February 13/17 10:19 am - Eastern Track Challenge Showcases Young Canadian Talent

Posted by Editoress on 02/13/17
 

Riders from across Canada, plus the United States, attended the Eastern Challenge track competition on February 11th and 12th at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ontario.

Over 50 male and female athletes in the Under 17 and Junior categories competed in events ranging from the Individual Pursuit to the Sprint and Keirin, to mass start competitions such as the Points Race and Elimination.

The Eastern Challenge and Western Challenge (which takes place February 24-25) were created by Cycling Canada following the Track Competition review of the domestic competition system for track. Among the recommendations from the review were the creation of events aimed at development riders; to give them the opportunity to race an event with a caliber (and degree of organization) comparable to the Canadian Track Championships p/b Lexus.  This will give riders the opportunity to measure their preparedness for the world championships selection that takes place at the Championships.

Cycling Canada has been working in collaboration with the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) for the Eastern Challenge and with Cycling BC in British Columbia for the Western Challenge.

"It's great to have a chance to see the riders progress and this event also gave us a chance to witness some of the new talents coming in through the U17 ranks," said Jessika Grand Bois, Track Coordinator at Cycling Canada. "It was an excellent collaboration with OCA and we are grateful they offered the athletes two great days of racing, just 6 weeks away from the U17/Junior/Para Canadian Track Championships."

Some of the top performers included Sydney Flageole-Bray (Team NCCH p/b DEC Express) of Ontario, who set a new Canadian record in the Under 17 men's Individual Pursuit as well as winning the Scratch Race and Elimination, 13 year old Dylan Bibic (Midweek Cycling Club) of Ontario who won the Under 17 men's Keirin, Sprint and Points Race, and Michael Foley (La Bicicletta Cycling Club) of Ontario who won the Junior men's Points Race, Scratch Race and Individual Pursuit.  In the women, Erin Attwell (Trek Red Truck) of British Columbia was the Junior women's champion in the Points Race, Elimination, Scratch Race and Individual Pursuit.  Charlotte Creswicke (Kallisto-FCV p/b Peloton Contracting) won the Junior women's Keirin and Sprint, while Elizabeth Archbold (Madonna Wheelers Cycling Club) of Ontario won the Under 17 women's Individual Pursuit and Points Race.

The Western Challenge will take place at the B.C. Lower Mainland Burnaby Velodrome, on February 24-25, for Under-15, Under-17, Junior, Elite and Masters athletes. Spectators will be encouraged to attend on both evenings and, aside from the racing, highlights will include: a beer garden, food truck, DJ, and a host of family friendly activities. Alberta has already confirmed that they will be sending their provincial team.

WESTERN CHALLENGE
Organizer: Kelyn Akuna and Cycling BC
Dates: Friday, February 24 - Saturday, February 25, 2017
Where: Burnaby, BC
Events for U15, U17, Jr, Elite & Masters
Registration

Eastern Challenge results

Day 1

Day 2