serve as a great starting point for where to put your focus as we head into the off-season.
Ryan Aitcheson will ride with the First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy team. Aitche son became the first Canadian to win the USA Crits Series overall after a successful 2016 campaign. The move follows the announcement earlier this season that Aitcheson’s association with Astellas Pro Cycling would not be continuing past the conclusion of the 2016 season. “I talked with many teams – a program with top athletes focusing on hitting the top Crits is actually hard to find. I looked and found a smaller team with great guys, great athletes who have the drive to race 70+ times a year at Crits. Couldn’t be more excited to join a program like that,” said Aitcheson. First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy is an Elite amateur-cycling team based in Fishers, Ind. with a roster of riders from across the Midwest. The squad is captained by riders Paul Martin and Ryan Knapp, whom Aitcheson had been teammates with before while racing for the Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist program.
Roorda on the Podium in Switzerland Steph Roorda landed on the podium in the women’s Omnium at the Track Cycling Challenge held on Dec. 2-3 at the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland. Roorda finished with 138 points, three points behind Ellie Dickinson (GBR) in second and 21 points behind winner Emily Nelson (GBR). Roorda kicked off the Omnium in sixth place after the Scratch race. She then won the tempo race, and followed up this performance with a third-place finish in the Elimination race. At the conclusion of the final event of the Omnium, the Points race, Roorda was a member of a four-way tie, each rider with 20 points. Roorda’s strong third-place finish resulted in her taking third in the Omnium overall. Roorda was a member of a five-rider Canadian contingent at the Track Cycling Challenge, including Aidan Caves, Adam Jamieson, Bayley Simpson and Derek Gee. www.pedalmag.com
BY John Symon
Van den Ham Takes First CX UCI C1 Podium in Oklahoma
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CCC
Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that a bid has been submitted to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for a three-year sanction to hold a Track World Cup at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. The bid is for a multi-year hosting of three consecutive years, beginning in 2017-18 and going through 2018-19 and 2019-20, leading into the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The World Cup is the highest level of competition, and is a critical component of qualifying starting positions for World Championships and Olympic Games. The Mattamy National Cycling Centre, built to host the track events at the 2015 Pan Am Games, is a Category 1 homologated velodrome, and one of only two velodromes in North America that meets the requirements to host WorldCup-level competitions. The UCI will release the 2017-18 calendar during the UCI Congress at the Road World Championships (Oct. 9-16), with dates based on pairing locations that are in the same region. The Milton World Cup could be either in the Fall 2017 or Winter 2018. “We are pleased to be considered as a potential host to top-level World Cup events in Milton,” stated Jacques Landry, high-performance director at Cycling Canada. “Holding these World Cups in our backyard will help continue to build the popularity of track cycling in Canada, all the while giving our best track athletes the chance to shine on the international stage in front of their home crowd leading into the Tokyo Olympics.”
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ierre Lafontaine has been hired as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Cycling Canada, replacing Greg Mathieu, who retired after serving the organization for seven years. Lafontaine is widely acclaimed as an innovative leader with a wealth of international experience, most recently as CEO at Cross Country Canada since 2015. Previously, he was CEO and National coach of Swimming Natation Canada from 200513, followed by two years as CEO of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. A medal-winning performer at Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships, and the Pan Am, Parapan Am and Commonwealth Games, he has built critical relationships with key stakeholders that include Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee to develop world-leading near Barrie, Ont., both for (above) New Cycling Canada the Pan Am 2015 Games; CEO Pierre Lafontaine
inaugurated the Cycling Canada Hall of Fame and the Hop On Campaign (encouraging people to get on their bikes and contribute to Canada’s reputation as a leading cycling nation) and hired 10 more coaches. During his tenure, Canada also won multiple medals at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Pan Am Games, with record-setting levels attained. He was recently honoured at a gala held in Ottawa, Ont. to recognize Canada’s Olympians and Paralympians. “We have enjoyed the stability of our senior-management team under Greg’s leadership since 2009, and are appreciative of the efforts made to further the growth of the organization, while increasing our capacity in key areas of high performance, development and marketing,” noted Tolkamp. “His successor will be expected to build on this growth and ensure continued recognition of Cycling Canada as a leading national-sport organization.” “It has been, and continues to be, an incredible experience working in a sport with such dedicated, passionate staff and volunteers,” said Mathieu. “Seeing Canadian riders succeed at the highest levels and becoming role models for the next generation has been quite rewarding, as has the development of more world-class cycling races and facilities in the country.”
(left) Retiring CEO Greg Mathieu is honoured at a season-end gala in Ottawa.
pedalmag.com
Cycling Canada Bids for Track World Cup Three-year Sanction
Pierre Lafontaine Named Cycling Canada CEO as Greg Mathieu Retires Ruts N’ Guts
Alberta’s Michael van den Ham (Garneau-Easton) landed his first Union Cycliste Internationale C1 podium, claiming third in a sprint to Michael the line in the Elite van den Ham men’s race on the opening day at the Ruts N’ Guts event in Broken Arrow, Okla. Van den Ham followed up this performance with a solid sixth-place finish at the C2 event the next day. Van den Ham has shown consistent improvement over the years and throughout this season. His C1 podium confirms that he is motivated to tangle with the best on the North America cyclocross scene.
high-performance programs. “Pierre is an energetic, passionate and experienced leader who is a known performer in the area of sport development,” said John Tolkamp, president of Cycling Canada, adding that Lafontaine was hired following an extensive national search. “He will be counted on to lead our exceptional staff towards realizing the vision of being a leading cycling nation by 2020.” Mathieu’s career spans some 35 years, and his legacy at Cycling Canada includes a long list of achievements, most notably the worldclass indoor velodrome at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. In addition, he oversaw a world-class BMX track build in Toronto at Centennial Park, along with upgrades to the mountain-bike course at Hardwood Ski and Bike
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Québec Singletrack Expérience Offers Unique MTB Stage Race in 2017
by Ben Andrew
Groupe Pentathlon recently announced the launch of the Québec Singletrack Expérience (QSE), a unique international mountain-bike stage event in 2017 to be held July 29-Aug 5. The organization also manages the highly successful Pentathlon de Neiges, with more than 5,800 participants at the 2016 edition.
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ers, but it will find broad appeal with avid mountain bikers and weekend warriors looking for a unique challenge on remarkable trails. Riders from the U.S., Europe and Canada have already registered for the event. The program is made up of seven timed stages over the course of seven days, and will also include timed descents and timed climbs within the stages for riders to contest. Whatever your goal, QSE says all riders will find the relaxed or competitive environment they are looking for. With 80% of the course on professionally made singletrack and a visit to the UCI MTB World Cup in Mont-Ste-Anne on the final day included in the package, the riding is sure to be epic. With its mix of terrain, Gagné has a few equipment recommendations for participants. “A cross-country bike, with either 27.5” or 29” wheels, would be ideal. It is always good to have full suspension when marathon riding, but I don’t think it will be necessary for this event,” adds Gagné. When setting out to create the QSE, organizers hoped to address two areas they felt could be improved with stage races of this kind: transfer time between stages and time to change camps every night. The answer was a permanent base camp. Three lodging options are available, including camping, the residence of Merici College and the four-star Chateau Laurier. A range of amenities will also be available on site, including a canteen, showers, medical services, yoga, parking, entertainment and an evening campfire. “The fun about a permanent base camp is that it makes the experience so much more relaxing. No packing and unpacking, [no] need to wake up at 5:00 a.m. to take a shuttle to the next start line. Bike, chill and relax . . . and if you feel like it, go for a walk and discover charming Quebec City,” adds Calletta. (opposite and left below) This new With a base camp set amidst the historic event features some of the most walls of Quebec City and superb trails at all unique and remarkable mountain-bike trails in the province. QSE stages, this event is destined for your bucket list. For more information and to re- (below) The base camp for all stages will be near UNESCOserve space, visit www.quebecsingletrack. World-Heritage-designated Quebec City. com/en.
photos: Alice Chiche
roupe Pentathlon recently announced the launch of the Québec Singletrack Expérience (QSE), a unique international mountain-bike stage event in 2017 to be held July 29-Aug 5. The organization also manages the highly successful Pentathlon de Neiges, touted as the biggest event of its kind worldwide, with more than 5,800 participants at the 2016 edition. Beginning as a mountain-bike club in the Quebec City region, Groupe Pentathlon has a strong history in cycling. In fact, its Pentathlon de Neiges event was originally designed for winter cycling, so its new QSE is a fitting return to its roots. François Calletta, general director, believes that the QSE will have a winning formula similar to the other events that Groupe Pentathlon organizes: “Incredible riding on professionally built trails in close proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage treasure – Quebec City! The single hub will offer simple and relaxed logistics where family and friends can be part of the fun,” says Calletta. Calletta also highlights the value of the event, which is competitively priced compared to other popular mountain-bike stage events. “We offer the best quality-price ratio in the market. At $1,500 for the complete base package (race, daily transfers, bike management and all meals), it’s unmatched, as the price is usually more than $2,500 for a similar package.” Based in downtown Quebec City, the inaugural QSE will kick off at the end of July, bringing mountain-bike stage racing to the East Coast. The event will feature seven outstanding destinations in the area: Mont-Ste-Anne, Vallée Brasdu-Nord, Shannahan and St-Raymond sectors, Sentiers du Moulin, Lac-Beauport, Valcartier military base and Lac Delage. The region is the backyard of Olympian Raphael Gagné (Cannondale 360fly p/b Sugoi), one of Canada’s top National team members. Gagné is excited to share his local trails with the riders who will attend the race. “The trails are right next to my home in Lac-Beauport near Mont-Ste-Anne, and are super-fun with a good mix of rocky, rooty and muddy sections,” says Gagné. “Very similar to Burke Mountain in Vermont or Hardwood Hills in Ontario, they’re fast and flowy.” The Expérience, with its festive ambience, will surely attract some Elite rid-
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WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 25
Fatbike
REPOUR
Winter Riding
Do’s and Don’ts Riding in the winter season used to be reserved for hardcore commuters and a select few mountain-bike riders who just refused to make the jump to ski sports in the off-season. Now, with the introduction and surge in popularity of fatbikes, more bums are staying on bicycle seats all four seasons, as winter fatbike riding is enjoyable, exhilarating and fun! Here are a few do’s and don’t’s to get you started this winter season.
by Mike Sarnecki
Don’t dress in one big bulky jacket. Do dress in layers. Riding in cold weather is a challenging proposition,
Don’t forget about your feet. Do think to keep your feet warm. New footwear on the market makes it easier
as your effort turning the pedals will produce heat and sweat, so it is important to layer properly in order to remain comfortable and warm out on the bike. A wicking base-layer is an important, with a long-sleeved jersey and insulating jacket over top. Don’t be afraid to use non-cycling-specific clothing either, as warmth is much more important than fit when fatbiking.
to keep your feet warm in the deep cold of the Canadian winter. If you plan to ride outside a lot, invest in a good pair of winter-specific cycling boots that put warm feet at the forefront of their design. Hot packs can be stuck to the top and or bottom of your toes to extend the time to cold feet. With cycling, your feet are static – stuck to the pedals. So when the temperatures dip ridiculously low, be sure to get off your bike and walk or run from a few seconds to a couple of minutes before your feet get too cold to easily stimulate the flow of warm blood to your bottom extremities.
Don’t dress in cotton. Do dress in wool. Wool is a great choice for winter fatbike riding, as it continues to keep you warm even after it is wet. A hooded base or mid-layer is a great option, as the hood covers both your head and neck, preventing that unwanted cold-air draft. 26 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Don’t let your hands get cold. Do spend money to keep your digits warm. Metal handlebars conduct heat better than plastic (carbon) handlebars, so if it is in your budget, upgrade to www.pedalmag.com
Nipika Mountain Resort
carbon – sorry, it’s just simple thermodynamics at play. This will lessen the heat loss from your hands, keeping them warmer. Battery-powered heated gloves are also available and provide hours of warm digits. Heated grips are also an option; also the addition of over-mitts (a.k.a. Bar Mitts/Poggies) are surprising effective in cutting down the wind and increasing the warmth of your hands – often resulting in the need for a lighter-weight gloves inside that boost dexterity and improve bike handling in the absence of a bulky glove.
Don’t let the dark get you down. Do invest in a good light. North of the 49th parallel, we reap the reward of long hours during the summer, but suffer in the dark during winter. A good set of lights coupled with the white of the snowpack make fatbiking at night enjoyable. www.pedalmag.com
Don’t pump your tires too hard. Do use a special tire-pressure gauge. Fatbike tires perform best at extremely low pressures, so invest in a simple tire gauge specifically for low PSI measurements so as to ensure you are dialing in the optimal pressure. Look for an analog or digital gauge with a scale to 15 or up to 30 psi.
Fatbiking rage continues to gain popularity across the country each winter.
Don’t always go solo. Do participate in group rides. The Canadian winter can be long and dark, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Participating in a fatbike group ride during the winter season can make you feel like a kid again, blasting through the snow with like-minded individuals. Beat those winter blahs with some fat-tires and fun friends. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 27
BIKE TEST
OTSO Voytek by Mike Sarnecki
THE BIKE Price:
$5,299
Weight:
n/a
Components:
Shimano XT M8000 1x11-speed 11-42T, Shimano M8000 disc brakes, Race Face Aeffect with custom offset Wolf Tooth 32t CAMO chainring, FSA cockpit, FSA SL-K carbon seatpost
Frame/Fork:
Voytek patent-pending carbon frame, Tuning Chip dropout system, 177x12 rear-axle spacing, Plus/Fat Narrow Q-factor design with PF107 BB. Voytek 51mm offset carbon fork, suspension-corrected (RockShox Bluto upgrade available)
Geometry:
69° headtube/73° seat-tube
Sizes:
S, M, L and XL
Comments:
A modern fatbike that doesn’t ride like a traditional fatbike, making for ear-to-ear smiles all ride long.
the ride Otso Cycles is a new bike company created by the engineers at Wolf Tooth Components in Minnesota who are dedicated to packing innovations, attention to detail and new ideas into their fun-to-ride bikes. The Voytek is Otso’s carbon-fibre hardtail mountain bike engineered around the Plus-Fat concept and designed to be ridden as a 27.5+, 29+, 29’er or fatbike with the ability to accommodate up to 26x4.6” tires on 70mm rims. Tested was the rigid fatbike configuration with 26x4.0” Terrene tires. Otso’s engineers have been riding fatbikes ever since they have been readily available as mass-production bicycles, and with their experience and expertise, decided to try and improve the sluggish feel that fatbikes traditionally have. Instead of designing the bike around the size of tire, Otso engineered the bike from the bottom bracket out. By using the 83mm DH bottom-bracket standard, Otso is able to narrow the Q-factor by 20mm over the normal fatbike standard, thus bringing the riders’ feet within a normal pedaling range under the hips. The high-end carbon Taiwanese-built frame features more carbon and less fibreglass and filler, a detail you really notice when you pick up the 28 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
deceivingly light frame and look closely at its construction and aesthetics. Not only does a narrower Q-factor improve your biomechanics, but it was also my experience that the bike handles better. When riding the Voytek, I noticed the bike cornered better than a traditional fatbike due to the reduction in leverage provided by the narrower Q-factor. Imagine an outrigger boat – the “outrig” stabilizes and prevents the boat from tipping. On a fatbike, the wider Q-factor acts like an outrigger, making it harder to tip the bike into a corner. The Voytek rides more like a traditional mountain bike, making it easier to lean into and rail corners. Speaking of railing corners, the Voytek is equipped with the shortest chainstays of any production fatbike (430mm). The patent-pending Tuning Chip rear-dropout system allows the chainstay length to be changed from a nimble 430mm to an in-between position of 440mm to a stable 450mm length. I tested the Voytek in the 430mm position and found the ride extremely playful and fun. Coupled with the added benefit of the above-mentioned narrow Q-factor, I ripped corners that I regularly ride so swiftly that it gave me a perma-grin. The modern geometry, with its slacker headtube angle and shorter www.pedalmag.com
With the hidden benefit of less outrigging, the bike handles much more like a mountain bike, which increases the winter-riding stoke factor exponentially.
chainstays, really does blur the line between a plus bike and a fatbike, as Otso suggests. With the narrowest Q-factor of any production fat-tire-compatible bike, the Voytek feels like a mountain bike, and opens up a new dimension in summer or winter riding with its potential to be the one mountain bike for all seasons. I found the geometry spot on, and its handling really does feels more like that of a mountain bike than that of a traditional fatbike. The Voytek has been built with a “no compromise spec,” and features a Shimano 1x11 drivetrain and disc brakes, DT Swiss 340 177 and 150mm hubs, custom 70mm Lithic Rhyolite aluminum tubeless compatible rims and Terrene Wazia tires. These fundamental parts have been carefully sewww.pedalmag.com
lected to deliver a superior ride, while customizable options are available that upgrade cranks, cockpit, wheels and tires. The shifting and braking was flawless, even in sub -20°C temperatures, and the Terrene tires, set up tubeless, hooked up exceptionally well in snow-packed singletrack. The Voytek was a pleasure to ride. In winter-riding conditions, it performs as you would like a fatbike to, without any sluggish, heavy feel. The narrow Q-factor is a significant benefit, as it also does away with any knee pain that may arise from prolonged wider-leg pedaling. With the hidden benefit of less outrigging, the bike handles much more like a mountain bike, which increases the winter-riding stoke factor exponentially. www.otsocycles.com WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 29
BIKE TEST
CERVÉLO S3 Disc by Tim Lefebvre
THE BIKE Price:
$4,930
Weight:
Frame and fork 1,465 grams
Components:
Shimano Ultegra 6800 11-speed with FSA SL-K crankset
Frame/Fork:
Cervélo all-carbon, tapered S3 fork for disc
Geometry:
Headtube 73.5°/seat-tube 73°
Sizes:
48, 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm
Comments:
Lightweight, stiff, aerodynamic . . . comfortable
the ride It has been more than two years since the original R3 Disc was unveiled, and now with the Union Cycliste Internationale dangling a green light in 2017 for disc brakes once again, Cervélo has launched its newest ride. If all goes to plan, Mark Cavendish and his Dimension Data teammates will be aboard this Canadian frameset designed out of Project California. The S3 Disc (which is No. 3 from Cervélo for disc road bikes, after the R3 and the C3 Endurance) claims to be two watts faster, nine-percent stiffer and 40g lighter than its highly touted predecessor – the S3 (with rim brakes). Working on the project was Toronto, Ont. engineer Graham Shrive, who claims this venture happened because there were improvements ready to go from the drawing board to the wind tunnel to production. The S3 Disc retains all the same geometry, but endeavours to make small changes that make big differences. Let’s begin with the fork, as a newly revised airfoil profile reduces pressure around the back of the crown and now boasts a 19g reduction in drag. Aesthetically, the bike looks fantastic without any brakes and exposed housing, but it also increases the space over the tire, allowing for different fork designs and room for a 25mm tire. The frameset has been redesigned not only to accommodate the difference in brakes, but to also improve aerodynamics. A new rear triangle with carbon dropouts is borrowed from the Rca frameset. Here, the chainstays receive the flat mounted brakes and carry on toward the unique asymmetric 79mm-wide BBRight™ bottom bracket. The frame’s tube shapes are essentially the same, including the carry-over rear-wheel cutout that Cervélo has used many times in its illustrious history. Those chainstays and seatstays have been redesigned with airfoil profiles. The dropped downtube with its chopped trailing edge remains, as does the cable-routing system that enters the downtube, also Di2-compatible. It is important to mention here that this new system will be able to accommodate all types of drivetrains and braking systems. 30 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Once past the two smallest frame sizes, Cervélo incorporates a 25mm offset for the seatpost. The thru-axles are 12mm, with Shimano’s BR-RS805 160mm hydraulic discs. There is an option for a Di2 Ultegra build that will run you close to $2,000 more, but Pedal chose to test the mechanical 11-speed. The build sits on a solid pair of HED Ardennes Plus GP Disc wheels that use a Conti Gran Sport Race 23mm tire. The aforementioned Ultegra groupset runs an 11-28 aboard a FSA SL-K 52/36 crank, necessary due to some chain-alignment difficulties. The saddle is a fi’zi:k Antares, and the bar/stem combo is a nicely fitted FSA SL-K stem and energy-compact bar. Touted as stronger, stiffer and faster, the S3 Disc has borrowed from www.pedalmag.com
The dampening effect is outstanding, be it the carbon or the lack of rim brakes and brake bridges on the frame. Hour after hour, the bike is a pleasure to dial in over the long rides.
its predecessors, but at the same time has honed the technology in the carbon lay-up, aerodynamics and refinement of the frame itself. The bikes lines and lack of brakes immediately give this ride a sleek linear finish that necessitates a second look. First comments from fellow riders will almost certainly focus on the lack of rim brakes and the visual effect this creates. Aboard the S3 Disc, the initial sensation is absolutely smooth and straight. The harshness of a superlight thin carbon build is not there; instead, it has the strong solid feel of titanium or steel. Standing up on the frame, it shoots forward with ease, and that massive bottom bracket works in conjunction with the tubes to optimize the stiffness. One test I always do is to stand beside my bike and lower the pedal to the bottom of the pedal stroke and stand on it with the other leg – in doing so, this BB did not flex in the slightest. Stiffness is definitely one of the S3’s greatest attributes, and the thru-axles are a big part of this. Climbing steep hills is as joyful as can be on this type of ride, with its complete power transfer. There are no glitches in the drivetrain, only smooth, crisp shifting from the Ultegra 11-speed. www.pedalmag.com
Of course, we would expect superb braking with the discs, and it is markedly better than the rim brakes. A true test would be a mountain descent in the rain, but unfortunately the Niagara area just can’t provide that. At high speeds, the brakes are incredible, with no shuddering or squealing, and thus giving more control and confidence in dicey situations. The ease with which one can access that calibre is a nice change as well. Again, Cervélo states that it’s stiffer, more aerodynamic, stronger and faster. I can tell you that is, without doubt, the most comfortable Cervélo I have ever been aboard. The dampening effect is outstanding, be it the carbon or the lack of rim brakes and brake bridges on the frame. Hour after hour, the bike is a pleasure to dial in over the long rides. Overall, this bike has taken the best technology Cervélo has to offer and created a bicycle good enough for the Data Dimension squad, and likely good enough to provide quality performance on any enthusiast’s gran fondo, charity and/or club ride. www.cervelo.com WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 31
cyclo-cross 2016 National CX Championships
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n cold and wet conditions, 11 titles were awarded at the 2016 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships held on Nov. 5 at a new venue in Jacques Car tier Park in Sherbrooke, Que., hosted by Club Cycliste de Sherbrooke. True cyclocross conditions, including several crashes and a technical course that received rave reviews, were the order of the day as a record 332 riders were on hand for a memorable and emotional day of racing. Maghalie Rochette (QC, LUNA Pro Team) claimed her first Elite women’s National cyclocross jersey with a stellar performance that none could match. Taking charge early on, she built a lead over her closest rival, Sandra Walter (Liv Cycling Canada) in second, with defending champion Mical Dyck (Naked Factory Racing) in third. Dyck looked strong off the start, but was not able to sustain her pace, and soon Rochette, who was just behind in the chase group, advanced to take the lead on the first lap of four, which she didn’t relinquish, taking a decisive win. Walter was steady in second, as Dyck was challenged by Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (QC, SAS-Macogep p/b Mazda), who was caught behind in an early crash for the final podium spot. But Dyck held on, with Ferrier-Bruneau taking fourth and Natasha Elliott (QC, Garneau-Easton Cycling) in fifth. “This is a long time coming,” said Rochette at the finish, as she celebrated with her family. “This year, the CX Nationals are in my backyard, so it’s great to share this victory with family and friends. I get to wear the Maple Leaf jersey, but there are so many people to thank who have helped me get here,” she told Pedal. A new champion was also crowned in the Elite men’s battle as Jeremy Martin (QC, Focus CX Team Canada) emerged as the strongest rider to take a well-deserved victory for his first National cyclocross title. His teammate, Alber-
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photos: Pasquale Stalteri
by Audrey Lemieux
tan Aaron Schooler, finished second, with veteran ’crosser and multi-decorated Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-3 Rox Racing) in third. Defending champion Raphael Gagné (QC, Cannondale 360fly p/b Sugoi) took an early lead, but he was quickly surpassed by Mark McConnell (Hot Sauce Cycling X Garneau), who was on fire and forced everyone to chase. McConnell’s lead was up to 16 seconds, but the chasers were slowly gaining, and by the halfway mark, Kabush and Schooler had moved into second and third, with Martin fourth and more chasers, including Gagné, just behind. As McConnell faded, it was Martin who surged to the front. Kabush faltered with an untimely crash, but was quickly up. Still, this allowed Schooler to take over second, which was how they finished. The two Focus CX riders were now in charge as Martin claimed a strong win and was all smiles with his first National jersey, with Schooler on the podium in second and Kabush in third. McConnell held on for a solid fourth, as Michael van den Ham (AB, Garneau-Easton Cycling) took fifth and Gagné finished sixth. “Geoff Kabush and I were able to bridge to McConnell, who had a strong start, and my teammate Aaron Schooler was there as well. We took the lead when McConnell crashed, and then Kabush crashed with about two laps to go, so I just made sure to keep safe until the finish. Great that Aaron was second . . . I’m super-happy to wear the Maple Leaf jersey for the year to come,” said Martin. “It’s hard to believe. I’ve been training for this for the last year and a half.” In the U23 men’s competition, Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team) dominated the race from the get-go for an unchallenged victory with his brother Quinton Disera, now also with Norco, in second at 2:10 behind. Peter Disera took the holeshot and never looked back, as Trevor O’Donnell (Realdeal/D’Ornellas p/b Garneau) claimed the final podium spot. “I was menwww.pedalmag.com
(facing left) Maghalie Rochette claimed her first Elite women’s National cyclocross jersey. (facing above) Sandra Walter took home the silver. (facing below left) Aaron Schooler battled to second in the Elite men’s race. (facing below right) Mark McConnell held on for fourth after leading for the first half of the race. (top) Jeremy Martin earned a well-deserved victory for the Elite men’s title. (left) All 2016 Cyclocross National winners take the stage.
tally prepared for today’s race and some strong battles with O’Donnell and Raphael Auclair. With a strong start and good gap with my brother in second, we just kept the pressure on,” commented the winner. “It was a course that suited me, and I’m happy with how I rode today.” Sidney McGill delivered another Focus CX Team Canada victory as she also took home her first National jersey in the 12km U23 women’s race, out-duelling defending champion Ruby West (Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com). West, who was leading, suffered an untimely crash on the slippery course, which opened the door for McGill. Erica Leonard (Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau) was third. “It was a tough course,” said McGill. “I took a short break after my MTB season and then raced some cyclocross events in preparation for Nationals – I’m really happy to win the title.” Ontario’s Gunnard Holmgren (Garneau-Easton Cycling) battled back to claim the junior men’s National champion title, with Martin Conor (TaG Cycling/Norco) only two seconds behind in second and Tyler Clark (KMS Cycling) at 52 seconds back in third. The three formed a lead group early on, with Holmgren and Conor taking turns at the front as early-leader Clark began to fade. In the end, Holmgren prevailed to take the win. “I was second last year, so Nationals was a big goal for me and everything came together, so I’m really happy,” said Holmgren. “The course was tough and technical and I made a couple of slip-ups, but in the end, I was able to recover and take the win.” The morning session saw the Masters and U17, U15 and U13 races start off the day as cyclocross fever hit Sherbrooke for a successful day of racing and celebrations. The organization was amazing, with the expo including Siboire Brewery to keep spectators and fans in a cheering mood for the courageous athletes who braved the day. www.pedalmag.com
Results 2016 Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships Nov. 5, 2016 - Sherbrooke, Que. Elite Men (18km) 1. Jérémy Martin (QC, Focus CX Team Canada) 0:56:27; 2. Aaron Schooler (ON, Focus CX Team Canada) 0:22; 3. Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 0:38; 4. Mark McConnell (AB, Hot Sauce Cycling X Garneau) 1:10; 5. Michael van den Ham (AB, Garneau-Easton Cycling) 1:31; Elite Women (12km) 1. Maghalie Rochette (QC, LUNA Pro Team) 0:42:13; 2. Sandra Walter (BC, Liv Cycling Canada) 1:10; 3. Mical Dyck (BC, Naked Factory Racing) 1:46; 4. Christel Ferrier Bruneau (QC, SAS-Macogep-Acquisio p/p Mazda) 1:54; 5. Natasha Elliott (QC, Garneau-Easton Cycling) 3:22; U23 Men (15km) 1. Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) 0:48:16; 2. Quinton Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) 2:10; 3. Trevor O’Donnell (ON, Realdeal/D’Ornellas p/b Garneau) 3:44; 4. Edward Walsh (NS, Team Nova Scotia) 4:11; 5. Raphael Auclair (QC, Team Pivot Cycles-Ote) 4:12; U23 Women (12km) 1. Sidney McGill (AB, Focus CX Team Canada) 0:43:27; 2. Ruby West (ON, Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com) 0:35; 3. Erica Leonard (ON, Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau) 4:12; 4. Dana Gilligan (ON, Centurion Next Wave) 4:13; 5. Magdeleine Vallieres (QC, Club Cycliste de Sherbrooke) 4:30; Junior U19 Men (12km) 1. Gunnar Holmgren (ON, Garneau-Easton Cycling) 0:39:08; 2. Conor Martin (BC, Tag Cycling/Norco) 0:02; 3. Tyler Clark (ON, KMS Cycling) 0:52; 4. Noah Simms (ON, Centurion Next Wave) 1:07; 5. Ethan Palamarek (AB, Alberta/CABC) 1:51; Men 30-39 (15km) 1. Thierry Laliberte (QC, Xprezo) 0:49:14; 2. Scott Lundy (CA, Serious Cycling) 0:13; 3. Doug van den Ham (ON, Nine2FivePro.com) 0:33; 4. Ryan Rutherford (ON, Bateman’s Bike Co.) 0:38; 5. Eric Jeannotte (QC, Ultime Vélo) 1:02; Women 30-39 (12km) 1. Nicole Muzechka (AB, HSC-Garneau) 0:48:46; 2. Isabelle Duchaine (QC, CVM Sigma Assurance) 4:39; 3. Marie-Eve Lahaie (QC, CCS Dalbix) 4:49; 4. Elisa Piscollo (QC, Independent) 10:31; 5. Jules Gorham (QC, Independent) 11:13; DNF Marie-Renée Vial (QC, Independent) -3 laps; DNS Safia Genereux-Khali (QC, Independent); Men 40-49 (15km) 1. Todd Bowden (CT, Aetna-Expo Wheelmen) 0:48:38; 2. Andre Sutton (AB, Hardcore Bikes) 0:29; 3. Jean-Francois Blais (QC, Trek-GPL) 1:49; 4. Robert Holmgren (ON, Centurion Next Wave) 1:51; 5. Paul Martin (AB, Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle) 1:58; Women 40+ (12km) 1. Julie Lafreniere (ON, Independent) 0:45:23; 2. Alana Heise (AB, HSC-Garneau) 1:38; 3. Jane McKeown (NB, Radical Edge) 4:45; 4. Cathy Rowell (MB, Bikeway Source Racing) 4:45; 5. Lori Kofman (ON, Erace Cancer Cycling Team) 5:37; Men 5059 (12km) 1. Lorenzo Caterini (NS, Hub Cycle/Craftsman Constr.) 0:40:41; 2. Robert Orange (QC, Ride With Rendall p/b Biemme) 0:34; 3. Scott Buschlen (ON, Independent) 1:03; 4. Bob Bergman (ON, Canadian Cycling Magazine) 1:16; 5. Greg Clark (ON, Centurion Next Wave) 1:31; Men 60+ (12 km) 1. David Staples (ON, Centurion Next Wave) 0:44:26; 2. Cornelius Kluge (SK, Velocity CC) 0:13; 3. Claude Breau (QC, Martin Swiss) 1:43; 4. James Laird (ON, Peak Racing/Valley Bike and Ski) 1:47; 5. Ian Parker (BC, HSC Garneau/West Coast Cycling) 2:01. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 33
Canadian Paralympic Committee
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2016 rio paralyMpic gaMeS by Sandra Walter
Cycling was Canada’s top-performing sport at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil, Sept. 7-18, with nine medals of a total 29 – a record for the nation. Led by Tristen Chernove’s three medals, the para-cycling team contributed 31% of Canada’s total medal count. Ross Wilson brought home two silvers, Charles Moreau won two bronze, Michael Sametz earned a bronze and Shelley Gautier also captured a bronze medal. Jacques Landry, director of high performance for Cycling Canada, explained the team’s leap in performance: “It all came from looking at the process; we enhanced our daily training environment, the time the coaches spend with the athletes, the training and recovery and proper monitoring of the athletes, we brought in our sports psychologist, and that helped a lot with our athletes. We were able to arrive at these Games with a better mindset and better preparation.”
Tristen Chernove led the Canadians with an impressive medal haul, including gold, silver and bronze medals. www.pedalmag.com
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RIO – TRACK
Daniel Chalifour of Ste-Therese, Que. and pilot Jean-Michel Lachance of Quebec City, Que. qualified ninth in the men’s 4,000-metre B tandem Individual Pursuit. They missed out on the medal rounds, as Great Britain’s Steve Bate and pilot Adam Duggleby set a world record in qualifying and went on to secure gold.
Time Trial Chernove kept the momentum going from the track with an inspired ride in the men’s 1,000-metre time trial, setting a new Paralympic record in his C2 category with a time of one minute, 14.716 seconds. After times were factored in the Combined C1, C2 and C3 competition, Chernove was ranked third overall behind the winner, C1 rider Zhangyu, who set a world record in the process. Canada’s Wilson finished 15th, followed by Sametz in 17th.
Canadian Paralympic Committee
The cycling action in Rio started on the track at the velodrome built expressly for the 2016 Games. Canada’s medal windfall began on Day Two of competition with two silvers. Wilson of Edmonton, Alta. collected silver behind Li Zhangyu (CHN) in the men’s 3,000-metre C1 Individual Pursuit after qualifying second to Zhangyu, who set a world record. In the final, Wilson was caught, automatically ending the race. “I rode the fastest I have ever ridden, so I think I can be proud and hold my head high,” said Wilson. “I think it’s pretty cool to win the first medal and I hope this opens the floodgates.” Wilson’s words were prophetic, as the team’s second silver came shortly after from Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C. in the men’s 3,000-metre C2 Individual Pursuit. Chernove finished less than three seconds behind the winner, Liang Guihua (CHN). Sametz of Calgary, Alta. landed a berth in the ride for bronze after he qualified third in the 3,000-metre C3 competition, but Clifford Eoghan (IRL) bested Sametz when it counted and the Canadian had to settle for a solid fourth. David Nicholas (AUS) won gold. In other Canadian Individual Pursuit results, Marie-Claude Molnar of Lemoyne, Que. powered to fifth in the women’s 3,000-metre C4 contest. Matched in qualifying with world-record holder and eventual gold-medalist Shawn Morelli (USA), Molnar clocked the fifth-fastest time, which was not quite quick enough to move on to the medal rounds. Nicole Clermont of Laval, Que. finished ninth in the women’s 3,000metre C5 Individual Pursuit qualifier and did not advance. Winner Sarah Storey (GBR) set a new world record with a time of three minutes, 31.394 seconds.
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Individual Pursuit
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Frederic Barbeau
REPOUR
(opposite above) Daniel Chalifour and pilot Jean-Michel Lachance qualified ninth in the men’s 4,000-metre B tandem. (opposite) Ross Wilson won Canada’s first medal of the Games, winning silver in the men’s 3,000-metre C1 Individual Pursuit. (above) Michael Sametz just missed the podium, coming in fourth in the men’s 3,000-metre C3 Individual Pursuit. (left) Nicole Clermont of Laval finished ninth in the women’s 3,000-metre C5 Individual Pursuit qualifier. Canadian Paralympic Committee
(below) Marie-Claude Molnar powered to fifth in the women’s 3,000-metre C4 race.
Track Results Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit - 3,000m 1. Shawn Morelli (USA) 3:59.407; 2. Susan Powell (AUS) 4:04.794; 3. Megan Fisher (USA) 4:04.081; Canadians 5. Marie-Claude Molnar (CAN) 4:08.452. Women’s C5 Individual Pursuit - 3,000m 1. Sarah Storey (GBR); 2. Crystal Lane (GBR) caught; 3. Samantha Bosco (USA) 3:54.697; Canadians 9. Nicole Clermont (CAN) 4:08.557. Men’s B Individual Pursuit - 4,000m 1. Steve Bate/Adam Duggleby (GBR) 4:08.631; 2. Vincent ter Schure/Timo Fransen (NED) 4:10.294; 3. Stephen De Vries/Patrick Bos (NED) 4:15.769; Canadians 9. Daniel Chalifour/Jean-Michel Lachance (CAN) 4:24.129.
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Men’s C1 Individual Pursuit - 3,000m 1. Zhangyu Li (CHN); 2. Ross Wilson (CAN) caught, 3. Arnoud Nijhuis (NED).
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Men’s C2 Individual Pursuit - 3,000m 1. Guihua Liang (CHN) 3:44.553; 2. Tristen Chernove (CAN) 3:47.412; 3. Louis Rolfe (GBR) 3:47.951. Men’s C3 Individual Pursuit - 3,000m 1. David Nicholas (AUS) 3:33.028; 2. Joseph Berenyi (USA) 3:34.042; 3. Eoghan Clifford (IRL) 3:40.201; Canadians 4. Micheal Sametz (CAN) 3:41.590. Men’s C1-2-3 Time Trial - 1,000m 1. Li Zhangyu (CHN) 1:06.678; 2. Arnoud Nijhuis (NED) 1:07.999; 3. Tristen Chernove (CAN) 1:09.583; Other Canadians 15. Ross Wilson (CAN) 1:14.549; 17. Michael Sametz (CAN) 1:15.171. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 37
RIO – ROAD Time Trial The time trial was the first of the para-cycling road disciplines, held in the seaside Pontal district of Rio de Janeiro. Canadians had a stellar day, scoring five medals in the event. On a truly hot streak, Chernove won Canada’s first cycling gold of the Paralympics in the men’s 20km C2 race, completing the course nearly 20 seconds faster than second-place Colin Lynch (IRL). It was Chernove’s third medal of the Paralympic Games, after winning silver and bronze in the track competitions. “You only get these moments so often in life, and I wanted to have a positive outlook and be in the moment, and not let the anxieties or pressures get to me,” said Chernove. “That really happened today, and that made all the difference. I just wanted to have a great bike ride in a beautiful place.” Wilson added to the hardware count with a silver-medal performance in the men’s 20km C1 competition, won by Michael Teuber (GER). The medals kept coming for Canada, as Moreau snapped up a bronze in the men’s 20km H3 competition. Gold went to Vittorio Podesta (ITA). Sametz went on to pick up another bronze for Canada in the men’s 30km C3 event, 19.49 seconds behind rival and gold-medal winner Clifford. Gautier of Toronto, Ont. collected Canada’s final medal of the day with a bronze in the Combined women’s 15km T1-T2 time trial. Gautier, the only T1 in the competition, finished 39.47 seconds behind gold-medal winner Carol Cooke (AUS), with silver medalist Jill Walsh (USA) a mere 1.2 seconds faster than Gautier. Fellow Canuck Marie-Eve Croteau took sixth in the event. In other Canadian results, Molnar finished a strong fifth in the women’s 20km C4 and Clermont rode to eighth in the women’s C5 time trials. Robbi Weldon and pilot Audrey Lemieux finished seventh, and teammates Shawna Ryan and pilot Joanie Caron finished 13th in the women’s 30km B tandem competition, while their male counterparts, Chalifour and Lachance, finished 15th in the men’s 30km B contest.
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photos: Canadian Paralympic Committee
(opposite above) Charles Moreau snapped up a bronze in the men’s 20km H3 race for his first of two medals at the Games. (opposite left) Michael Sametz picked up bronze for Canada in the men’s 30km C3 competition. (opposite right) Shelley Gautier won bronze in the Combined women’s 15km T1-T2 time trial. (above) On a hot streak, Chernove won his third medal, Canada’s first cycling gold of the Games in the men’s 20km C2 race. (below) Ross Wilson claimed his second silver medal at the Games in the men’s 20km C1 race.
Road TT results Women’s C5 Time Trial - 20km 1. Sarah Storey (GBR) 27:22.42; 2. Anna Harkowska (POL) at 1:30.37; 3. Samantha Bosco (USA) 1:42.24; Canadians 8. Nicole Clermont (CAN) 3:10.10. Women’s C4 Time Trial - 20km 1. Shawn Morelli (USA) 29:45.40; 2. Megan Fisher (USA) at 30.32; 3. Susan Powell (AUS) 33.89; Canadians 5. Marie-Claude Molnar (CAN) 1:09.35. Women’s T1-2 Time Trial - 15km 1. Carol Cooke (AUS) 26:11.40; 2. Jill Walsh (USA) 26:49.67; 3. Shelley Gautier (CAN) 26:50.87; Other Canadians 6. Marie-Eve Croteau (CAN) 29:43.47. Men’s C1 Time Trial - 20km 1. Michael Teuber (GER) 27:53.98; 2. Ross Wilson (CAN) at 53.36; 3. Giancarlo Masini (ITA) 53.85. Men’s C2 Time Trial - 20km 1. Tristen Chernove (CAN) 27:43.16; 2. Colin Lynch (IRL) at 19.09; 3. Guihua Liang (CHN) 34.61. Men’s H3 Time Trial - 20km 1. Vittorio Podesta (ITA) 28:19.45; 2. Walter Ablinger (AUS) at 1:06.56; 3. Charles Moreau (CAN) 1:07.46. Women’s B Time Trial - 30km 1. Katie George Dunlevy/Evelyn McCrystal (IRL) 38:59.22; 2. Yurie Kanuma/ Mai Tanaka (JPN) at 33.70; 3. Lora Turnham/Corrine Hall (GBR) 34.59; Canadians 7. Robbi Weldon/Audrey Lemieux (CAN) 2:39.76; 13. Shawna Ryan/Joanie Caron (CAN) 4:05.11. Men’s B Time Trial - 30km 1. Steve Bate/Adam Duggleby (GBR) 34:35.33; 2. Vincent ter Schure/Timo Fransen (NED) at 8.83; 3. Kieran Modra/David Edwards (AUS) 33.73; Canadians 15. Daniel Chalifour/Jean-Michel Lachance (CAN) 2:34.20.
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rio – ROAD
Road Race
Frederic Barbeau
The para-cycling road races were also held in Pontal, on courses that featured the scenic waterfront Av. Lucio Costa, while some categories also tackled the challenging steep, twisty Circuito Grimari. The highlight of the day for Canada came when Moreau snagged bronze in a six-rider sprint finish in the men’s 60km H3 road race. Paolo Cecchetto (ITA) took the victory. “Yesterday [the time trial] was good – it was my first medal in Paralympics – but I expected better, I thought I could have pushed more. But today, with this bronze, I am ecstatic. I couldn’t ask for more today,” said Moreau. Croteau delivered Canada’s top performance in the women’s T1-T2 Combined-category road race. Croteau and her teammate, Gautier, finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 30km competition won by Cooke. Gautier was the only T1 competitor in the bunch. “I am very proud of my race,” said Croteau. “I didn’t miss it [the podium] by very much, and honestly it had been a while since I last rode in a pack.” Of her race, Gautier said: “I was the only T1 out there. I was able to stay with them [T2 riders] for a short while and then I was coming back, but the race ended before I could get to them.” Canada’s team leader, Chernove, overcame a crash in the Combined men’s 71.1km C1, C2 and C3 road race, finishing 15th overall and third C2. In the lap-one tumble, Chernove suffered a separated shoulder and a damaged bike, but he persevered to complete his race. Despite his mishap, Chernove, said, “My front-derailleur cable was broken and I had no front shifting, so I only had my small chainring for the whole race and had to spin at a really high rate the whole time. But I fought my way back to 15th, so I’m really proud of my effort and had to dig deep.” Steffen Warias (GER), a C3 rider, captured the gold medal. Canadians Wilson and Sametz did not finish. Canadian women’s B tandem squad riders Weldon of Thunder Bay, Ont. and her pilot Lemieux of Alma, Que. were the top finishers for Canada on the final day of cycling competition, pedaling to fifth place in the women’s 69km event. “It was a very good race, we were both super-pleased,” said Weldon. “After all our hill training, the hills felt much easier and we were able to stay with the climbers, which was one of our goals. To finish top-five . . . we are super-happy with that.” Their teammates Ryan of Saskatoon, Sask. and Caron of Rimouski, Que. finished 12th as the Polish duo of Iwona Podkoscielna and Aleksandra Teclaw earned the gold medal. Chalifour and Lachance did not finish after a crash in the men’s 99km B tandem event, which was won by Vincent ter Schure and Timo Fransen of The Netherlands. “We were in the top five or six after the first big climb, but then on the descent, our front wheel exploded. We were both a bit injured in the crash, so we decided that we could not finish the race,” said Lachance. Molnar finished 16th in the women’s 72km C4, C5 road race after bravely riding in a breakaway for the first hour. Clermont did not finish due to a crash. “All in all, we started off with a goal of three medals when we started the quad after London [2012 Paralympic Games], and we tripled that goal. Midway through the quad, we upped our goals, but we never thought that nine medals would have been possible,” said Landry of the squad’s historic Paralympic Games showing.
Frederic Barbeau
(above) Charles Moreau added a second bronze to his medal tally in the men’s 60km H3 road race.
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(left) Shelley Gautier was sixth in the women’s T1 2 road race. (above) Marie-Eve Croteau (front) was just off the podium, finishing fourth in the women’s T1 2 road race. (left) Robbi Weldon and her pilot Audrey Lemieux were the top finishers for Canada in the women’s 69km B road race, finishing fifth. www.pedalmag.com
Dave Holland/Canadian Paralympic Committee
Road Results Men’s H3 Road Race - 60km 1. Paolo Cecchetto (ITA) 1:33:17; 2. Maximilian Weber (GER); 3. Charles Moreau (CAN). Men’s C1-2-3 Road Race - 71.1km 1. Steffen Warias (GER) 1:49:11; 2. Kris Bosmans (BEL); 3. Fabio Anobile (ITA); Canadians 15. Tristen Chernove (CAN) at 5:38; DNF Ross Wilson (CAN); DNF Michael Sametz (CAN). Women’s T1-2 Road Race - 30km 1. Carol Cooke (AUS) 1:07:51; 2. Jill Walsh (USA) at 0:17; 3. Jana Majunke (GER) 0:28; Canadians 4. Marie-Eve Croteau (CAN) 0:51; 6. Shelley Gautier (CAN) 3:46. Women’s C4-5 Road Race - 72km 1. Sarah Storey (GBR) 2:15:42; 2. Anna Harkowska (POL) at 3:29; 3. Crystal Lane (GBR) 6:16; Canadians 16. Marie-Claude Molnar (CAN) 22:07; DNF Nicole Clermont (CAN).
Frederic Barbeau
Men’s B Road Race - 99km 1. Vincent ter Schure/Timo Fransen (NED) 2:26:33; 2. Ignacio Avila Rodriguez/Joan Font Bertoli (ESP); 3. Steve Bate/Adam Duggleby (GBR) at 0:30; Canadians DNF Daniel Chalifour/Jean-Michel Lachance (CAN).
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Women’s B Road Race - 69km 1. Iwona Podkoscielna/Aleksandra Teclaw (POL) 1:58:02; 2. Katie George Dunlevy/ Evelyn McCrystal (IRL) at 0:59; 3. Emma Foy/Laura Thompson (NZL) 1:31; Canadians 5. Robbi Weldon/Audrey Lemieux (CAN) 3:14; 12. Shawna Ryan/Joanie Caron (CAN) 13:38. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 41
The Evolution of Sprint Cycling by Gordon Singleton
Gordon (Gord) Singleton has raced from 1974 to the present day. A former worldrecord holder, he has an impressive list of accolades to his name. He is the first Canadian rider to win world-champion status and the only cyclist in history to simultaneously hold world records in all three distance categories of sprint cycling: 200-metre, 500-metre and 1,000-metre distances. With the addition of Masters events and an induction into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame in Milton, Ont., Singleton reflects upon his decades of racing and the evolution of his beloved sport. 42 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
B
efore I bought my first record, Jethro Tull’s Aqualung, or purchased my first car, a 1967 Ford Galaxie 500, I had my first two-wheeled bicycle – a bright-red Canadian-made CCM. It’s an interesting sight, putting it beside a bike of today. From wool to Lycra to the latest high-tech carbon-disc wheels, I was lucky enough to race and ride through it all in the quest for greatness and perfection in the sport. I have been reflecting upon the changes in sprint cycling over the years. I’m not sure whether it is the recent passing of my former teammate, Jocelyn Lovell, watching my son capture a Canadian title or experiencing an evening on the track with the 2014 World champion sprint team, who hail from New Zealand – no, I’m not going through a late midlife crisis. Having just turned 60, I’m pretty sure I have earned the right to compare the past to the present. In the summer of 2014, my son Chris travelled down to the Lehigh Valley Velodrome just outside of Allentown, Pa. for a sprint tournament, and I accompanied him. For the past 39 summers, Lehigh Valley has hosted the World Series of Bicycling. This bike track has been the hotbed of U.S. track cycling since it was built in 1975. I actually raced there at its official opening night in May 1976, and returned in 1980 to set three new track records. The event usually attracts the top North American riders and a half-dozen Europeans, all looking for a great place to train, complete with fine weather and good food. In attendance at the 2014 tournament was New Zealand’s three-man sprint team fresh off their first World-title win. The next day, after the Kiwis had competed all day, their coach, Anthony Peden, invited me to attend and ride the track with the three guys: racers Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins. For me, it was amazing and a thrill to be back on the outdoor track with World champion sprint racers. Sprinters are a special breed – unlike road racers, triathletes or anyone else. I participated a bit in their session. We all sat around in between efforts on the track, drinking coffee and telling jokes as we compared notes on how I trained and how they now train. It was quite interesting, and made me reflect on what I have observed over the years. www.pedalmag.com
Singleton collection
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Gord Singleton racing for Raleigh on the Herne Hill Velodrome in London, United Kingdom in 1982, the year he became the first Canadian to capture World Championship gold at Leicester winning the men’s Keirin. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 43
I had never appreciated a Marinoni bike until I was set to ride one. Lovell and I would joke about how fast these frames were; they gave us a serious psychological advantage. I’m sure our
Singleton collection
Singleton collection
opponents felt somewhat inferior on the start line.
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, advancements in aerodynamics changed the physical components of bicycles. I saw a move from traditional round spokes to the modern version, which are flat and resemble blades. I remember the first time I tried the bladed spoked wheels; it felt as though my wheels were cutting through the air. This advancement made a marginal difference in my time-trial event times. I still have the original pair on display in my office. Bicycle-frame tubing began to shift to an aerodynamic teardrop shape rather than the conventional round or cylinder shape. Our personally crafted frames were manufactured by renowned Montreal, Que. framemaker Giuseppe Marinoni. We Canadians aligned ourselves with him because he was always thinking outside the box – he was very cutting-edge. I had never appreciated a Marinoni bike until I was set to ride one. Lovell and I would joke about how fast these frames were; they gave us a serious psychological advantage. I’m sure our opponents felt somewhat inferior on the start line. One massive difference between my era and today is the size of the gears the riders can turn. When we raced, we used the same size of gearing our predecessors from the 1920’s to 1960’s had used. For races, it was mostly 88” through to 94.5”. Today’s sprinters are experimenting with 135”, though they mostly race on 115” to 124”. The difference is that my 200-metre world record on a 94” gear was 10.58 seconds. Today, the record is 9.347 seconds. I’m estimating the racer was on more than a 124” gear. 44 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Track racers of my day competed on outdoor tracks made of concrete or asphalt and the velodromes varied between 333 metres and 500 metres. Today’s events take place in 250-metre indoor velodromes. There is a massive difference when racing down the back straight of a 500-metre velodrome with a 25kph headwind. When the use of Lycra and Spandex was introduced, I realized that advances in aerodynamics would continue to affect change in the sport. The Lycra style was first seen by cyclists at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Que. Recalling my first Olympics, cyclists wore what were called “skin suits.” East Germany and Switzerland were the first to don the new style. They were tight, form-fitting and fast-looking – but we didn’t have the money to purchase them. For the next two years, I raced in the silk shirt provided by the National team and standard wool shorts that I purchased myself. A few months prior to the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alta., Lovell, who was the top track racer in Canada, told me he was getting his own “skin suits” made locally. I approached a seamstress and had two suits made for myself. They were not made to last because my races were so short in distance. We didn’t even put chamois leather in them, but they looked cool. I took home a gold and bronze from the Games and Lovell won three gold medals. Riders, such as myself and many others, simply didn’t understand how aerodynamics could make a difference. www.pedalmag.com
Marinoni collection Singleton collection Lovell Collection
In 1979, I gained my first sponsor, U.S.-based AMF Sporting Goods, and from that point on, I was provided with elite racing attire manufactured by Swiss company Decente. AMF also provided us with all of the best equipment: tires, wheels and Marinoni frames. It was the first time in my racing life where my spare wheels were just as good as my race wheels. Although the tires look similar, today’s designs have significantly less rolling resistance. After I retired from Professional racing in 1982, carbon-fibre wheels were introduced. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) began allowing carbon-disc wheels, which are by far the most aerodynamic. In my personal experience, comparing the equipment from my 1982 era through to 2010, the racer has gained 0.5 of a second over a short 200-metre distance using carbon-disc wheels. That is impressive when expanded over four kilometres. Athletes have known for centuries that better nutrition promotes better performance. In my era, we were aware of our protein, carbohydrate and fat intake, but in most cases, we grandfathered what we were taught or copied the stars of that day. Most of my training and nutrition regimens were modeled after Reg Harris. On a typical race day, I fueled up on an egg, banana and toast. Today, nutritionists and scientists have it dialed in much more so. Athletes such as my son are told to eat organic, that it should be wholesome as possible and to eat very little processed foods. The experts understand from their research exactly how much an athlete www.pedalmag.com
(from far left) Singleton celebrating double gold at the 1979 Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico. Singleton racing in an early skin suit on his way to the 500-metre World Record in Mexico City in 1980. (top) Giuseppe Marinoni rode the machine he built for Jocelyn Lovell in 1978 for his 75+-hour record in 2012. (below) Reg Harris at Zurich in 1957 was one of the United Kingdom’s greatest sprint cyclists, winning the World Professional Sprint Championships four times. (above) Jocelyn Lovell, dubbed the Muhammed Ali of Cycling, was a superstar for Canada in the 1970s and 80s; he also designed and built more than 100 custom bicycles such as the Lovell-branded model pictured here with fork-integrated bars, a skill he learned from his friend and master craftsman, Giuseppe Marinoni.
can digest at a meal and how much they require before and after workouts. One simple example is hydration. I know for a fact that I ran under-hydrated, no fault of my own. We simply didn’t know. I went out on many training rides that were more than two hours in length with less than a bottle of water. Some of my training buddies who were pursuing road-racing careers would do long training rides with their elder and more experienced teammates, only being allowed half a bottle of water and half an apple over a six-hour period. They were told, “You have to toughen up.” Weight- or strength-training is not a new concept, but for cycling purWINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 45
Prior to and during my era, we were allowed to jockey for race position and almost block another competitor – within reason. Today, they are so controlled by the rules. Once the sprint looks to have actually
photos: Guy Swarbrick
started, the racers have to remain in a straight line.
poses, it was primarily used for training in the winter months, as it was believed that when the cycling season began, more time should be spent training on the bike. For me, my sprint career came completely full circle when I began a year-round weight- and strength-training program. In the winter of 1978-79, I met Bill Gvoich from Stoney Creek, Ont., a professional strength-trainer whose credentials included working with teams such as the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Detroit Red Wings. Back then, there was the old wives’ tale that bulk muscle and cycling didn’t mix well, but he convinced me with proven knowledge and evidence that if I were to follow his program, results would be seen. To my knowledge, I was the very first sprint cyclist this side of the Iron Curtain to work with weights systematically year-round, and it paid off in spades. My new weight-training routine included completing a combination of power squats and endurance squats, a regimen that was quite different from my teammates and contemporaries around the world. After three to four years of practice, I would squat sets of 50 reps with as much as 225 pounds. I used this technique to simulate a Kilometre race that was just a little more than one minute in length. When racing a Kilometre, it was a complete explosion off the line. Then you had to hold the speed for the remaining distance. The winner of the Kilometre was always the racer who could hold his speed the longest. When my squat reps hit between 40-50 this hurt more than when I reached the 45-second mark in my Kilometre race, I felt that I could hold my 46 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
speed for maybe three to five seconds longer than my competitors. Gvoich, who was a former powerlifter and kinesiologist, had additional unique training strategies for me. He structured my strength program in such a way that I would achieve a personal best in weightlifting once per month. We then correlated the personal bests to coincide with major cycling events such as the World Championships or Olympic Games. In other words, on my race day, I would have been scheduled for a weightlifting personal best, but instead of lifting weights, I was competing on the bike. This complemented Gvoich’s approach so that I was at my strongest on race day. In 1979, after less than six months of a structured strength program, I started to win all of my sprint matches, beating many racers I had not beaten before. My career advanced from hovering around 24th place in the world to becoming No. 2 inside nine months. Soon my strategies were being copied by my peers and fellow competitors. Once the Iron Curtain came down and Westerners were exposed to the East German methods, everyone was doing it. Wind-tunnel testing was completely unheard of in my day, yet it is the norm today. In the past 15 years, all the top riders are completing wind-tunnel testing to detect deficiencies in the racer’s riding position and clothing. After all my years in the sport, it still amazes me how riders can gain 15 to 20 watts of power by adjusting their set-up. In an attempt to create a level playing field, the UCI has introduced standardized bicycle geometry. www.pedalmag.com
There have also been some very major rule changes with regards to sprintrace tactics. Prior to and during my era, we were allowed to jockey for race position and almost block another competitor – within reason. Today, they are so controlled by the rules. Once the sprint looks to have actually started, the racers have to remain in a straight line. I remember a race at the old Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan, Italy: I was coming over my Italian opponent in turn three so fast; just as I was level with his handlebars, he turned right and took me up to the rail. That’s a swing of around five metres. I kept my composure and still nipped him at the finish line, but there was no disqualification on his part. Racers before me, throughout my era and probably into the late ’80’s, competed much more than sprinters of today. We also participated in a wide variety of track events. In the early season, we would race short road races and Criteriums. On the velodrome, we often raced in 10km and 20km events. At the same time, we would race our sprint events. We almost raced ourselves fit. Today, most sprinters at the World level race five to six times per year, mostly World Cups and then World or Olympic Championships. They have to race World Cup events to gain points that enable them to move onto the World Championships. Plus, they only race in their specialized event. To me, it sounds as if all the fun has been taken away. Reflecting back, I am amazed at the changes in training since the 1980’s. The racers don’t train longer than yesterday’s racer, they train smarter. They www.pedalmag.com
(opposite) Canadian men’s Team Sprint squad, Evan Carey, Joseph Veloce and Hugo Barrette, at the 2015 World Championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (above) Canada’s Hugo Barrette won sprint gold at 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, Ont., marking the first time in 36 years since Gord Singleton won it back in 1979.
focus on exactly what they need to improve on. In my era, workouts were similar to today’s, but I didn’t perform as many sprint efforts and I did far too much endurance work, as compared to present-day sprinters. Nowadays, they gain endurance by doing frequent, shorter efforts and more two-a-day track workouts, combined with much more weightlifting. Thinking back to my time on the track with the Kiwis, I realize that as much as things have changed and advanced, much has remained the same. Going fast is about turning the pedals quicker than the other guys. After I left the sport to begin my business career, I kept in touch with Lovell right up until his untimely passing. I have many great memories of our days in the sport. It’s a proud moment when I get the chance to watch my son Chris compete with the level of technology that wasn’t available in my day. The day he was presented with a National title in the three-man Team Sprint brought a tear to my eye. I look forward to watching the direction that technology takes sprint cycling in the decades to come. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 47
Trans Israel Our little peloton cruises along, covering ground at a smooth, efficient pace. Two days into the ride and our band of strangers has meshed together on the road, pacing effectively and working as a team. The strange rewards of suffering out the kilometres on the bike are beginning to show, and everyone is feeling the flow. It’s just like every other memorable group ride, except for the F16’s screaming overhead that remind us that we’re riding through one of the more contentious pieces of land on Earth.
courtesy of Trans Israel
by Joe Schwartz
The wooded, rolling hills of the Upper Galilee, near the border with Lebanon. 48 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
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T
he Trans Israel is a four-day ride starting in Rosh Hanrika, the far northwest corner of the country, and ending 562 kilometres later on the shores of the Red Sea in the resort town of Eilat. It’s a ride dreamed up by Harel Nahmani, an Israeli rider and event organizer responsible for a number of gran fondos in the north and south of the country and group rides in the Alps every year. Nahmani is excited to send us off on Day One in Rosh Hanrika, but maintains a serious air as he goes over some of the dangers of the ride with our group. Most of his worry lies with things such as road etiquette and conditions, and peloton riding with a mixed group of riders, concerns similar to most cycling events anywhere in the world. Judging by the heavily armed United Nations soldiers loitering near our group and the closed (and thickly razor-wired) border to Lebanon, a stone’s throw from our start area, some concerns lie in the chosen route for the ride, and it’s already been determined that we’ll jump in a bus and shuttle through the most touchy area in the Jordan River Valley. Any other concerns melt away as we hit the road, quickly turning off the busier thoroughfares on to the first climb of the trip, an 800-metre ascent into a forested nature reserve running along the border of Lebanon. The stiff climb spreads the group apart, and I take in the scenery, pumping up the steep grade, trees casting a much-needed shade onto the road. It’s slightly warmer here than the damp, cold October weather I left in my home of Squamish, B.C., and my body is having a hard time adjusting to the heat. Later on in the day, we’re rewarded with a cooling wind from our high-speed descent toward the Sea of Galilee. A low afternoon sun bathes the cliffs above the sea in a golden light, and it’s hard not to ponder stories of the many miracles Jesus is said to have performed right here on these shores. While we’re not walking on water, the smooth road and organized pace line have us feeling that we’re flying as we wind down the day’s ride and head to the Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov, our lodging for the night.
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www.goisrael.com
courtesy of Trans Israel
courtesy of Trans Israel
REPOUR
(left top) Joe Schwartz stops in at a checkpoint close to the Israel/Egypt border. (left middle) The beginning of the Trans Israel adventure, from the most northwestern tip of the country (left bottom) Dead Sea: Salt ponds seen from Mount Sodom. (above) Coasting downhill towards the Sea of Galilee (opposite top) Masada: View from the stronghold toward the Dead Sea (opposite bottom) Touring along the Ramon Crater at the Negev, at sunrise.
The kibbutz experience is unique to traveling in Israel. Established in the early 1900’s, there are more than 200 kibbutzim all across Israel. Initially formed as communal settlements focused on agriculture and an egalitarian way of life, the kibbutzim have evolved with the times, and while still maintaining a farming focus, they’ve branched out into more modern sources of revenue. Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov, where we’re staying tonight, generates most of its income from a plastics plant, and supplements that with quaint country-lodge rentals, some of which our group are occupying for the night. Kibbutz meals consist of hearty communal buffets of delicious local fare, perfect after a day toiling in the fields or riding long distance on a road bike. Over the next two days, I sink into the perfect rhythm of the road. Our group has meshed together well, and the kilometres tick by as desert vistas expand in front us. Two distinct groups have formed, one keener on hammering than the other. Our group is as diverse as the country we’re riding through. Some have lived on kibbutzim for 30 years and more. There’s a group of Americans, riding for the Jewish Agency for Israel. My cousin J.J., who’s lived in Tel Aviv for the past decade, is on the ride. In fact, J.J. is the reason I’m here, this whole trip stemming from a casual invite from him a year ago at a Montreal wedding. J.J. and I ride in the front group with visitors from England and Belgium, expats www.pedalmag.com
www.goisrael.com Dafna Tal/www.goisrael.com
courtesy of Trans Israel
working and living all around Israel, and Israeli riders too. Udi, from near Tel Aviv, perpetually looks like he’s out for a casual spin, because he probably is; his normal ride schedule includes training sessions with Peter Sagan’s Israeli Pro Continental team, the only Pro team in the country. The trailing group is made up of folks out for a more casual pace and some more senior riders who offer some great inspiration to some of us “younger” bucks out on the ride. There are a few opportunities to get off the saddle and appreciate our surroundings, even if that means stopping on the side of the highway to check out the camels that sometimes appear as if out of nowhere, camouflaged by their arid surroundings. I spend an evening floating in the Dead Sea, which, at 418 metres below sea level, is the lowest place on earth. The intensely salty water creates ”a cork in a bathtub” buoyancy I was not fully prepared for, and is a stinging reminder of any small nick or cut I currently possess. We visit Masada, a mountaintop fortress built by Herod, King of Judea, more than 2,000 years ago. Masada marks the middle of our ride on Day Three, and, bikes in hand, we take the cable car up onto the high plateau to look around. We descend (on foot) off the western side, down the Roman siege ramp used to penetrate the fortress where hundreds of Jewish freedom fighters were encamped, 960 rebels who killed themselves rather than be taken by the Romans. Thousands of years of history whirling around in my thoughts, we get back on the bikes below and carry on with our ride. Our last day dawns early, starting on the cliffside town of Mitzpe Ramon. We’re all re-energized from a delicious dinner and restful sleep at the Hotel Ibex, the nicest accommodations of the trip. We pedal out of town as the sun barely crests the far rim of the Ramon Crater – the town sits precariously on the edge of this large erosion-formed basin. The cold wind of the descent to the crater floor works better than any second cup of coffee, and as the rising sun warms the desert, the pace picks up and we pedal toward the Red Sea. The last three days of riding are beginning to take their toll on my legs. With www.pedalmag.com
the end of the ride nearing, and after three days of keeping the leash tight on us, our gruff ride leader Nitzan Hendler relinquishes control on our lead group. Like horses to the barn, the pace picks up and we lean into the final 40 kilometres. This last stretch of road feels oppressive. The sun, now at its apex, beats down on the barren Negev desert. The route is rolling, the dips offering brief respites from the heat, but quickly turning to steady ascents that seem to go on much longer than they should. I find myself in a breakaway pack of four and hold their wheels for a good distance until my legs give up, and all of a sudden, I’m by myself. This road travels south down the Sinai Peninsula and along the Egyptian border. I ride in silence next to an imposing six-metre-tall wall of razor wire marking the boundary line, guard outposts sporadically breaking the chaotic patterns formed by the fence. The final crest eventually appears, and the long descent into the resort city of Eilat begins. Eilat is the southernmost outpost in the country, and also marks the end of the Trans Israel. Leaving the razor-wire fences behind, I tuck toward the Red Sea, its water shimmering below. It’s been a different ride experience than I’m used to. Most of my adventures don’t involve F16’s, razor wire and “Tank Crossing” signs on the highway. While jarring to my North Amerjust the facts ican senses, these things don’t Trans Israel Road Cycling Challenge define this trip, just as much as they don’t define Israel. This www.trans-israel.co.il/en trip has been about new vistas, Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov new friends and new experiencwww.nehara.co.il/en/ es. These are standards by which Ibex Hotel every great bike ride is measured, www.ibexhotel.co.il/index.php?language=eng and this Trans Israel experience Israeli Ministry of Tourism has delivered them all. www.goisrael.com WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 51
COMPETITION | Ben Andrew and Tim Lefebvre
ROAD 2016 Road World Championships
TTT Medals for Canuel, Numainville and Tuft in TTT
T
he 2016 Road World Championships took place between Oct. 9-16 in Doha, Qatar, marking the first time the Championships have been held in the Middle East. Twenty-five Canadians took to the start in Doha, one of the largest squads to ever attend the event. The heat and wind were large factors at all of the races, however this did not stop Canadians from posting some excellent results.
Time Trials Elite Women’s TTT
The 40km Elite women’s TTT kicked off the Championships and was a great start for Canada, as Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team) and Joelle Numainville (Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling) both landed on the podium in first and third respectively alongside their teammates. Boels-Dolmans rode incredibly strong, finishing the day with a 48-second advantage over Canyon-SRAM in second, and a 1:57 advantage over Cervélo Bigla. This was Canuel’s third TTT gold medal, while Numainville’s bronze was her first medal at the Road Worlds. Canada’s Annie Foreman-Mackey and Alison Jackson had fantastic rides as well, as their team, TWENTY16-Ridebiker, finished fifth in the event. Elite Men’s TTT
The Elite men’s TTT saw the momentum continue for Canada, as Svein Tuft and his ORICA-BikeExchange team claimed third in the 40km race. This was Tuft’s third TTT medal and fourth career medal at Worlds, as back in 2008, he claimed the Individual silver medal in the ITT. Etixx–Quick-Step, driven by Tony Martin, stormed to victory, at 12 seconds ahead of BMC Racing, the defending champions from 2014 and 2015. This was the Etixx–Quick-Step franchise’s third TTT victory, having won the event in 2012 and 2013 as Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. Canadian Hugo Houle and his AG2R La Mondiale team finished 11th, while the Cycling Academy Team of former National road champion Guillaume Boivin finished one spot behind in 12th. 52 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
(top left) Canada’s Joelle Numainville (2nd from left) on the podium for the first time at Worlds, as her Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling team won bronze the Elite women’s TTT. (top) Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel is all smiles with her third TTT gold medal. (above) Canada’s Svein Tuft (3rd from the right) with his Orica-BikeExchange team that won third in the Elite men’s TTT. (facing top) Tony Martin (GER) claimed a record 4th Elite men’s ITT title. (facing bottom) Hugo Houle was Canada’s top finisher in the men’s ITT, placing a respectable 29th. www.pedalmag.com
photos: cor vos
REPOUR
Elite Women’s ITT
Following her strong performance in the TTT, Canuel was the lone Canadian in the 28.9km Elite women’s ITT, finishing in 19th place. American Amber Neben surprised the field and many favourites, putting in a stellar ride for the victory. A former champion from 2013, Ellen van Dijk (NED) took home second, while Katrin Garfoot (AUS) claimed her first podium at Worlds, winning the bronze. Elite Men’s ITT
The 40km Elite men’s ITT took place in Doha on Oct. 12, and Germany’s Martin was on form, claiming a record fourth title to match Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara for the most ITT Worlds gold medals. Defending champion Vasil Kiryienka (BEL) was second, while Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (ESP) raced to third on the podium. Canada’s Houle finished a respectable 29th on the day at 3:17.24 behind Martin, while recently crowned National time-trial champion Ryan Roth finished just outside the top 30 in 31st at 3:21.44 behind the winner. U23 Men’s ITT
The U23 men’s ITT featured Canada’s Alexander Cowan and Sean Mac Kinnon on Oct. 10, and both riders laid down strong performances. Cowan led the way, placing a strong 12th at 1:26.26 behind winner Marco Mathis of Germany, while MacKinnon crossed the line in 16th at 1:42.86 back. Germany had an impressive showing in the event, with two riders taking the top two steps of the podium, and a total of three riders inside the top five. American Neilson Powless continued to show his strong time-trailing skills, finishing sixth at 54.17 seconds behind Mathis. Junior Women’s ITT
That same day, the junior women’s ITT race was held, with two Canadians on the start line. Laurie Jussaume of Contrecoeur, Que. finished 25th on the 13.7km ITT course, while Erin Attwell of Victoria, B.C. finished close behind in 27th. Karlijin Swinkels of The Netherlands had the fastest time to claim the junior women’s ITT title. www.pedalmag.com
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Chris Auld
The next day saw two Canadians racing the 28.9km junior men’s ITT, as Nickolas Zukowsky was the top finisher in 24th at 2:51.7 behind American winner Brandon McNulty, who also won the Tour de l’Abitibi back in July. Fellow Canuck Matthew Staples finished 64th on the day.
Chris Auld
Chris Auld
cor vos
Junior Men’s ITT
Kirouac-Marcassa was the only Canadian finisher in an event that saw many DNFs, which included Canucks Zukowsky, Staples and Charles-Etienne Chretien. Elite Women’s Road Race
The road races were up next, beginning on Oct. 13, and the 165.7km U23 men’s road race was won in a field sprint by Kristoffer Halvorsen (NOR), followed closely by Pascal Ackermann (GER) and Jakub Mareczko (ITA) in second and third respectively. The race was animated by a group of nine riders who broke away on the first lap, however they were kept in check by the strong Norwegian team. The break was pulled back in the final laps as the main field’s pace increased. A crash with five kilometres to go caused a split in the field that left the Canadians out of contention. David Drouin of St-Prosper, Que. was the top Canuck in 42nd, followed by defending U23 champion Benjamin Perry in 59th. Team Canada’s MacKinnon was 135th, while Canucks Nicolas Masbourain and Cowan did not finish.
Numainville led Team Canada, claiming a strong ninth-place finish in the 134.1km Elite women’s competition. The veteran Quebec rider was able to remain upright in the sprint even after an Italian rider pulled a foot out of her pedal just in front of Numainville. Three Canadians finished inside the top 25 among the field of 146 riders, as Leah Kirchmann and Alison Jackson finished 14th and 23rd respectively. Amalie Dideriksen (DEN) took the win from a bunch sprint, with Kristen Wild (NED) in second and Lotta Lepistö (FIN) in third. Team Canada rallied near the end of the race, as Kirchmann and Jackson worked together to position Numainville well for the finishing sprint. Canuel ended up 71st, while Sara Bergen, who made her debut at the Championships, finished 91st. Recently crowned Canadian road-race champion Foreman-Mackey did not finish. This was another great performance by the Canadian women, building off their strong ride last year in Richmond, Va., where Numainville finished 11th and Canuel was 13th.
Junior Women’s Road Race
Elite Men’s Road Race
In the 74.5km junior women’s road race the next day, Maggie Coles-Lyster led Team Canada to a top-15 performance, finishing 14th in a bunch sprint. Elisa Balsamo (ITA) won, with Skylar Schneider (USA) in second and Susanne Andersen (NOR) in third. Fellow Canuck Devaney Collier finished 24th, while reigning National road-race champion Attwell finished 31st, and was followed by Jussaume in 39th.
Canadian fans were stoked to see Roth in the winning break, as Slovakian Peter Sagan delivered in Doha to retain his coveted rainbow jersey. Near the end of the 275.5km day in the Aspire zone of western Doha, a select group of 21 riders, including Roth, remained, as Sagan chose to sprint from behind due to a tough headwind in the finale. Sagan was able to squeeze by Italian Giacomo Nizzolo and the barriers, while holding off British sprinter and former world champion Mark Cavendish, who was held up slightly behind Aussie Michael Matthews and settled for the silver. Claiming bronze was another former winner, Tom Boonen of Belgium. An early break moved clear with Brayan Ramirez (COL), Nic Dougall (RSA), Natnael Berhane (ERI), Anas Ait El Abdia (MAR), Sergiy Lagkuti (UKR), Rene Corella (MEX) and Woodstock, Ont.’s own Roth. Building up an advantage of more than 11 minutes, the group worked well together, waiting for the eventual winning move to come across.
Road Races U23 Men’s Road Race
Junior Men’s Road Race
Canadian Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa of Boucherville, Que. finished 30th in the 135.5km junior men’s road race at 1:45 behind Denmark’s Jakob Egholm, who claimed the win after a surprise late-race attack with approximately 10 kilometres to go. Egholm broke clear of the front group with teammate Julius Johansen, and held on for an emphatic solo victory. German Niklas Markl took the bunch sprint for the silver medal, while Reto Muller (SUI) won bronze. 54 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
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cor vos
(opposite far left) Slovakia’s Peter Sagan sprinted to victory, defending his rainbow jersey in the Elite men’s road race. (opposite top) Canada’s Ryan Roth had a stellar ride racing out front for the entire day in the Elite men’s road race, earning a well-deserved 15th overall. (opposite below) Canada’s Alexander Cowan finished a strong 12th in the U23 Men’s ITT; Maggie Coles-Lyster was the top Canadianjunior woman, finishing 14th in the road race. (above) Canada’s Joelle Numainville (in blue on the left) claimed 9th in the women’s road race behind winner (r) Amalie Dideriksen from Denmark and (l) Kristen Wild from The Netherlands in second.
Behind in the main peloton, the Belgian and Dutch teams began to take advantage of the strong crosswinds as they put pressure at the front of the race. Cracks began to form and the lead group sped off in pursuit of Roth and the break. Within this second group were no less than six Belgian riders, as well as the Dutch, Norwegians, and the British, who had the men they wanted. It was Germany and France that failed to make the split and spent the rest of the day chasing in vain. The two lead groups merged with 143 kilometres of racing to go, but with the right mix of workers and stars aboard, the gap slowly increased, with Roth hanging tight. As the race wound down on the Pearl circuits, the Dutch, with Nikki Terpstra and Tom Leezer, tried some moves in vain, as the Belgians pulled it all back for Boonen. In the end, no one could handle the finishing sprint of Sagan, who will once again be clad in rainbow stripes for 2017. Canada’s Roth held tough right up until the final kilometre, where he was distanced from the lead sprinters and found himself arriving nine seconds in arrears in a wonderful, well-deserved 15th place. “I found I wasn’t actually feeling too bad on the last lap. I was expecting more attacks, but in hindsight there were mainly sprinters and teammates of them to drive the group, so it was actually pretty calm. The only thing that went wrong was inside the last km, a gap opened up a wheel or two in front of me. I hesitated to see if someone from behind would close it, but no one did, meaning I didn’t actually get to do the sprint with the front 10 guys or so. “I didn’t really have any personal goal for the road race, so to walk away with a top 15 is nice. I think Canada is headed in the right direction and there are some positive things going on. I’d love to think that the work we did around this year’s races adds something to the day in the future when we www.pedalmag.com
[Canada] have someone on the top step of the podium in a rainbow jersey,” Roth told Pedal. Roth’s 15th was the best result by a Canadian in the Elite men’s race since the 2003 Road Worlds in Hamilton, Ont., where Michael Barry was seventh. Fellow Canadians Hugo Houle, Antoine Duchesne, Guillaume Boivin, Adam de Vos and Ryan Anderson did not finish, as only 53 of the 199 starters remained.
2016 UCI Road World Championships Oct. 9-16 - Doha, Qatar TTT Elite Men 1. Etixx—Quick-Step 0:42:32; 2. BMC Racing Team 0:12; 3. ORICA-BikeExchange 0:37; Elite Women 1. Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team 48:41; 2. Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:48; 3. Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling Team 1:57. ITT Elite Men 1. Tony Martin (GER) 44:42.99; 2. Vasil Kiryienka (BEL) 45.05; 3. Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (ESP) 1:10.91; Canadians 29. Hugo Houle (CAN) 3:17.24; 31. Ryan Roth (CAN) 3:21.44; Elite Women 1. Amber Neben (USA) 36:37.04; 2. Ellen van Dijk (NED) 05.99; 3. Katrin Garfoot (AUS) 08.32; Canadians 19. Karol-Ann Canuel (CAN) 2:48.62; Junior Men 1. Brandon McNulty (USA) 34:42.3; 2. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) 35.18; 3. Ian Garrison (USA) 53.08; Canadians 24. Nickolas Zukowsky (CAN) 2:51.7; 64. Matthew Staples (CAN) 5:28.2; Junior Women 1. Karlijn Swinkels (NED) 0:18:21; 2. Lisa Morzenti (ITA) 0:08; 3. Juliette Labous (FRA) 0:22; Canadians 25. Laurie Jussaume (CAN) 1:30; U23 Men 1. Marco Mathis (GER) 34:08.1; 2. Maximilian Schachmann (GER) 18.63; 3. Miles Scotson (AUS) 37.98; Canadians 12. Alexander Cowan (CAN) 1:26.26; 16. Sean MacKinnon (CAN) 1:43.86. Road Race Elite Men 1. Peter Sagan (SLO) 5:40:43; 2. Mark Cavendish (GBR); 3. Tom Boonen (BEL); Canadians 15. Ryan Roth (CAN) 0:09; DNF Hugo Houle (CAN); DNF Antoine Duchesne (CAN); DNF Guillaume Boivin (CAN); DNF Adam de Vos (CAN); DNF Ryan Anderson (CAN); Elite Women 1. Amalie Dideriksen (DEN) 3:10:27; 2. Kirsten Wild (NED); 3. Lotta Lepistö (FIN); Canadians 9. Joelle Numainville (CAN); 14. Leah Kirchmann (CAN); 23. Alison Jackson (CAN) 0:04; 71. Karol-Ann Canuel (CAN); 91. Sara Bergen (CAN); DNF Annie Foreman-Mackey (CAN); Junior Men 1. Jakob Egholm (DEN) 2:58:19; 2. Niklas Markl (GER) 0:07; 3. Reto Muller (SUI); Canadians 30. Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa (CAN) 1:45; DNF Nickolas Zukowsky (CAN); DNF Charles-Etienne Chretien (CAN); DNS Matthew Staples (CAN); Junior Women 1. Elisa Balsamo (ITA) 1:53:04; 2. Skylar Schneider (USA); 3. Susanne Andersen (NOR); Canadians 14. Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN); 24. Devaney Collier (CAN); 31. Erin Attwell (CAN); 39. Laurie Jussaume (CAN); U23 Men 1. Kristoffer Halvorsen (NOR) 3:40:53; 2. Pascal Ackermann (GER); 3. Jakub Mareczko (ITA); Canadians 42. David Drouin (CAN); 59. Benjamin Perry (CAN) 0:11; 135. Sean MacKinnon (CAN) 7:32; DNF Nicolas Masbourian (CAN); DNF Alexander Cowan (CAN). WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 55
COMPETITION | BY Jack Cracker
TRACK photos: ivan rupes
2016 Canadian Track Championships New Champions Crowned
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he Canadian Track Championships p/b Lexus took place Sept. 24-26 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. and featured performances by Olympians and Paralympians. Kate O’Brien and Laura Brown bagged the first title of the Championships, winning gold in the Elite women’s Team Sprint, while Quebeckers Hugo Barrette, Joel Archambault and Patrice Pivin took the men’s title. The women’s Team Pursuit was won by the composite team of Brown, Steph Roorda, Jamie Gilgen and Brenna Pauly, who finished only 0.125 seconds ahead of the second-place squad composed of Kirsti Lay, Annie Foreman-Mackey, Kinley Gibson and Ariane Bonhomme. The men’s gold-medal race was just as close, with youngsters Adam Jamieson, Evan Burtnik, Derek Gee and Bayley Simpson finishing 0.193 seconds ahead of veterans Ed
(top) Kate O’Brien took home three Canadian titles. (left) Ryan Roth dominated in the Elite men’s Individual Pursuit. (below) Joel Archambault was first, winning three Canadian titles. (bottom) Steph Roorda captured titles in both the Elite women’s Keirin and the Omnium.
Veal and Ryan Roth, with Aidan Caves and Jay Lamoureux. In the Mixed-category Para 1,000-metre time trial, Carla Shibley’s tandem collected the title ahead of Martin Croteau Daigle’s tandem after category factors were calculated. Day Two saw Rio Olympian O’Brien of Calgary, Alta. win her second National title of the tournament in the Elite women’s sprint. O’Brien qualified first and dominated every race on her way to the title. In the final, O’Brien beat Natalie Cormier of Bromont, Que. in two straight rides. Tegan Cochrane of Kelowna, B.C. won bronze. Archambault of Sainte-Christine, Que. grabbed victory in the Elite men’s sprint to capture his second title, besting his closest rival, Michel Herszak of Edmonton, Alta. Since Herszak is not a Canadian citizen, he was ineligible for a Championship medal. As a result, silver was awarded to the third-placed rider, Pivin of Windsor, Que. In the Individual Pursuit, Gibson of Edmonton, Alta. won the Elite women’s contest, crossing the line nearly two seconds ahead of Foreman-Mackey of Kingston, Ont. in the final. Roorda of Vancouver, B.C. won bronze. Canadian road time-trial champion Roth of Guelph, Ont. dominated the Elite men’s Individual Pursuit, besting Lamoureux of Victoria, B.C. by almost three seconds in the ride for gold. Jamieson of Barrie, Ont. earned bronze. Sprinting superstar O’Brien secured the Elite women’s 500-metre time-trial victory for her third title of the Championships on the final day of competition. Roorda picked up the silver medal and Cochrane snagged bronze. Canadian men’s 1,000-metre time-trial record holder Vincent De Haitre nabbed the Maple Leaf jersey, with Caves taking silver and Simpson winning the bronze medal in the discipline. Roorda turned up the heat to capture titles in both the Elite women’s Keirin and the six-event Omnium competition. Cochrane cinched silver medal in the Keirin, while Natalie Cormier of Bromont, Que. took the bronze. In the Omnium, Gibson seized silver, with Gilgen holding on for bronze. In the men’s Keirin, Archambault snatched his third Canadian title, with Keith Bruneau of North Vancouver, B.C. taking the silver medal and Pivin finishing third. Caves came out on top after six events in the men’s Omnium in a thrilling final Points race that saw multiple lead changes over the 40-kilometre competition. Gee of Osgoode, Ont. finished second, with Vancouver, B.C.’s Dylan Davies in third. 56 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
www.pedalmag.com
COMPETITION | BY sandra walter
MTB
2016 UCI Mountain Bike DH World Championships Canada’s Iles Takes Historic Win Manson Claims Silver (above) Historic junior men’s DH Worlds podium (l-r): Magnus Manson (CAN) 2nd, Finnley Iles (CAN) 1st, Gaetan Vigier (FRA) 3rd
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he 2016 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Championships were hosted in Val di Sole, Italy, Sept. 6-11. Rachel Atherton (GBR) capped a perfect season by successfully defending the Elite women’s title, while Danny Hart (GBR) won the Elite men’s rainbow jersey. In the junior categories, Canadian phenom Finnley Iles (CAN) won the men’s, with host Italy’s Alessia Missiaggia winning the junior women’s title. The junior men saw an incredible 1-2 finish for Canada, with World Cup champion Iles the only rider to go less than three minutes and 50 seconds at 3:47.405 for an amazing historic win for Canada. To make it even sweeter, his compatriot Magnus Manson took the silver medal at 3.796 seconds back, followed by France’s Gaetan Vigier at 4.610 seconds. Canada’s Henry Fitzgerald finished 29th, while Adam Robbins was 55th. “It’s just amazing. This whole week’s been hectic and to come down with a good time like that – I’m just over the moon. Canada 1-2 is the best we could have hoped for this year,” commented Iles, who won the World Cup overall title as well for another Canadian first. Manson’s phenomenal podium run was a career-best result, as well as a historic finish for Canada at the DH Worlds. “It feels great to share the podium with Finn . . . it’s been a long time coming,” said Manson. In the junior women’s competition, Missiaggia (ITA) was by far the fastest, finishing 11.946 seconds ahead of Samantha Kingshill (USA), with Flora Lesoin (FRA) in third at 25.960 seconds. Atherton (GBR) was on an unprecedented winning streak, with 13 consecutive World Cup wins, including sweeping the 2016 series, her second straight World title, the fourth of her career. Atherton was the fastest everywhere on the rough, dusty track, leading at both intermediate splits and finishing with a time of four minutes and 20.187 seconds. Manon Carpenter (GBR), starting second from last, crashed in the first turn, taking her out of podium contention. Myriam Nicole (FRA), who had been occupying the hot seat for a long time, held the spot until the final rider, Atherton (GBR) came down 3.114 seconds faster. Tracey Hannah (AUS) repeated in third place. “I cannot actually believe it,” said Atherton, “I was like, ‘I’m sure Tracey will win; she was just riding so good in the dry dust.’ I thought, ‘Throw it to the wind.’ I just didn’t care if I crashed, I’ve had such a good year. This track is wild, absolutely mad. You just can’t ride it, you just have to go. You can’t even ride it – you just fall, a controlled fall all the way down. It’s just so rad-like. www.pedalmag.com
photos: Fraser Britton
(left) Canada’s Miranda Miller took home a solid 10th-place in the Elite women’s race.
Racing is mad. You just switch on – there’s nothing else like it. I wish everyone could experience it.” With a solid run, Canada’s Miranda Miller just made it into the top 10 placing a strong 10th, while fellow Canuck Georgia Astle finished 13th. Former junior world champion Laurie Greenland (GBR), riding with 20 cyclists to go, was the first to beat the seeding run time of Danny Hart (GBR), and continued to hold the lead as the top-10 began their runs. At five riders to go, Loic Bruni (FRA), the defending world champion, punctured partway down. Finally, it was Hart’s turn. He came into the Championships with three consecutive World Cup wins, and continued the streak when it counted, blazing into the lead in Val di Sole, fastest on all points of the course, to take the lead by nearly three seconds. World Cup champion Aaron Gwin (USA), the final starter, flatted shortly after the start, allowing Hart to claim his second World title, followed by Greenland and Florent Payet (FRA). For Hart, 2016 was an astonishing comeback, having struggled with his performance ever since blasting to his first rainbow jersey in 2011. “After the year I’ve had, I could believe it [was possible to win],” said Hart. “I’ve been working hard and this has always been a big goal of mine, but I took the pressure off this week. I thought, ‘Well, I’ve won the last three World Cups, let’s just ride the course and see what happens’. . . . and I took the win. “The last few months have been massive, because the last five years [since his World title in 2011] has just been a pain. I’m thinking ‘What’s going on here? Why can’t I get back to it?’ And then it all came at once. Just getting back to where I was has been a hard mission. All those saying I’m a one-hit wonder – well I’ve done it four times in a row and there’s not many done that.” Three Canadians were on the start line as Mark Wallace put down a strong run, finishing 11th, while reigning Canadian DH champion Kirk McDowell placed 27th and Max Scharf was 50th.
2016 UCI MTB Downhill World Championships Sept. 10-11, 2016 - Val di Sole, Italy Elite Men 1. Danny Hart (GBR) 3:32.484; 2. Laurie Greenland (GBR) 2.927; 3. Florent Payet (FRA) 5.047; 4. Troy Brosnan (AUS) 5.877; 5. Bernard Kerr (GBR) 6.089; Canadians 11. Mark Wallace (CAN) 12.361; 27. Kirk McDowall (CAN) 19.373; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton (GBR) 4:20.187; 2. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 3.114; 3. Tracey Hannah (AUS) 9.453; 4. Marine Cabirou (FRA) 24.507; 5. Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) 25.299; Canadians 10. Miranda Miller (CAN) 39.187; 13. Georgia Astle (CAN) 46.022; Junior Men 1. Finnley Iles (CAN) 3:47.405; 2. Magnus Manson (CAN) 3.796; 3. Gaetan Vige (FRA) 4.610; 4. Nikolas Nestoroff (USA) 5.468; 5. Elliott Heap (GBR) 5.702; Canadians 29. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN) 25.774; 55. Adam Robbins (CAN) 49.248; Junior Women 1. Alessia Missiaggia (ITA) 5:29.011; 2. Samantha Kingshill (USA) 11.946; 3. Flora Lesoin (FRA) 25.960; 4. Beatrice Migliorini (ITA) 39.338; 5. Shania Rawson (NZL) 42.901. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 57
COMPETITION | BY Sandra Walter
MTB
UCI MTB Update
michal cerveny
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Pendrel and Iles Capture World Cup Overall Titles
(clockwise from top left) Finnley Iles captured the Junior men’s overall title for a historic Canadian victory. Canada’s Catharine Pendrel took home her third career Elite women’s cross-country title. Canadian Emily Batty claim third overall in the Elite women’s cross-country series. The United Kingdom’s Rachel Atherton made history by winning seven of seven rounds in the Elite women’s DH series. Canada’s Catherine Fleury finished 8th overall in the U23 women’s cross-country series.
he 2016 UCI MTB World Cup series wrapped up in the thin Pyrenean mountain air of Andorra for cross-country racers and downhillers alike. Catharine Pendrel (CAN, LUNA Pro Team) earned the necessary points in the final round to capture the Elite women’s overall XCO series trophy, while Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing) continued a consistent season to take third in the series. Canadian junior downhill sensation Finnley Iles (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) sewed up his overall victory on the super-steep and gnarly track. XC #6 - Vallnord, Andorra – Sept. 4
With the Rio Olympics in the history books, cross-country athletes had to rally their focus and their legs for one more major event of the season – the World Cup finale atop the Vallnord ski station. Venue of the 2015 UCI MTB 58 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
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Fraser Britton
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(facing) France’s Julien Absalon earned his 33rd World Cup win and seventh title in the Elite men’s cross-country series.
World Championships, riders were familiar with the challenges offered by the demanding course at a lung-busting 2,000 metres above sea level. Denied an Olympic medal, Jolanda Neff (SUI, Stöckli Pro Team) was back to her hard-charging ways in Andorra and snagged the win over second-place Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR, Multivan Merida) by 36 seconds, while Pendrel pulled off a third place just ahead of newly crowned Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds (SWE, Odlo-Scott). Batty finished 12th. World champion Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized), who had been leading the series all season long, had a tough day, crashing multiple times to finish 13th – not good enough to retain the overall. Like Neff, Julien Absalon (FRA, BMC) was also shut out of the medals in Rio, but he earned a bit of redemption himself, grabbing the Elite men’s victory in Andorra, his 33rd World Cup win and seventh series title. Ondrej Cink www.pedalmag.com
(CZE, Multivan Merida) finished second after leading out the start. Olympic champion Nino Schurter (SUI, Odlo-Scott) flatted while in second spot and fell back to eventually finish 13th. Andrew L’Esperance (CAN, Norco Factory Team) was the only Canuck in the mix. He finished 57th, with an absent Léandre Bouchard (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) finishing as the top Canadian in the series in 31st. Sina Frei (SUI, JB Brunex Felt Team) continued her domination of the U23 women’s category to secure the race win as well as the series overall. Cath-
Junior men’s world champion Iles clocked the fastest run in qualifying, but the young Canadian would wind up second to Gaetan Vige (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord). Iles retained the series lead to take home title. With another year left in the junior ranks, all eyes will be on this B.C. rider in 2017. Buoyed by recent success, the rest of the Canadian juniors had strong runs. Magnus Manson (CAN, Devinci) was just off the podium in fourth, while Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Steve Peat Syndicate/Uberbike Global) was eighth. Manson closed the season in ninth overall and Fitzgerald was 13th.
Results
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XC #6 - Vallnord, Andorra – Sept. 4 Elite Men 1. Julien Absalon (FRA, BMC) 1:26:08; 2. Ondrej Cink (CZE, Multivan Merida) 0:43; 3. Pablo Rodriguez Guede (ESP, MMR Factory Racing Team) 0:55; 4. Maxime Marotte (FRA, BH-SR Suntour-KMC); 5. Stephane Tempier (FRA, Bianchi Countervail) 1:04; Canadians 57. Andrew L’Esperance (CAN, Norco Factory Team) -1 lap; Elite Women 1. Jolanda Neff (SUI, Stöckli Pro Team), 1:31:32; 2. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR, Multivan Merida) 0:36; 3. Catharine Pendrel (CAN, LUNA Pro Team) 1:21; 4. Jenny Rissveds (SWE, Odlo-Scott) 1:55; 5. Maja Wloszczowska (POL, Kross Racing Team); Other Canadians 12. Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing XC) 7:38; 40. Cindy Montambault (CAN, Trek-GPL) -2 laps; 41. Haley Smith (CAN, Norco Factory Team) -2 laps; U23 Men 1. Marcel Guerrini (SUI, Focus XC Team) 1:19:50; 2. Simon Andreassen (DEN, Specialized) 0:10; 3. Titouan Carod (FRA, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) 0:45; Canadians 19. Marc-André Fortier (CAN) 5:01; U23 Women 1. Sina Frei (SUI, JB Brunex Felt Team) 1:21:24; 2. Anne Tauber (NED, Habitat Mountainbike Team) 1:55; 3. Nicole Koller (SUI) 3:01; Canadians 16. Catherine Fleury (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) -2 laps.
erine Fleury (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) was the lone Canadian, finishing 16th on the day and eighth in the series. It was a tight battle in the U23 men’s competition, as Marcel Guerrini (SUI, Focus XC Team) eked out the victory by only 10 seconds ahead of Simon Andreassen (DEN, Specialized). Overall series champion Titouan Carod (FRA, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) finished third, while Canada’s sole entrant, Marc-André Fortier (CAN), earned 19th place and 44th in the final series standings. Peter Disera (CAN, Norco Factory Team) was the top Canadian in the overall series in 34th. DH #7 - Vallnord, Andorra – Sept. 3
Downhillers were treated to a parched track that deteriorated quickly in practice, developing holes and ruts, turning things treacherous. Rachel Atherton (GBR, Trek Factory Racing) made history by winning seven of seven rounds in the Elite women’s series. Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR) was her closest rival in the final, finishing second at more than six seconds back. Hannah took home third place overall in the series, behind Manon Carpenter (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) in second. Canada’s Miranda Miller finished eighth in Vallnord, which moved her up to 10th in the overall. Fellow Canuck Georgia Astle (CAN) finished a strong 10th on the day and 17th overall. Things got really hairy partway through the Elite men’s final as the skies opened up. Danny Hart (GBR, MS Mondraker Team) was already securely installed in the hot seat at the bottom before the rain began, and his time was untouchable once the moisture hit. Series leader Aaron Gwin (USA, The YT Mob) cut his losses and chose to keep his title safe by taking it easy and just finishing his run to land 55th. He was happy with another World Cup title: “I was really hoping to end my World Cup season with a win, but unfortunately the weather just wasn’t on my side today. After dropping into my race run and feeling out the conditions, it was obvious to me that the risk required to ride fast just wasn’t worth it.” Mark Wallace (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) was the fastest Canadian in 33rd, while Canadian champion Kirk McDowall (CAN, Dunbar Cycles) rolled into 50th. Wallace was also the top Canuck in the series in 22nd. www.pedalmag.com
Final Overall Standings Elite Men 1. Julien Absalon (FRA, BMC) 1,310 points; 2. Nino Schurter (SUI, OdloScott) 1,006; 3. Maxime Marotte (FRA, BH-SR Suntour-KMC) 948; Canadians 31. Léandre Bouchard (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) 234; 38. Raphael Gagné (CAN, Cannondale 360fly p/b Sugoi) 196; 41. Derek Zandstra (CAN, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 188; 66. Evan Guthrie (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 47; 75. Andrew L’Esperance (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 36; 77. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Scott-3 Rox Racing) 34; 80. Jeremy Martin (CAN, Focus) 28; 81. Evan McNeely (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 28; 89. Ross Davis (CAN, AWI Racing) 21; Elite Women 1. Catharine Pendrel (CAN, LUNA Pro Team) 1,030 points; 2. Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized) 1,006; 3. Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing XC) 710; Other Canadians 36. Sandra Walter (CAN, Liv Cycling Canada) 211; 44. Haley Smith (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 120; 46. Cindy Montambault (CAN, Trek-GPL) 115; 59. Rebecca Beaumont (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) 75; 68. Elyse Nieuwold (CAN, PHI Hotel Group/P-K Express p/b Holiday Inn) 38; 73. Heather Gray (CAN, Angry Johnny’s CC) 29; U23 Men 1. Titouan Carod (FRA, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) 460 points; 2. Samuel Gaze (NZL, Specialized) 300; 3. Marcel Guerrini (SUI, Focus XC Team) 265; Canadians 34. Peter Disera (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 23; 44. Marc-André Fortier (CAN) 12; U23 Women 1. Sina Frei (SUI, JB Brunex Felt Team) 450 points; 2. Kate Courtney (USA, Specialized) 330; 3. Anne Tauber (NED, Habitat Mountainbike Team) 320; Canadians 8. Catherine Fleury (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) 110; 25. Frederique Trudel (CAN, Specialized Canada) 35; 31. Amelie Simard (CAN, CVM Sigma Assurance) 24; 33. Soren Meeuwisse (CAN, Trek Canada) 23; 35. Anne-Julie Tremblay (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma) 20. DH #7 - Vallnord, Andorra – Sept. 3 Elite Men 1. Danny Hart (GBR, MS Mondraker Team) 4:13.611; 2. Greg Minnaar (RSA, Santa Cruz Syndicate) 2.798; 3. Loic Bruni (FRA, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) 3.384; 4. Alexandre Fayolle (FRA, Polygon Ur) 5.322; 5. Connor Fearon (AUS, Kona Factory Team DH) 5.565; Canadians 33. Mark Wallace (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 13.853; 50. Kirk McDowall (CAN, Dunbar Cycles) 18.895; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton (GBR, Trek Factory Racing DH) 4:52.783; 2. Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon Ur) 6.568; 3. Myriam Nicole (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) 7.974; 4. Manon Carpenter (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) 8.811; 5. Tahnee Seagrave (GBR, Transition Factory Racing/FMD) 12.093; Canadians 8. Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized) 27.71; 10. Georgia Astle (CAN) 34.628; 19. Vaea Verbeeck (CAN, Rocky Mountain) 01:05.0; Junior Men 1. Gaetan Vige (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) 4:23.651; 2. Finnley Iles (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) 3.099; 3. Elliott Heap (GBR, Chain Reaction Cycles/Paypal) 6.687; Other Canadians 4. Magnus Manson (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 7.749; 8. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Steve Peat Syndicate/Uberbike Global) 13.189. Final Overall Standings Elite Men 1. Aaron Gwin (USA, The YT Mob) 1,252 points; 2. Danny Hart (GBR, MS Mondraker Team) 1,226; 3. Troy Brosnan (AUS, Specialized Racing) 1,031; Canadians 22. Mark Wallace (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 366; 47. Steve Smith (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 207; 78. Forrest Riesco (CAN, OGC/Intense/Fox) 97; 108. Kirk McDowall (CAN, Dunbar Cycles) 31; 139. Max Scharf (CAN) 13; 148. Hugo Langevin (CAN) 10; 159. Matthew Beer (CAN) 3; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton (GBR, Trek Factory Racing DH) 1,700 points; 2. Manon Carpenter (GBR, Madison Saracen Factory Team) 1,140; 3. Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon Ur) 1,130; Canadians 10. Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized) 389; 17. Georgia Astle (CAN) 149; 19. Vaea Verbeeck (CAN, Rocky Mountain) 100; 45. Nicole Soulsby (CAN) 5; 46. Jamie Hill (CAN) 5; Junior Men 1. Finnley Iles (CAN, Specialized Gravity p/b SRAM) 300 points; 2. Gaetan Vige (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) 285; 3. Elliott Heap (GBR, Chain Reaction Cycles/Paypal) 170; Other Canadians 9. Magnus Manson (CAN, Devinci Global Racing) 64; 13. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Steve Peat Syndicate/Uberbike Global) 35; 32. Adam Robbins (CAN, Eastern States Cup North American DH Team) 8; 40. Bracken Camilleri (CAN) 1. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 59
2017
GEAR PREVIEW This past fall, cycling trade shows the world over were buzzing as companies rolled out the red carpet on lots of great new products for 2016. Around the globe, from Interbike in Vegas, Nev. to Eurobike in Friedrichshafen, Germany and ExpoBici in Padua, Italy, the wheels keep spinning with exciting and innovative products coming to a bike shop near you. by Ben Andrew, MIke Sarnecki, Chris Redden and Paul Newitt
features an all-new 1,800g (size M) World-Cup-proven carbon frame. The new all-carbon Hei Hei Trail DL features Fuse Independent Suspension design, tweaked geometry, 27.5” wheels and 140mm of travel. The Hei Hei Trail Supreme features the all-new SRAM Eagle XX1 along with the pedal-efficient Fuse carbon rear end with 140mm of suspension, 27.5” wheels and an XS-size option. The Big Kahuna now comes with a 27.5”+ tire and a Reynolds chromoly frame. Merckx Merckx has expanded its bike line for
Kona Operator DL
BIKES KONA Kona’s Operator DL is built around an all-new butted aluminum frame
with 27.5” wheels. The wildly successful Operator model is also available at reduced pricing for 2017. The Honzo CR Trail DL is a 29” hardtail with aggressive trail geometry, a carbon frame, a dropper post and wider/stiffer Boost rear end. The Honzo CR Trail hardtail features an assertive stance and a nimble-handling carbon frame. The Honzo CR Race offers a lighter-weight carbon frame that has a more aggressive geometry, shorter chainstays that deliver more power, a stiffer front end with 120mm of controlled travel and dropper-post routing. For the brand-new Big Honzo DL, Kona took the aggressive, dynamic geometry of the trail-happy Honzo and gave it a 27.5”+-wheel size for more traction, control and confidence. Kona has upped the stiffness and dropped the weight over its aluminum models by giving the Hei Hei Supreme a lighter full-carbon frame that features trail-tested carbon Fuse Independent Suspension that eliminates a pivot at the chainstay/seatstay junction. The Hei Hei DL comes with an all-new carbon frame, Kona’s Fuse Independent Suspension, Boost spacing and a dropper post. Hei Hei Race DL 60 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
2017, adding a Performance and Endurance offering. The EM525 is offered in a Performance geometry and Endurance geometry. Both geometries come in seven sizes. Also new for 2017 is the addition of optional disc brakes on most models, including the EM525, SanRemo76, Mourenx69, Sallanches64, Milano72, Strasbourg71 and Eeklo70. The Petit Enghien 61 is a new youth-oriented race bike with a full Shimano Sora groupset and two colour options. BMC The new BMC Roadmachine is available in both carbon and alloy construction with thru-axle and disc brakes. The integrated cockpit hides cables and the proprietary stem comes in five lengths ranging from 90mm to 130mm. BMC’s new “D” compliance post is affixed using an integrated clamping system, and a compact rear triangle provides increased performance and roadnoise reduction. The redesigned Timemachine offers a P2P V-Cockpit that is specifically designed for triathletes, allowing the rider to sit forward and up compared to a traditional time-trial bike. The Timemachine is also available with a traditional flat-cockpit configuration, providing a lower position. The dual-mount seatpost has two mounting positions, allowing for a total of 124mm of possible fore-aft adjustment. Scapin The Kalibra is the first road-disc model offered by Scapin. Already well received and having won the CosmoBike Award for design excellence, the Kalibra combines esthetics and functional technology to create a bike true to the character of the brand. Customizability is paramount with the Kalibra, coming in three standard colours, five frame sizes, six build-kit options and four separate wheel options, as well as available custom-paint schemes. www.pedalmag.com
Specialized The popular Roubaix has undergone a major update for 2017, including the introduction of the all-new Future Shock that adds 20mm of travel above the headtube, which acts to suspend the rider over the bike. This, along with the CG-R FACT carbon seatpost, which is clamped 3.5” below the toptube, allows for maximum ease of handling over harsh conditions. All disc-model frames use a 12x142mm thru-axle, and the new FACT 11r carbon-disc fork uses a 12x100mm thru-axle to provide increased stiffness and control under heavy braking. The 2017 Enduro is available in 29”- and 27.5”-wheel sizes, and the 29” bike can be converted to a 6Fattie, allowing for the use of plus-size tires with 160mm of travel up front and 165mm of travel in the rear. The 27.5” bikes come with 170mm of travel. A slackened headtube at 66° increases the control of the Enduro, even on the gnarliest of trails. The Alibi brings technology to the masses with solid tires that mean a puncture-less ride, and a galvanized chain for maintenance that’s a breeze. The classic and step-thru designs and high rider bars add to the relaxed ride. The Fatboy is available with both carbon and alloy frames and a variety of builds from winter racer to bike touring. The M4 aluminum frame provides many rack-mount options, while the FACT carbon-frame construction uses internal cable routing to keep things simple and clean. The Fatboy 24 and Fatboy 20 bring the fun to shorter shredders. Norco The new Ithaqua combines fatbike versatility with race-bike performance.
The lightweight carbon frame is compatible with 26x5.0” or 27.5x4.0” tires for incredible traction and flotation through snow, sand and other variable terrain. The Optic is a fast-pedaling trail bike that uses progressive trail geometry carefully tuned across each frame size for optimal ride quality, while A.R.T. suspension delivers both efficient climbing and lively, capable descending. It is available in your choice of 650B or 29” wheels. Updated for 2017 with 140mm of travel, the Torrent is designed with long, low, slack geometry, 40mm rims and 2.8” tires. The frame is made of custom-formed 6061 X6 aluminum with a double-butted tube. The 100mm Revolver full suspension has a stiff, featherlight carbon frame with racer-approved Gravity Tune geometry and A.R.T. suspension and kinematics optimized for cross-country racing. Norco’s kids’ line features lightweight aluminum frames, custom geometry and kid-specific components. Increased standover clearance and short chainstays help smaller children to fit bikes with larger wheels, making it easier for them to roll over bumpy terrain, while short stems and wide bars make them feel stable.
Specialized Roubaix S Works Etap
Giant Giant’s new TCR Disc range includes three series: TCR Advanced SL Disc, TCR Advanced Pro Disc and TCR Advanced Disc. Each purpose-built frame is engineered with flat-mount disc-brake technology for consistent braking power in all conditions. The new front (12x100mm) and rear (12x142mm) thru-axle set-ups produce a race-tuned ride quality, as well as with precision and steering stiffness. The TCR Advanced SL Disc and TCR Advanced Pro Disc models also come equipped with Giant’s SLR Disc WheelSystem and all-new Gavia SLR tubeless tires. Giant’s all-new Trance is available with an Advanced-grade composite or ALUXX SL aluminum frame. Its updated Maestro suspension features a trunnion-mount shock with 140mm of super-smooth rear travel. That’s paired with a plush 150mm fork, 27.5” wheels and modern geometry that’s long and low. Giant e-bikes’ SyncDrive motor delivers smooth pedaling power that is sonically tuned for quiet performance. The PedalPlus four-sensor technology system precisely measures the amount of force a rider applies to the pedals so that the motor delivers a seamless power boost. The system uses speed and torque sensors along with motor and pedal-rotation sensors to produce even power across the entire gear range. The state-of-the-art Quick-E+ transit bike is designed for the urban dweller. With a top assisted speed of 32kph, Quick-E+ features an ALUXX SL aluminum frame and a powerful Yamaha motor that produces 80Nm of torque with Giant’s Hybrid Cycling Technology. The all-new Full-E+ 0 SX full-suspension e-bike has an ALUXX SL aluminum frame featuring 140mm of smooth Maestro rear suspension and a SyncDrive motor that’s powered by Yamaha. Along with off-road geometry, the Full-E+ 0 SX features 27.5” wheels with all-new Boost rear-hub spacing, 80Nm of torque and a long-lasting 500 watt-hours EnergyPak battery.
Ghost The Ghost SL AMR X 29’er line has 150mm of front travel paired with
140mm of rear travel, aggressive angles and 29” wheels. The line uses Cane Creek Signature suspension, X-Yoke suspension design, integrated cable routing and 1x11 drivetrains. The SL AMR X9 LC frame is constructed of Ghost’s lightweight carbon. The suspension is handled by a Fox 36 Float Performance Elite fork and a Cane Creek DB Inline Coil CS rear shock. The SL AMR 29’er is spec’ed with Race Face components, Shimano XT 1x drivetrain and Schwalbe tires. The PathRoit has 170mm of travel up front and 150mm of rear travel, and uses 27.5” wheels. The frame is constructed of Ghost’s ultra-lightweight carbon. Several build options use either full Fox suspension or a Fox 36 Float fork coupled with a Cane Creek shock.
Juiced Bikes Juiced Bikes from California are now available in Canada through B.C.-based Hill Eater E-Bikes and feature the CrossCurrent, Cross CurrentAIR, OceanCurrent, and U500, which received an Interbike award nomination in 2015. The flagship CrossCurrent is available with 7.8 or 10.4 ah batteries, while the new Cross CurrentAIR is an e-bike capable of 45km/h and designed to be upgradable. The U500 comes in five colours with three battery options, including the 32 Amp Hour which offers a range of 125-150 kilometres of riding.
Felt FR 2 Disc
Felt The new FR series uses integrated features that have been optimized for contemporary drivetrains and components, including a unique cable-management system that is compatible with every drivetrain on the market. The FR features a BB386EVO bottom bracket, rim brake-equipped and disc brake-equipped versions, and is available in SRAM eTap, Shimano Ultegra Di2, Ultegra and 105 builds. The all-new VR Endurance road bike is equipped with disc brakes and 12mm front and rear thru-axles, enough clearance for using a variety of tire widths, as well as several optional integrated convenience features such as a proprietary fender-mount kit and a toptube storage solution. www.pedalmag.com
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Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod Disc Ultegra Di2
The Super Course uses 4130 chromoly and is built with Shimano Claris compact gearing to provide reliable shifting. Clement Strada LGG 700x28c tires are fast-rolling and capable, and the Brooks Cambium saddle and bar tape provide plush contact points. The Stuntman is constructed of all-new Reynold 631 butted chromoly. The disc frame with 142x12 thru-axle and 15mm thru-axle fork provide optimal brake performance, while the 700c and 50mm-wide Clement X’Plor LZY tubeless tires will allow the Stuntman to go nearly anywhere. The Detour iE Step-Through uses a 26-volt, 250-watt Shimano STEPS centre-drive motor to assist the rider by propelling the bike up to 32kph. Shimano hydraulic-disc brakes with 160mm rotors provide sure stopping power. An LCD multi-functional display provides system information, and the estimated range of the lithium-ion battery is 48 to 80 kilometres. The Back Alley uses a Hi-Ten steel frame with track geometry, a flip-flop hub and removable cable guides to create a reliable, fun city bike.
Cannondale Cannondale’s all-new Bad Habit Carbon takes the spot-on trail
manners of the Habit and supercharges both with 27+ wheels. The Asymmetric Integration (Ai) offset drivetrain delivers super-short chainstays for superior traction and tons of clearance for full 3.0 tires. It features a lightweight BallisTec carbon SmartForm C1 swingarm and a super-light carbon link. The SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Disc features an 829g elite race chassis with disc brakes, while maintaining all of the ride characteristics of one of the most advanced, well-rounded race bikes ever made. Flat-mount brakes, thru-axles and internal routing on the frame and fork create a clean, streamlined look. The SuperX cyclocross features Cannondale’s new proprietary OutFront steering geometry, which combines a slack headtube angle with a custom 55mm fork offset, giving exceptional stability and agility. Boasting shortestin-class 422mm chainstays for climb-winning traction, SuperX takes it one step further and incorporates the Asymmetric Integration (Ai) drivetrain that is shifted out six millimetres to accommodate an evenly dished rear wheel with up to 40c tires and provides a significant increase in mud clearance. The Moterra comes in three models and is a true all-around trail e-mountain bike with 130mm of travel and the incredible grip of 27+ wheels. The Moterra LT comes in two models and is an aggressive All-Mountain/Enduro e-mountain bike with 160mm of travel front and rear, 27.5x2.35” tires and appropriately stout component specs. At the heart of all Moterra models is Cannondale’s custom Si motor mount and Ai (Asymmetric Integration) chainring. Scott Already a proven winner at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Scott’s Spark
is available in both 29”- and 27.5”-wheel standards, as well as plus-size tire options. The Spark RC and Contessa Spark RC continue to have Scott’s full-suspension race platform, with 100mm of travel front and rear. The Spark RC is offered in both 29”- and 27.5”-wheel sizes. The bikes feature 120mm of travel across the board. Scott has also included dropper posts from brands such as Fox and RockShox, or its own in-house Syncros 2.0 post, on nearly all of the Spark and Spark Plus models. Raleigh The Redux 1 is a ride-on-anything bike for the city. The 1x8-speed drivetrain and mechanical discs keep things simple and reliable, and the Schwalbe Big Ben 27.5x2.0” tires are ready to handle a variety of road surfaces.
Scott Spark 940
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Marin Marin’s new Hawk Trail features a Series 3 6061 butted hydroformed aluminum frame, 120mm-travel MultiTrac-suspension technology and 27.5” wheels. A RockShox Recon Silver RL provides 120mm of travel and is fixed to the frame via an alloy-tapered steerer, 100x15mm thru-axle and 42mm offset.
Marin Hawk Hill
Trek The Madone uses seamless integration, an aerodynamic design and Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler to create a true racing machine. The low-profile front end and integrated cockpit deters frontal drag. The IsoSpeed decoupler will provide relief on rough surfaces, despite its race-oriented design. The Boone uses 600 Series OCLV carbon construction and the incorporation of IsoSpeed technology keeps the Boone lightweight and compliant. Disc options include front thru-axles to increase performance and stopping power, while purists can still find cantilever models. The Crockett is Trek’s aluminum-frame ‘cross bike, which incorporates a race geometry, disc- and cantilever-brake options and reliable builds to create a versatile bike that’s at home on both the World Cup and local gravel roads. For Enduro and aggressive trail riding, the Remedy has 27.5” wheels, an aggressive geometry with slacker angles and 150mm of travel. Boost 148/110 spacing adds to the stiffness and strength of the bike and allows for wider tires and shorter chainstays. The Domane SLR 6 Disc uses Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler for rear-end compliance as well as for dampening of road noise through the fork and headtube. With excellent stiffness and power transfer, the Domane is still a high-performer, claiming 30% more lateral stiffness than the competition. Caliper and disc-brake options are available throughout the line. The Farley EX 9.8 combines the traction and stability of fat tires with a capable full-suspension frame for go-anywhere capability. OCLV Mountain carbon-frame construction keeps the bike light and the 27.5x4” wheels smooth out the ride and roll faster. The new Stache 9.8 uses a 29+ platform and 120mm front travel to grip the trail. Boost 148/110 spacing means stronger wheels and more tire clearance with shorter stays, and the Stranglehold dropout gives you the option of running the Stache with 29+, 27.5+ or 29’er wheels. The OCLV Mountain carbon frame keeps things light, efficient and tough. www.pedalmag.com
Opus Vivace 1
The 920 Disc is a rugged adventure tourer built on 29” wheels and comes ready to ride with an off-road-inspired drivetrain. With drop bars, off-road gearing and many mounting options for racks and gear, the 920 Disc provides serious versatility for the bicycle adventurer. Hydraulic disc brakes provide sure stopping power and ample tire clearance. Opus The newly redesigned Vivace series uses a light, stiff carbon frame,
complemented with thru-axle technology and disc brakes. Opus Progressive Geometry encourages a wind-cheating rider position while also absorbing every road imperfection. The new Opus Rhodes is a drop-bar bike for performance-minded youth. It’s built with a light alloy frame and fork and equipped with easy-to-control disc brakes with auxiliary brake levers on the top of the bars and easy-shifting microSHIFT 18-speed drivetrain. The Spark 4 AE aluminum adventure bikes feature thru-axles, disc brakes and generous tire clearance. The Spark’s lower bottom bracket and longer stays give you greater stability for when the pavement ends and the fun begins. The Classico is designed with a butted 6061 alloy frame and fork coupled with lighter wheels that allow you to ride faster and farther. It comes equipped with a premium urban saddle and a nine-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain. The Orpheo LRT is great for your daily commute, featuring full fenders that offer superior protection and hydraulic-disc brakes. Flat-resistant tires make sure you arrive on time, and a rust-resistant chain gives you year-round service. Intense Cycles The new ACV is a 27.5+ bike using 2.8” tires. With 130mm of
adjustable travel and the ability to run tire pressure as low as 12 psi, it’s ready for a wide range of uses. The adjustable travel allows for suspension to be set from 115mm to 130mm. Frames use a tapered headtube and a monocoque front triangle. The Recluse features 150mm front and 140mm rear travel, coupled with Intense’s JS Tuned suspension. The line includes five builds, and features 27.5” wheels, integrated Boost 148x12 dropouts and a monocoque front triangle and carbon rear triangle. The Primer is a 29”-wheel bike based on Intense’s JS Tuned suspension, featuring short chainstays, slack headtube angle and a steep seat-tube angle. The Primer is offered in four builds featuring adjustable travel from 115mm to 130mm, integrated Boost 148x12 dropouts, internal cable routing and a monocoque front triangle and carbon rear triangle.
Rocky Mountain Rocky’s new Pipeline 770 MSL full-suspension bike has
150mm front and 130mm rear travel and uses 27.5” wheels with Maxxis tubeless-ready 3.25 tires. The front frame is made of Smoothwall carbon fibre that has Ride 9 adjustable geometry equipped with internal cable routing and a RockShox Reverb dropper post. The Pipeline 750 MSL has the same travel as the 770, but uses the RockShox Yaris up front and Monarch in the back. The frame features a 7005 hydroformed-aluminum rear triangle, Shimano M506 hydraulic disc brakes and XT shifters and derailleurs. The Slayer is back for 2017, and the 790 MSL features a full-carbon Smoothwall frame with Ride 4 adjustability and sealed-bearing pivot points. A Fox 36 Float RC2 Factory fork works in conjunction with a Fox Float X2 EVOL Factory rear shock to provide 170mm front and 165mm rear travel. The Slayer 770 MSL uses the same frame, but with a set of RockShox Lyrik RCT3 shocks and 170mm of travel with a Super Deluxe Debonair RC3 for 165mm of rear travel. The 750 MSL and more affordable 730 MSL are also featured in the line-up. The Reaper is a full-suspension kids’ bike that comes in a 24”- or a 26”-wheel size. This bike offers the same aggressive trail performance as other Rocky full-suspension bikes, but in a smaller package. It has 120mm of front and rear travel. The Reaper can convert from 24” to 26” as your child grows. The Suzie Q -90° RSL is a carbon fatbike that features a narrow Q factor, making it easier to ride. The Smoothwall carbon frame and fork help save the weight, while the 27.5” wheels roll over all obstacles. The Suzie Q -70° RSL has the same frame and fork as the 90, but uses Shimano XT shifters and brakes. More affordable Suzie Q -50° and Q -30° models are also featured in the line-up. The Growler 750 is an aluminum-framed hardtail that uses 27.5+ tires for more traction on climbs, and a more forgiving ride on descents. It uses a RockShox Reba SL with 120mm of travel. The Growler 740 uses the same aluminum frame with a Suntour Raidon fork and 120mm of travel, while the 730 is the most affordable version, sharing the same frame with a Suntour XCM32 coil fork and 120mm of travel. Devinci Devinci’s new Hatchet Carbone uses Dual Core Fusion frame construction paired with compliant seatstays to provide an unbeatable feel on loose gravel. A stiff bottom bracket enhances lateral rigidity, while its low placement improves a rider’s center of gravity. Relaxed head angles and the long toptube geometry are balanced with a short stem for responsive handling. It also features up to 40c tire clearance, mudguard and internal dropper-post options. The new Split-Pivot Django delivers power, speed and finesse on the trail, with an optimal blend of 130mm front/120mm rear suspension and sure-footed 29” wheels that enhance traction on wet, slippery surfaces and deliver appreciated stability. The all-new Devinci Kobain hardtail uses a plus-size footprint for superior stability and traction. The Optimum G04 (6066 T6) aluminum frame features internal cable routing and uses front and back thru-axles.
De Rosa SK Pininfarina Luxury
De Rosa The classic Italian brand has added three new models of its SK Pinin-
farina aero bike, with the SK Pininfarina Luxury (made in Italy), the SK Pininfarina H2 Speed (also made in Italy) and the SK Pininfarina Disc. For 2017, the King XS gets a facelift with new graphics and colours while continuing to be the choice for those looking for a bike that can accommodate long-distance riding yet still perform under the demands of racing. The Idol receives a new look for 2017 and continues to be De Rosa’s do-everything model with a high-modulus carbon frame that comes with discand rim-brake options, allowing for ample room to run higher-volume tires. www.pedalmag.com
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PARTS & ACCESSORIES Elite’s Drivo is an interactive direct-transmission home trainer with integrated power measurement that uses a 24-point laser-optical power system that measures watt output to within 1% accuracy. It has a power output of 2,000 watts at 35kph and can simulate a 24% grade. The electronically managed magnetic resistance is directly related to the training program or course that is chosen in the software. Drivo comes with Real Elite Drivo trainer Software and the MyTraining app, and is compatible with ZWIFT, Kinomap and TrainerRoad. Hub compatibility includes 130-135x5mm, with quick release and 142x12mm thru-axle. FSA’s Gossamer Pro ABS BB 386 EVO crankset is constructed out of coldforged aluminum and designed for maximum strength-to-weight ratio. The 30mm spindle is compatible with English treaded, SMN press fit and BB30 bottom brackets with the use of spacers. The SL-K Light ABS BB386 EVO road crankset uses hollow carbon-fibre arms and the adaptable BB386EVO 30mm spindle to create a stiff, lightweight crank. At 169g, the Extra Light Compact road bar uses high-modulus carbon and careful control of wall thickness to create a high-control, high-comfort handlebar. The Vision Team 35 alloy wheelset includes aero-bladed spokes, an asymmetric 2:1 rear lacing pattern, CNC-machined braking surfaces, sealed cartridge bearings and hand-built quality. Giro’s all-new Factor Techlace shoe combines the benefits of laces with the adjustability of a Boa dial. The upper is constructed with Evofiber SL, and
COMPONENTS
SRAM SRAM’s new Apex 1 crankset completes its entry-level 1x groupset. An
integrated four-arm asymmetric spider maximizes stiffness-to-weight, while its patented X-Sync chainrings keeps the chain on over rough terrain. RED eTap HRD combines SRAM’s new HydroHC brake platform with electronic shifting. SRAM RED eTap HRD combines the unconditional braking performance and control of hydraulic disc brakes with the adjustability of conventional rim brakes. The new XX1 and X01 drivetrains now feature SRAM’s Eagle Technology that aims to increase wear life, toughness, precision and smooth and silent operation. XX1 and X01 can now use the extra-wide-range 10- to 50-tooth 12-speed Eagle cassette. Level is a new brake designed for the needs of modern cross-country and trail riders. Braking power and modulation are optimized by matching DirectLink lever design with authoritative two-piston calipers. The new Roam 60’s careful combination of shape, width, design and materials yields a new carbon 27.5” wheelset. The lightweight, high-strength 30mm carbon rims increase control and confidence in any terrain. FSA (Full Speed Ahead) FSA electrifies its lines with SRAM XX1 Eagle
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the introduction of the K-Force WE wireless road groupset. The K-Force WE is an elegantly designed high-tech electronic-drive system that makes use
the Easton EC9 SLX2 carbon-fibre outsole provides a stiff platform for power transfer. Its weight is 210g (size 42.5). The Aerohead MIPS is the latest triathlon and time-trial helmet from Giro. The Zeiss eye shield is affixed to the helmet using magnetic anchors, and a Roc Loc Air system provides a secure fit. The Aerohead Ultimate MIPS is the most aerodynamically efficient profile ever created by Giro. The shell is constructed with TeXtreme carbon fibre, which is lighter and stronger than other carbon composites. The Bexley MIPS is an urban helmet that provides a large area of coverage and uses plush antimicrobial padding for extra comfort. The Bexley uses a retractable, replaceable shield to protect the eyes, and an integrated rear light provides increased visibility. Vittoria has introduced the Qurano carbon-clincher wheel line for 2017, with the Qurano 30c (1,410g), Qurano 46c (1,510g) and the Qurano 60c (1,570g). The rims are constructed of Vittoria’s graphene-enhanced carbon and include the Vittoria Speedlock carbon-clincher profile for better braking on the tubeless-ready rim. Bollé’s Messenger Premium HI-VIS is a technology-loaded commuter helmet that features an LED light system and reflective materials to increase visibility. Bollé’s safety QR code allows users to enter emergency-contact information online, which can be accessed by scanning the unique QR code on the helmet in the event of an accident. Aeromax glasses feature Bollé’s B-Max technology that provides wide horizontal and vertical fields of vision. The Aeromax is vented at the edges of the lens, and lenses are available in a variety of colours, as well as the Bollé B-Clear lens. Kryptonite’s Keeper Foldable uses a hardened-steel-link system, with 360° link rotation to provide secure and compact security. Neoprene webbing protects the chain links from damaging bike frames, and a dustcover protects the log cylinder from dirt Bollé Aeromax sunglasses and grime.
of wireless communication between the shifters and the derailleurs. The K-Force WE shifters use ANT+ wireless technology, and the power of a lightweight coin-cell battery relays FSA K-Force information to the front and rear deWE electronicrailleurs. drive system Derailleurs are independently powered by a seat-post battery, which offers the advantage of a larger battery for heavy shifting and, according to FSA, approximately 4,000 to 6,000 kilometres of ride per charge (depending on a rider’s shifting habits). Shifting is monitored and analyzed on an ongoing basis by the K-Force WE system, and through computer algorithms, it provides an estimate of battery charge remaining. Charge levels are communicated through four LEDs on the top of the front derailleur and can be fully charged through an interface on the rear derailleur in approximately an hour. The K-Force WE rear derailleur is an 11-speed system with a 30T total capacity and maximum sprocket size of 28T. The front derailleur is a Ti body with stainless-steel hardware. The K-Force shifters feature UD carbon levers, available in small and large. Other components in the K-Force WE group include a crankset with hollow carbon arms and a K-Force brake set, cassette and chain. An Android app is available for customizing your shifting preferences. Shimano Shimano’s latest Dura-Ace R9100 is now available with a hydraulic disc-brake option. A new optional dual-sided power meter further adds to www.pedalmag.com
The RC3 controller and DS3 display from BionX compatibility and 3D power-meter technology. will now be available as OEM and for aftermarket You can choose the Precision Pro Ride Ready, which comes purchase. Also new for 2017 is an app available on pre-installed on a new Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000 series crankset, or the Precision Pro Factory Install, which is affixed to your Android, and iOS that will provide connectivity with existing crankset at the 4iiii factory. a smartphone via the RC3 controller. Garneau’s Carbon LS-100 II road shoes offer a precise Boa A new universal 2,000-lumen front- and micro-adjustment system and a super-rigid rear-lighting system will also be available in 2017, frame for maximum performance. powered by e-bike powertrain systems through the The Copper T-Flex MTB shoe incorporates DC jack, and will be controlled by the RC3 controlBionx lightler on the handlebars. many great features from Garneau’s Course ing system Blackburn’s Central 200 Front + Click USB Rear Airlite road-cycling shoe. A strong frame prevents it from going soft on a muddy course, light set provides enough light to both see and and features a brand-new system of offset be seen. The 200-lumen Central 200 Front uses a straps to reduce pressure on top of the foot. ratchet system to allow for angle adjustability, and The Onyx shoe is designed to be comfortable and efficient when riding, side light beams increase visibility. The Click USB Rear features an LED and the hiking outsole ensures flexibility to walk when necessary. gauge that allows the user to see how much charge is left. Developed with Alphamantis Technologies, Garneau’s P-09 helmet uses The CamelBak Crus Reservoir provides 20% more water per sip than previous models, and a new open/close lever on the mouthpiece reduces unwantthe innovative technology of the Vorttice helmet with improved aerodynamics, ed dripping. The Crux is made of BPA-/EPS-/EPF-free materials. ventilation and lens system. The Speedplay Zero Pavé shares all the same features and benefits of the The Héros MIPS RTR helmet is precision-engineered to deliver safety, Zero, but with a minimalist design. Each pedal uses one needle and two carcomfort and performance. The helmet can be adjusted using the Spiderlock tridge bearings for smooth, stable rotation on the spindle. 4D adjustment system, both laterally and verThe Syzr off-road pedal uses funnel-shaped guides on the front of each tically for a perfect fit. cleat to effectively increase the size of the target area and steer the cleat into The Ghost Asset is lightthe pedal. With 10° of float and micro-adjustibility, it is available in chromoly, weight and well ventilated stainless steel and titanium. to offer maximum comfort. With its fierce deLezyne’s Super GPS offers both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart connections, sign inspired from ultra-reliable tracking via GPS, a barometer and an accelerometer, as well as pure racing modfeatures such as Strava Live Segments, turn-by-turn navigation, phone notifications, Lezyne Track, breadcrumb map and customizable pages and fields. els, this helmet great The companion Lezyne Ally phone app allows you to sync with Strava or ensures head protection select destinations for turn-by-turn routing, and offers the option of turning on from every angle. text/phone/email notifications that seamlessly stream information from your The Raid MIPS phone to the computer screen. Garneau Héros MIPS helmet provides Alberta-based 4iiii introduces the dual-sided Precision Pro power meter RTR helmet plenty of coverage that delivers exceptional accuracy, lightweight design, ANT+ and Bluetooth
Dura-Ace’s integration, while riders can also take advantage of new e-tube wireless connectivity. Lighter Dura-Ace R9100 dual control levers deliver further refined shift performance with improved ergonomics. Shimano’s Synchro Shift is now available for Dura-Ace R9150/R9170 groupsets, allowing for sequential shifting. Shimano Synchronized Shift will be available for all previous 11-speed Di2 road-component groups with the use of new Di2 firmware. The FC-R9100 Hollowtech II crankset’s shaping improves upon Dura-Ace’s iconic four-arm design, adding strength and rigidity while minimizing weight. Shimano’s Rider Tuned gearing offers a number of chainring configurations, with a singular BCD for ease of use and versatility. Shimano’s new Metrea group offers stylish components built to cope with urban-riding realities, and a new 60° to 45° riding angle allows for responsive, nimble handling and a comfortable posture. Riders can choose a flat bar for greater urban versatility and compatibility with a wide range of bike frames. Two-way flat-bar Rapidfire Plus shift levers allow for rapid gear changes with consistent pedaling. Complementary dual control levers for the ends of the H-type bar lend riders an ergonomic and aerodynamic riding position. Hydraulic brake levers deliver appropriately regulatShimano Metrea ed power and perforwww.pedalmag.com
mance. Flat-mount calipers provide a clean appearance with stable, silent and smooth braking performance, and Ice Tech rotors allow for maximum heat dissipation. A sleek anti-corroding two-piece crankset provides reliable drivetrain performance and its tooth profile allows for smooth and consistent pedaling. The rear derailleur introduces wide-range 11-speed gearing with efficient shifting steps on the cassette. Finally, Metrea’s disc-brake-specific wheelset brings everything together for quick and stylish cruising.
Campagnolo Potenza 11
Campagnolo Campagnolo has introduced the 11-speed Potenza group for
2017 that benefits from the technologies found in the Super Record group, while achieving a more affordable price. The rear derailleur shares the same design as its Super Record cousin, and will be available in two versions – short-cage and long-cage options – to match the all-new 11-32 cassette. The Potenza crankset is made with hollow-forged-aluminum crank arms to keep weight to a minimum while maintaining the same performance characteristics of its carbon-fibre counterparts. The Potenza 11 Ergopower shifters maintain the ergonomics of the entire Campagnolo Revolution 11+ line, but the hood covers have been slightly altered to provide better grip and comfort. Campagnolo has also created new brake levers for triathlon and time-trial bikes. Two versions include Record EPS in carbon fibre and Athena EPS in aluminum. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 65
Shimano S-Phyre RC9 road shoe
around the back of the head. The Spiderlock Pro MTB stabilizes the helmet, while the Tri-Glide PRO strap system lets you fine-tune the position of the helmet’s straps. The versatile Le Tour MIPS helmet is easy to adjust so you can shape it to your needs, and its visor can quickly be removed should you wish to do so. Inspired by the high-end Raid mountain-bike helmet, the large back-ofthe-head covering of the Brat is designed to better protect this area, while the brand-new design makes for 360° protection. Shimano’s RC9 road shoe features a one-piece upper to provide a snug fit and an ultralight carbon outer sole for maximized power transfer. Shimano has also eliminated the lasting board to reduce weight and allow for a lower stack height to help stabilize the foot. Closure on the RC9 is controlled by a pair of BOA IP1 dials. The RC9 comes in four colour ways – white, yellow, black and blue – and a full range of sizes. Stages Cycling introduces its new power-training package featuring the Dash and Link ecosystems. Dash is a power-training-optimized GPS head unit that integrates seamlessly with the new Link system and features robust Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity to Stages Power meters and third-party devices. Stages’ new Link is a hub of cloud-based coaching, education, training analysis and equipment-management tools developed in collaboration with the cycling-training analytics experts at Today’s Plan, based in Australia. Park Tool goes big in 2017 with its new TS-4 Professional Truing Stand designed to accurately gauge any size wheel, with or without the tire mounted, accommodating today’s wide variety of hubs, wheel sizes and tire combinations. The Tacx NEO is for those looking to get the most out of their indoor riding. The direct-drive system aids in optimizing power efficiency, and the use of a virtual flywheel more accurately simulates road resistance. Furthermore, the NEO boasts a maximum resistance of 2,200 watts, ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart connectivity. The Flux is a compact direct-drive trainer with a 7kg flywheel and Electro braking technology that is ANT+ FE-C- and Bluetooth-Smart-compatible, allowing users to train with Tacx apps, as well as programs such as Zwift and TrainerRoad. The Satori Smart broadcasts power/speed/cadence over ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart singles, but it is not ANT+ FE-C-enabled, and instead, a cable-actuated brake can be mounted on the handlebars to allow users to set the desired resistance. The Tiger MTB shoe is Sidi’s new top-end footwear option. Sidi’s Techno-3 Push dial system is now locatTacx Neo trainer ed on the tongue, making it easier to use and affording increased crash protection. The uppers are constructed of Techpro microfibre material, while an SRS carbon-ground sole provides superb stiffness. Replacing the Wire 66 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
Carbon as its top-tier road shoe, Sidi’s new Shot is constructed of a Techpro microfibre upper and vented carbon sole. The double Techno-3 Push system is again moved to the tongue to increase durability and comfort. The Boost 01 is Rudy Project’s first-ever road aero helmet that was designed using the Pininfarina wind tunnel in Italy with the aid of aerodynamics guru John Cobb. It features 10 vents and a forward-placed aerodynamic pressure zone to reduce neck torque. The Fotonyk includes an all-new Lens Bumper system and enhanced protection to the face during falls or impacts. Air channels are strategically placed at the top of the lens so users can easily manage internal airflow and reduce fog. The elegant Airgrip offers a unique wraparound style, with distinctive triangular vents located on the temples for superb airflow. For complete side protection, a soft closed-cell shield can easily be interchanged with the included open-cell comfort pad. The award-winning Tralyx is Rudy Project’s most advanced pair of sunglasses, featuring an all-new Tralyx XL lens that was tested and designed by Professional cyclists and engineered to expand the depth of vision. Oakley’s Radar Pace uses an Intel-powered system to provide real-time coaching, tracking the user’s performance and making corrections and suggestions in the moment. The Radar Pace pairs with external sensors, including power, heart rate, speed, cadence, distance and time to tailor coaching specifically to the user. The system also uses an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, humidity sensor and Oakley Radar Pace proximity glasses sensor to provide further statistics and feedback. It is water-resistant and is available in both men’s and women’s fits. Fulcrum’s Speed 40 clincher’s 40mm medium-height carbon rims can accept 25-32mm-wide tires. There is a 3K carbon-fibre braking surface that is treated with 3Diamant. It comes with ceramic bearings and its weight is 1,420g per pair. The Speed 40 and 55 carbon tubulars feature ceramic bearings as well as a 3K carbon-fibre braking surface that is treated with 3Diamant and can accommodate 25-32mm-wide tires. Using carbon hubs with aluminum flanges and aero straight-pull spokes, the weight per pair is 1,213g for the Speed 40 and 1,280g for the Speed 55. The Racing Zero line offers durable clincher wheelsets to race and train on. The Competizione is an aluminum-rimmed road wheel with machined sidewalls and ceramic bearings. Its weight per set is 1,520g. The Nite models are aluminum-rimmed wheels with black plasma coating and ceramic bearings, with a weight of 1,506g per set. Racing Zero is a high-level aluminum race wheelset with machined sidewalls that have ceramic bearings, all with a weight of 1,518g per set. Fulcrum’s Racing Zero Carbon switches to carbon for the first time, combining a carbon rim with aluminum spokes. Its weight is 1,358g per set. The Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon clincher tubeless disc-brake wheelset sets a new standard. With an all-new disc-specific tubeless rim, the 303 Firecrest carbon clincher is now internally 21mm wide and faster than ever. The 202 NSW carbon clincher is engineered to be the fastest accelerating carbon clincher that Zipp has ever made. The 202 NSW delivers the lowest aerodynamic drag available for a rim of this depth, while lightweight construction and Axial Clutch Technology save time going up and down. The Zipp 202 Firecrest tubular disc-brake wheelset is the company’s most durable carbon-tubular wheelset for the demands of today’s cyclocross racer and the emerging road-disc rider and racer. Zipp’s Super-9 disc brake is its fastest wheel ever and is offered in both carbon-clincher and tubular-disc models for triathlons and time trials. www.pedalmag.com
Axiom’s Seymour bag line is the brainchild of Andrew Belson, manager of proprietary brands for Axiom’s parent, Live to Play Sports. The line is constructed of recycled fishing nets after Belson’s son became concerned about sea turtles getting caught in abandoned fishing nets in the world’s oceans. The nets are broken down and incorporated into a polyester weave to create its Oceanweave fabric used in the entire line of durable Seymour bags, which feature seat and handlebar bags, panniers and trunk bags. The Nobby Nic, Smart Sam and other Schwalbe 27.5” tires are now available in 2.6” widths, placing them between standard width and emerging plus-sized tires. The Smart Sam also has a new tread pattern for 2017, a dual-compound rubber that improves durability and uses the company’s new APX technology, which increases sidewall stiffness. The Pro One HT is a new handmade tubular road tire that comes in 22mm and 25mm widths and uses Schwalbe’s OneStar rubber compound. A diamond-tread pattern provides solid grip in a variety of road conditions. The G-One Speed is a new tire based on the former S-One and Big One tires. This high-volume tire comes in a variety of sizing options and compounds, including 700x30c clincher and handmade tubular options. The new Marathon GT uses an exclusive tread design and the newly developed DualGuard casing to provide traction and durability while protecting against cuts and punctures. Polar’s M450 Special Edition is a GPS computer that includes the M450 head unit, the H7 heart-rate monitor, an adjustable front bike mount and a coloured computer cover. It is Bluetooth-Smart-enabled, allowing it to connect to a wide range of sensors and devices to measure speed, cadence, heart rate and more, as well as power-meter systems. Lake Shoes MXZ400 is a high-cuff winter-riding shoe constructed of Pittards WR100 and Helcor abrasion-resistant leather, along with a waterproof membrane and a sole that is made of sub-zero-rated rubber. The MX332 Supercross is the new top-end cyclocross-/MTB-specific shoe featuring kangaroo-leather construction, a Thermaform carbon-fibre heel counter, full-carbon sole, two rows of replaceable spikes and dual side-mounted L6 Boa lacing. The MX237 Supercross is made with Helcor abrasion-resistant leather and mesh. The full-carbon sole and Mountain Race X rubber mean great power transfer, with excellent grip-off. Boa provides a secure fit with the dual side-lacing system. The CX332 performance road shoe is based on a wider last than Lake’s highest-end models, but with a K-Lite kangaroo-leather upper, full-carbon sole and dual side-mounted L6 Boa lacing system. The Specialized S-Works Prevail II helmet builds on the original Prevail, with increased ventilation coupled with aerodynamic design and lightweight construction. The Mindset II micro-dial fit system with height adjustability allows for enhanced comfort. The new S-Works 6 XC mountain-bike shoe uses attributes from the S-Works 6 road shoe to contribute to the stiffness and lightness of this new MTB kick. Specialized’s PadLock heel provides a snug, secure fit along with the dual-Boa closure system. The Burra Burra bike-pack collection provides a suitable carrying solution for nearly every situation. From the 13L Drypack 13 to the Mini Wedgie sadSpecialized Prevail II helmet
www.pedalmag.com
SUSPENSION
ROCKSHOX The all-new RockShox SID is focused on cross-country,
with shorter and lighter upper tubes and air shafts and an air spring optimized for 100mm of travel. Lighter by 100g than previous models thanks to knocked-out magnesium dropouts, all SIDs are torque-cap-compatible in 15x100 and Boost (15x110). The Reverb dropper post’s internals have been completely re-engineered to offer enhanced reliability. Additional bushing overlap improves performance in all conditions, while new 150mm- and 170mm-travel options are now available. Marzocchi Despite the recent Fox and Marzocchi merger,
it appears that Marzocchi’s 2017 line will remain primarily the same as 2016. Changes include updated black anodized stanchions and the addition of low-friction seals on the higher-end offerings. The Fox Transfer dropper post will be offered in the Marzocchi line with two different models: Transfer EXT and Transfer INT. Rockshox SID
Manitou The redesigned Mattoc Pro 2 now uses a Hexlock SL axle
that makes it lighter and easier to use than the previous design. The fork now has an Incremental Volume Adjust (IVA) system, which allows for quick tuning of the air spring. The McLeod shock is all new for 2017, and is constructed with 7050 aerospace-grade aluminum. Aimed at trail riders seeking a lightweight and durable option, it comes remote-ready and uses Manitou’s new four-position Incremental Platform Adjuster (IPA). Fox Starting at 2.98 lbs., the new 32 Step-Cast fork is Fox’s
lightest cross-country fork ever. Optimized for 100mm of travel, the Step-Cast’s lower-leg design and narrow crown spacing save weight, while the 32mm upper tubes and ample bushing overlap maintain ride quality. For 2017, designed for the aggressive trail rider, the 34 Own the Trail has added the new “E16” tune to its FIT4 Fox 32 Step-Cast damper, along with a best-in-class Float air spring and a super-lightweight chassis. The all-new Transfer seatpost features an infinitely adjustable design with the choice of internal or external cable routing, three drop options and two lever designs. The self-adjusting blow-off valve helps maintain consistent action and reliability. X Fusion RV1 and Metric forks now incorporate Roughcut HLR, or
RCHLR, which is the latest iteration of the company’s HLR damping system. RCHLR uses a fully bled bladder-cartridge system. The single-wall bladder system completely separates the oil in the damper from the air outside the cartridge. The pistons of the RV1 and Metric forks also feature a new design, with the shims positioned on a raised platform. This helps assist initial activation of the shims because the mating surface area of the piston and shims is reduced, so the moment of inertia is also reduced. High- and low-speed adjustments are now located on the top of the fork crown. The Manic seatpost is a dropper seatpost that is available in 125mm and 150mm versions. OD is 30.9mm/31.6mm, and the post is designed for internal cable routing only. A new shifter-style remote provides easy activation and a twobolt head system results in a wide range of seatpost-angle X-Fusion RV1 adjustment. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 67
dlebag, versatility and functionality are key. The Sport Road shoes use the same Body Geometry ergonomics of Specialized’s high-end road shoes in an affordable and comfortable design. A Velcro-closure system allows for easy adjustment on the fly. Campagnolo’s Shamal Mille uses an advanced coating for a sleek, dark look. There is also a new C17 rim that ensures better tire interfaces, especially when using 25mm- or 28mm-wide tires. The braking surface is machined with a spiral groove that reduces braking distance while eliminating noise. These wheels use ceramic bearings, aerodynamic alloy spokes Campagnolo’s Shamal Mille C17 and a carbon-hub body. The clincher set weighs 1,459g. The Zonda gets an update for 2017 with a C17 rim that is 22.5mm wide. It will accept wider tires and has a milled-rim surface. There are aerodynamic spokes and self-locking nipples. The wheelset has also lost 10g for a total of 1,540g for a set of clinchers. The Zonda DB is the very first Campagnolo wheelset designed specifically for road-disc brakes. According to Campy, this wheelset is 25g lighter than its competitors and the hubs are compatible with every type of rotor currently on the market. The clincher-model weight is 1,675g per pair. The Bora Ultra TT disc wheel has been redesigned to work with time-trial frames and to increase stiffness. A new brake surface improves the uniformity of the braking, while a new carbon weave and a lower profile create a more
CLOTHING CASTELLI Castelli’s Forza Pro jersey
brings the best features of its RS Superleggera jersey to the masses with a more relaxed fit. The jersey is constructed with Castelli’s Launch Prosecco fabric and incorporates mesh side panels for breathability. The Premio bib short is Castelli’s new Endurance short offering. With a supportive, snug fit and careful placement of the seams, the Premio is designed to feel like a second skin. Unlike Castelli’s traditional minimalist and race-oriented products, the Premio is an excellent choice for those looking for a bib short that they can ride in all day.
Castelli Forza Pro jersey
Pearl Izumi The P.R.O. Pursuit softshell jacket provides warmth and weather protection, combining thermal fabric with a three-layer softshell in key splash zones. Keeping the elements at bay on stormy training days, the P.R.O. Pursuit cycling bib tight works overtime and features the P.R.O. Pursuit 1:1 chamois, eliminating the need to layer with shorts. With extra-insulating fabric for cool-weather days, the women’s ELITE Pursuit thermal jersey is a perfect option for a performance-oriented design. The cozy core fabric provides a luxurious feel and welcome warmth without adding bulk, and lighter-weight sublimated sleeves allow for movement and easy under-jacket fit. The all-new P.R.O. Barrier WxB shoe cover is a winter-riding roadie’s requisite companion. Water and wind don’t stand a chance against the seam-taped P.R.O. Barrier WxB fabric exterior, plus the fleecy interior keeps feet cozy. 68 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
aerodynamic design. It is compatible with Campagnolo 10- and 11-speed cassettes, as well as Shimano 9-, 10- and 11-speed cassettes. Burley Design’s new 16”-wheel-kit accessory includes two 16x3” push-button mounted wheels with a knobby-thread pattern for grip. The wheels can be installed and removed in seconds. The wider, more rugged tires perform well on pavement, but offer superior handling in rugged conditions such as snow, sand and gravel. POC’s Octal X is a cross-country mountain-bike-specific helmet developed using the same technology and design as the Octal road helmet. The Octal X has added robustness and protection through the inclusion of Aramid-bridge technology, and the helmet shell has been extended to cover more of the helmet liner than the road version. It weighs in at 210g in sizes medium and large. Joining Selle Italia’s line-up for 2017 are the Flite Team Edition Flow, the Flite Superflow, the Flite TM and the Flite TM Flow. The Novus Superflow L, Novus Superflow S, Novus Superflow Endurance S and Novus Superflow EndurPOC Octal ance L are also new. Selle X helmet Italia’s ID-match system
Garneau The Course LGneer Skin Suit is designed to slice through the air. Wind-tunnel testing has shown that this suit is able to shave off up to one second per kilometre compared to other suits. Developed in partnership with the aerodynamics experts at Alphamantis, the Course M-2 Race jersey is designed to go faster, and wind tunnel and track testing has shown that it can shave off up to a second per kilometre compared to standard bike jerseys. Cooling mesh and Icefil fabric keep heat at bay, while the 360° reflective details enhance visibility. The new Equipe jersey is made of an even softer fabric, while being better ventilated than ever. The sweatproof multimedia pocket will keep your phone safe and dry. The Evans is a classically designed piece available in four colourways and its latest in cycling-apparel technology makes it an instant favourite. Biemme For unbeatable value, the popular Lemmon 2 is made Italia bib short with a new softer, silkier fabric for enhanced comfort and allows airflow to keep your body cool when riding in hot weather. The Course LGneer race bib is engineered to support muscle function, while aero tweaks such as laser-finished hems and near-seamless one-piece construction will help you get to the finish. The CB Neo Power RTR bib and shorts are compressive to improve blood circulation, and offer the coldblack finish that reflects UV rays and prevents overheating while riding. MTB riders need a glove that protects hands and really grips the handlebars. To ensure the best possible grip, the palm of the Ditch glove has strategically placed adherent surfaces. The ultra-ventilated Air Gel + cycling glove is now offered in the RTR version, which makes it the first cycling glove on the market to feature large reflective areas. www.pedalmag.com
provides an assessment of a rider’s optimal saddle design within its line-up. Bell’s Zephyr uses progressive layering and a polycarbonate shell to provide a lightweight, strong helmet. Flat Fit Race technology is integrated with a MIPS layer for additional safety during hard impacts, while 18 vents aid in cooling. The Zephyr Ghost provides integrated reflectivity through a durable reflective coating under the helmet clearcoat. The Stratus is based on the core designs of the Zephyr in a more inexpensive package. Features include 18-hole ventilation, optional MIPS, overbrow ventilation and Fusion In-Mold polycarbonate-shell construction. Bell’s Stratus JoyRide features 18-hole ventilation, optional MIPS, overbrow ventilation and Fusion In-Mold polycarbonate-shell construction. Osprey’s Zealot 15 is geared toward Enduro riders, with the ability to carry armour, tools and full-face helmets securely and comfortably, and it includes a 2.5L Hydraulics reservoir. The Raptor/Raven series of packs has the updated LidLock helmet attachment that keeps your lid secure when it isn’t on your head, and a roll-out tool pouch provides quick access and organization for anything you need. A 3L reservoir carries ample water for an epic adventure. The Viper/Verve series packs are available in 13L, 9L and 3L men’s designs and 9L and 3L women’s designs. The series features the Hydraulics LT reservoir and a front shove-it pocket. The iconic Briko shades, worn by the likes of Mario Cipollini, are back with updated designs. The Stinger Evoluzione 2 now allows for the changing of lenses, and comes in a wide variety of colours. The Endure Pro Team 2 offers a lightweight technical eyewear option for those seeking the highest performance, along with interchangeable lenses with vents and adjustable anatomical nose pads.
The Course RTR socks and the Conti Long RTR socks offer all the advantages of their respective collections while also making you visible to other road users.
The Spark 3 GPS Sports watch builds off of TomTom’s previous models with brand-new slimmer, sleeker straps that come in a range of colours. It also includes the Route Exploration feature for exploring new trails without the worry of finding your way back. The new Runner 3 comes with the new band options and Route Exploration mode. It counts your steps 24/7, and running, swimming, cycling and gym sessions can be tracked in a dedicated sport mode. TomTom Spark 3 The Spark 3 and Runner 3 GPS Sports Gps Sports watch watches also include features such as a built-in music player, water resistance to 40 metres and sleeptracking. The Sports Bluetooth headphones pair with the Spark 3 and Runner 3, as well as with TomTom’s other Bluetooth-enabled music players. DT Swiss introduces its new PR 1400 Dicut Oxic aluminum road wheels that feature a ceramic Oxic surface coating for greater performance on rim brakes. The coating is applied electrochemically to the rim surface, making it extremely hard and wear-resistant. The rims are wide (622x18), asymmetric and lightweight and offer an excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio, with radial laced DT Aero Comp spokes and DT Pro Lock aluminum nipples. At 1,435g, the PR 1400 Dicut Oxic wheelset also comes with tubeless tape and valves.
Sugoi The Evolution Zap jersey is made with a lightweight moisture-wicking fabric and features a full zip with three rear pockets that feature Zap reflectivity. The Evolution Zap shorts feature moisture-wicking and breathable fabric, and the flat seams and eight-panel design combine for a low-profile, contoured fit, with Zap leg bands for better visibility . The RS Century Zap jersey offers an intelligent mix of mesh and Icefil fabrics that keep you comfortable all day, while the Zap stripe across the chest and on the rear pockets makes you visible. The Endurance RS Century Zap bib shorts feature extra stow options and maximum visibility. The Ultra Aero fabric on the outer thigh provides maximum aerodynamic efficiency, and the engineered fabric on front panels gives increased breathability.
Sportful Sportful’s stylish Giara line for men and women features the Giara jersey, the perfect choice for your next adventure, incorporating heathered polyester fabric in the upper body with reflective colour highlights. The Giara bib short is inspired by the company’s race shorts, but is refined and styled to be the perfect choice for everyday riding. The Giara overshort is a technical short that provides riders with a comfortable option to help repel dust and dirt from gravel riding while also being at home on the trails. Soft Protech stretch fabric provides wind and water resistance with excellent breathability, POC Resistance and the short also has 360° reflectivity for added low-light safety. Pro XC short The Giara jacket is a highly Versatile, soft outerwear piece that comPOC For 2017, an XC category joins POC’s existing DH and Enduro Resisbines wind and water resistance, clean and distinctive styling, breathability, a tance offerings and includes a zip tee and jersey, wind vest, splash jacket, casual performance cut and low-light visibility. bib shorts, shorts, gloves, caps, leg and arm warmers, and socks. Biemme The Pure jersey from Biemme offers a short-sleeve race-fit jersey The Resistance Pro XC short is constructed with a combination of four-way with a full zip and front and back Micropallino-fabric construction. Mesh side stretch material and highly breathable mesh in strategic locations. The shorts panels and speed-fabric sleeves merge function and performance. are longer at the knee and offer an adjustable Velcro waist and higher backside. The women’s Poison W jersey comes in a race-fit cut and is made with Corsino Corsino’s Pro Vision jersey is available in both men’s and women’s Coolmax Carbonio fabric and Lycra side panels. The Poison jersey uses a full cuts and features a Pro race fit, four-way stretch fabric, laser-cut Pro sleeve covered zipper, elastic carbon-composite waistband and sleeve-ends, and finish, full zipper and rear elastic compression waistband. has three rear pockets with one zippered side pocket. For those wanting to show their patriotism, look no further than the CanaThe Italia bib short is an ideal summer-weather short made of Lycra 210g da jersey. With a comfort fit, three rear pockets, waist grippers and red Mafabric. A BRT gel pad and parachute bib straps with mesh inserts and carple-Leaf adornments, this jersey says “Oh Canada.” bon-composite leg grippers keep things comfy. The stylish Pikazo women’s jersey comes in a semi-race fit cut Biemme’s new women’s Identity W shorts use the X13 Lady Pad and are made with 210g Lycra fabric. A yoga compression waistband and leg gripand is constructed of Technica Coolway fabric. Compression cuffs keep the pers keep the waist and legs in place. sleeves where they should be, and the colourful design is sure to be noticed. www.pedalmag.com
WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 69
by WIllIaM HUMber
Back Pedaling A Royal Spin!
Precision Suspension and Brake Servicing
www.shockdoc.ca
job Opportunity inside sales and service
custom Technology Inc. is a new canadian-based company that is manufacturing carbon wheels using a patent system developed with new and unique technology. our complete line of products reflect the actual demand for high performance and reliability in the road and Xc market. We are looking to fill the position of an inside sales and service person to assist the national sales agency and help support events in which custom Technology is involved in 2017. our new and well adapted international distribution centre is located in St-augustin near quebec city. The specialist we are seeking will have the ability to travel and meet key retail dealers in canada as well as work with a local marketing team to help source the best merchandising for our product line up. If you are actually working in this specific field of business but would like a higher challenge or are already part of the hard goods manufacturing and distributing channel please contact us at:
info@apogee-sports.com. 70 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
GREG kolZ/coc
E
ven those who have lived in Canada all their lives are surprised to hear that the debonair Prime Minister of Canada, the Trudeau with the great hair and ease of manner with all, is not the highest-ranking executive authority in Canada. He retains leadership at “Her Majesty’s Pleasure,” a quaint, if not archaic, description perhaps, but one not without its own anomalous charms. So while Justin’s spin on the wheel is welcomed as one more example of the bicycle’s everyday place in Canadian society, it might be useful to consider its residence at the highest executive level. The bicycle, of course, came into view as far back as the reign of Queen Victoria. It is said she owned Starley’s “Royal Salvo” tricycle. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence she ever rode it. Nor would she have been a candidate for the 1880s high wheel, or penny-farthing, for perhaps obvious physical reasons. By the time the more comfortable and easier-to-mount safety bicycle had
come into popular use in the 1890s, Victoria would have long given into the sad, and now-disabused notion, that cycling is a young person’s vocation. Britain’s (Canada’s and the Empire’s as well) next monarch was the Rabelaisian libertine Edward VII. His affairs were many, as extensive, one might say, as his girth, though he was considered a cycling enthusiast perhaps as a means to pursue new “friends.” One of those “friends” inspired what is undoubtedly the best-known cycling ditty of all time, Harry Dacre’s 1892 classic. We all know how it goes: Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer, do I’m half crazy All for the love of you,” It ends with the immortal words “a bicycle built for two.” Popular belief is that it was a tip of the hat to Daisy Greville, one of Edward VII’s many mistresses, but who was also described as a society cyclist who took independent pride in her Humber-model bike. Likewise, King George V was an advocate for cycling and the recipient in 1921 of a model with links to Daisy’s, the Beeston Humber Gents Number 1. His son, and the future Edward VIII, was often seen on a bicycle before World War One, but such enthusiasm was later overcome by the charms of the American and twice-divorced Wallis Simpson, for whom Edward surrendered his throne in 1936, paving the way for the tongue-tied George VI, immortalized by Colin Firth in The King’s Speech. Such regular commitment to a means of transport in those days associated with a more plebi-
an class should have stood the rio 2016 team Canada gold medalists with Prime Royal Family in a Minister Justin Trudeau and The somewhat populist Honourable Carla Qualtrough; mode, but for a paracyclist Tristen Chernove (far right) with arm raised long time such was not the case. The term “Bicycle Monarchy” was a British rebuke of their own royalty, in contrast to that of similarly titled families in Scandinavia and the Low Countries, with particular reference to The Netherlands, where Royals were often seen publicly taking to the same cycling paths as their subjects. British rulers by contrast were too often held back by the pomp and ceremony of their position. The less fashionable bicycle might have been acceptable for a young and future Queen Elizabeth, but would one day be replaced by limousines or a horse and carriage resembling that which one imagines Disney’s Cinderella rides to the ball before losing her magic shoe. It’s not necessarily a fair commentary on their behavior, though images of heir-incumbent Charles on a bicycle suggest a man uncomfortable with the experience. On the other hand, his children, William and Harry, not only enjoy “the wheel,” but also play a definitely downstream version of horse polo, the kind relying on a bicycle. William and Kate have likewise been pictured enthusiastically supporting their country’s bicycling competitors at the 2012 London Olympic Games. So, perhaps on their tour of Canada, the young Royals may find time to join Justin Trudeau for a ride on one of the country’s designated trails. It would be purely symbolic, but over the years, such leadership has inspired others to take to the saddle as well. www.pedalmag.com
BY ALEX STIEDA
Sportif Stieda The Future is Bright for Team RaceClean Canada
www.pedalmag.com
Team RaceClean Canada
Malcolm Taylor
A
t the recent Cycling Canada Hall of Fame ceremonies, I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the coaches and managers of the National team program. I also spoke with my fellow inductees, all of whom had gone through the National program in the 80’s and 90’s. After reflecting on the conversations, I’ve realized that a transformation has taken place within the program. In the past, the National team was essentially trying to be everything to everyone. The National program was more about supporting the amateur women and men for track and road at the Worlds, Pan Ams, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. It was essentially a shotgun approach, waiting for athletes who had potential in a specific discipline and then trying to help them after their strength was discovered. In the past, in order to be selected to a National program, there was no formal process. If you showed strength at the Nationals or on a random European race trip, then you could possibly be selected to the next trip or major event. It was very difficult to build a developmental program as a young athlete. Consequently, we were very dependent on our Pro trade team, in my case, Team 7-Eleven. For Brian Walton, it was 7-Eleven, then Saturn that kept us in races and supported us financially. Then, once we turned Professional, there was really no support for us at major events. It felt as if the National program did not know what to do with us. Fast-forward to the current timeframe. The National program is focused and its endgame is clear – develop young athletes so that they can win medals on the world stage; develop them with a mindset that they can win without taking drugs. Thus the mantra “Team RaceClean,” which I love. The program is focused on disciplines where the athletes have the best probability of winning. Endurance and sprint track events are the most likely areas where the environment can be controlled, the training can be focused, even throughout Canada’s tough winter. Men and women have equal opportunity to excel. Since the events are on the track, it’s much easier to build selection criteria at the Provincial level, so that the path to success is easier for the next crop of junior athletes (and their parents!) to understand. Pure road racing is very difficult to control
and train for. Road races at the international level are contested by full-time Professionals and are often the longest distance races that these riders do all year. Canada’s road team at the Worlds and Olympics are often made up of a handful of fulltime Pros who race on trade teams during the rest of the year. There are so few Canadian Pros who are eligible to race at these events, it is impossible for them to compete as a team. Mountain-bike and BMX racing are equally difficult to control. There are so many variables in a race that the even best riders are always at risk of falling out of the top-three places. In Canada, we are fortunate that many junior athletes grow up riding and racing mountain and BMX bikes, so we have organically risen above these logistical challenges purely by employing our drive and determination. Back to track racing, the future is bright for Team RaceClean. The Mattamy Velodrome in Milton, Ont. has now become the National team training centre, right here in Canada. In the past, the National team had to travel to other indoor velodromes for consistent training, the closest being in Los Angeles, Calif. Consequently now, there have been some amazing recent successes that have given me hope for the future of Canada’s National cycling team. For example, our men’s Team Pursuit squad recently placed top three and then won
their event at the first World Cups of Team RaceClean Canada Canada is making solid headway and the 2016/2017 track seeing positive results with both season in Apel- the road and track programs. doorn, The Netherlands. Our women’s Team Pursuit team took home bronze from the Rio Olympics. Stefan Ritter just won the Junior Worlds for Kilometre, placed third in the sprint, fourth in the Keirin and then set a new world junior record for Flying 200 metre and Kilometre. Other junior riders, including Devaney Collier and Maggie Coles-Lyster, also medaled at the Junior Track Worlds this past summer. All of these programs cost money. Currently, new riders coming into the program must fund a large portion of the costs themselves. Hopefully, as the exposure value of the programs increase, sponsorship will grow and costs for individuals can be mitigated. These programs could not function without the support of valued corporate partners – Global Relay, Lexus Canada, Mattamy Homes, Louis Garneau and Bear Mountain Resort – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. I believe that the appointment of Cycling Canada’s next CEO, Pierre Lafontaine, will now take the program to new heights. Team RaceClean is on very solid ground. WINTER 2016/17 PEDAL 71
BY Gordon Singleton
Last Word
photos: pedalmag.com
Riding with the Legends
B
eing active in cycling for more than 40 years, I remember many tales of such past greats as Torchy Peden and Jocelyn Lovell. I learned that along with every accomplishment comes a memorable story surrounding that experience. The Cycling Canada Hall of Fame inductions in early Oct. and Legends Ride, proved to be an opportunity for everyone, including past and present racers along with enthusiastic riders, to experience the love of cycling they all share, as well as to hear some of those amazing stories. It wasn’t surprising that some rain and ominous clouds didn’t deter many brave participants of this Lexus-sponsored ride. It was well worth the effort, and when the skies cleared and the temperature reached 17°C, it ended up being a classic day for riding. Cycling routes around Milton, Ont. feature beautiful terrain and little traffic with a backdrop of picturesque waterfalls amongst the changing autumn leaves. Three of this year’s inductees, Gord Fraser, Brian Walton and Alex Steida, joined the 100 members of the cycling community for the morning ride through Halton Hills alongside 2015 Hall of Fame inductees Steve Bauer, Curt Harnett and myself. Adding to the excitement, current Rio Olympians Hugo Barrette, Kirsti Lay and Kate O’Brien also rode along in this inaugural event. After the ride, a luncheon was held at the Crosswinds Golf and Country Club and this year’s inductees were welcomed into the Cycling Hall of Fame by emcee Randy Ferguson. Humourous and touching stories were enjoyed as this year’s inductees Fraser, Walton, Steida, Louise Lalonde, Marie-Hélène Prémont and the 1908 Olympic Team Pursuit squad were honoured. The character of all these successful and accomplished athletes and builders was an inspiration to everyone present. They recounted their own personal stories that reflected integral contributions of mentors, family support and fellow athletes who made their achievements possible. These behind-the-scenes stories truly illustrated just how an athlete reaches the podium. These humble recipients all acknowledged, recognized and were grateful for such support – signs of a true champion! 72 PEDAL WINTER 2016/17
One shining moment of the afternoon was a touching tribute by Robert Vellend of (top) The inaugural Legends Ride Vellend Tech Canada Inc. to the late iconic featured many stars, including (l-r) Kirsti Lay, Gord Fraser, Alex Lovell, who passed away on June 3, 2016. Stieda, Kurt Harnett, Gord SingleVellend’s son was named after Lovell ton, Brian Walton, Hugo Barrette, and also became his godson. When Lovell Steve Bauer and Kate O’Brien. met the newborn Jocelyn, he asked to (above) Alex Stieda flanked by John Tolkamp (l) Cycling Canada have the baby placed on his lap and pre- President and Matt Jeffries sented him with a gift. It was his treasured Marketing Director. Commonwealth Games gold medal! The story seemed to reflect the theme of the day that a champion isn’t only defined by his/her fleeting moment of achievement. A true champion leaves a legacy behind. The stories of these great Hall of Famers become legends and inspire the rest of us for years to come. www.pedalmag.com
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Fat
Winter may be the typical "off-season", a time to let it go, to put on some weight, and to long for warmer days to come. This year, use the wintry landscape to nourish new dreams. Get outside, develop new fitness, explore your favorite trails that get a whole new look this time of year. Enjoy your friends. Cherish the moments. And fatten up in a new way.
#liveyourdream garneau.com