August 9/10 17:37 pm - Canadian Team Preps for Junior Track Worlds

Posted by Editoress on 08/9/10
 

The Junior National Track team is quickly adapting to the Italian lifestyle, as final preparations are made for the World Championships being held August 11-15 in Montichiari, Italy, 100 kilometres outside of Milan.

Team members Allison Beveridge (Calgary, AB), Alex Cataford (Ottawa, ON), Florence Laplante-Lamarche (Ottawa, ON), and Scott Mulder (Vancouver, BC) are recovering from the six to nine hour time difference, and settling into a new routine of espresso, riding, and resting.

"All of us have adjusted well to the time change" said Beveridge. "It has been nice to explore the town, especially trying to navigate the hilltop castle," added Laplante-Lamarche.

Feedback from riders was positive regarding the newly-built velodrome, where they were able to spin the legs out on Sunday morning. "The track is definitely fast. I am starting to get a good feel for the corners and transitions, and I am excited to race!" noted Mulder, who will be competing in the sprint events.

Riders will return to the velodrome Monday evening for a session including some timed efforts. Cataford is "looking forward to getting up to speed on the track to figure out gearing and timing for the pursuit."

With only two returning World Junior Champions, the door is open for new names to be crowned World Champion, and the Canadian delegation of four cyclists will be competing with one goal, to win medals. Earlier this spring, Canadian junior track cyclists won ten medals at the Junior Pan-American Championships in Mexico, including five by Allison Beveridge.

Racing begins on Wednesday, August 11th, with the women competing in the 500m and Points races, while Cataford will compete in the Scratch and Individual Pursuit.  The team is led by coaches Rob Good (Waterloo, ON) and Jeff Ain (Vancouver, BC).

The velodrome of Montichiari was inaugurated on May 23rd, 2009, and is Italy's only covered track cycling facility. The track is 250 meters long, seven meters wide and the banks are angled at 45 degrees. The track is made from Siberian pine. The facility can seat 1,300 spectators. Total project costs were approximately 15 million Euros.

Junior Women
Allison Beveridge (Calgary, AB)
Florence Laplante-Lamarche (Ottawa, ON)

Junior Men
Alex Cataford (Ottawa, ON)
Scott Mulder (Vancouver, BC)

Courtesy CCA