July 21/10 14:09 pm - CCA Announces 22 Rider Roster for Para-Cycling Worlds

Posted by Editoress on 07/21/10
 

Canada will send 22 of its top Para-cyclists to compete at the 2010 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to be held in Baie-Comeau, Québec, from August 18-22, 2010.

Held annually, the UCI Para-cycling World Championships are considered the biggest para-cycling event in the world after the Paralympic Games.

The Canadian delegation will be represented by a strong mix of veterans and young cyclists coming from four provinces. Six of the riders to represent Canada have won medals at the 2009 Para-Cycling Road World Championships, combining to win six medals in total for Canada.

Eleven of the 22 riders selected on the Canadian team have experience at either the Summer or Winter Games Paralympic Games.

Robert Labbé (Québec, QC) is the defending World Champion in the Hand Cycling category, divison 1 in the Individual Time Trial race and silver medalist in the Road Race. Labbé, currently ranked fourth in the UCI World standings, is Canada's top ranked male cyclist. Labbé won the 2010 Canadian Championship Road Race earlier this summer in July.

For the first time, Canada will be fielding two Tandems in the Women's Blind category, including a new tandem formed by former Nordic skier Robbi Weldon (Thunder Bay, ON) and piloted by veteran Olympian Lyne Bessette (Knowlton, QC). The new tandem duo recently captured the Road Race title at the 2010 Para-Cycling Road Canadian Championships in Saint-Georges, QC.

Robbi Weldon recently competed at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in the Nordic events, where she finished fourth and sixth in her respective category.

Shelley Gautier (Toronto, ON) will be Canada's lone entry in the Trike category. Gautier, who rides in Ontario, is entering the event ranked first in the UCI World rankings in the T1 category

"We are expecting to see some quality riding in Baie-Comeau. These athletes are the best in the country in their categories. With the sharp improvements we saw last week at the Canadian Championships in St-Georges, QC, we are looking for quality results at the World Championships," said Eric Van Den Eynde, Head Coach of the Para-Cycling National team.

A select group of Canadian cyclists recently travelled to Baie-Comeau to take advantage of hosting the event by training on the course that will be used for the World Championships.

The event, which will welcome over 40 countries from around the globe in Canada, will attract an estimated 525 Para-cyclists, coaches, support staff, and reporters.

Canadian Team

Daniel Chalifour - (St-Jérôme, QC) (B) / Alexandre Cloutier - (St-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC) (Pilot) ^^ *

Stéphane Coté - (Québec, QC) (B) / Pierre-Olivier Boily - (Sherbrooke, QC) (Pilot) *

Alexandre Carrier - (Matane, QC) (B) / Luc Dionne - (Sorel, QC) (Pilot)

Geneviève Ouellet - (Québec, QC) (B) / Émilie Roy - (Québec, QC) (Pilot) *

Robbie Weldon - (Thunder Bay, ON) (B) / Lyne Bessette - (Knowlton, QC) (Pilot) ^ *

Mark Breton - (Charlesbourg, QC) (C5) ^ *

Éric Bourgault - (Orford, QC) (C4) *

Matthieu Parent - (Granby, QC) (C2) *

Arnold Boldt - (Moose Jaw, SK) (C2) ^^ *

Brayden McDougall - (Calgary, AB) (C1) *

Jaye Miley - (Calgary, AB) (C1)

Marie-Claude Molnar - (Sainte-Adèle, QC) (C4) #

Shelley Gautier - (Toronto, ON) (T1) ^

Rico Morneau - (Sainte-Martine, QC) (H2) ^ *

Mark Beggs - (Montréal, QC) (H2) *

Mark Ledo - (Maple, ON) (H3) ^^

Robert Labbé - (Québec, QC) (H1) ^ #

Staff

Éric VanDen Eynde – Head Coach
Sébastien Travers – Assistant Coach
Julie Hutsebaut – Team Manager
Martin St-Laurent – Physiotherapist
Philippe Maheu – Physiotherapist
Isabelle Ménard – Team nurse

Legend

^ 2010 Canadian Champion in Road events (Road and Time Trial)

* Paralympian

# 2009 Para-Cycling Road World Championships medalist

CCA Press release