August 26/11 12:45 pm - CCA Announces Elite Men Pool for Road Worlds

Posted by Editor on 08/26/11
 

Below is the release from the CCA, followed by our notes and predictions.

The Canadian Cycling Association is pleased to announce the 12 cyclists named to the Selection Pool in the Men's Elite category for both the Road Race and the Time Trial at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships to held September 19-25 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Of the pool, six are racing for Team SpiderTech powered by C10, Canada's only UCI Pro Continental team, which includes Svein Tuft, the Canadian Champion in both the road race and time trial. Two riders race for UCI World Tour teams: Michael Barry with Team Sky Pro Cycling and Ryder Hesjedal with Team Garmin-Cervélo.

Also from Pro Continental teams are Dominique Rollin of Française-Des-Jeux, Christian Meier of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team and David Veilleux of Team Europcar.

For the time trial, the pool is comprised of Tuft, Veilleux, Meier and Hesjedal.

The Selection pool for the Junior, U23 and Women were announced earlier this summer. The final selection will be made in September, closer to the event.  (The selection will be finalized after the GP Cycliste de Montreal, on September 11th)

Elite Men Pool

Michael Barry (Toronto, ON) [Pro Team Sky]
Zachary Bell (North Vancouver, BC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10]
Rob Britton (Victoria, BC) [Bissell Pro Cycling]
Martin Gilbert (Chateauguay, QC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10]
Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC) [Team Garmin-Cervélo] &
Keven Lacombe (Amos, QC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10]
Bruno Langlois (Québec, QC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10]
Christian Meier (Sussex, NB) [UnitedHealthcare Cycling Team] &
Dominique Rollin (Boucherville, QC) [Française-Des-Jeux]
Will Routley (Whistler, BC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10]
Svein Tuft (Langley, BC) [Team SpiderTech powered by C10] &
David Veilleux (Cap Rouge, QC) [Team Europcar]

Notes:

- Canada has three spots for the Road Race and two for the Time Trial, based on UCI rankings and the country quota released by the UCI on August 17th.  This course is more suited to a sprinter than climbers, and Ryder Hesjedal has already told us in a previous interview that he does not plan to attend Worlds this year (although, that could change).

- Some obvious choices are Tuft and Veilleux, who will be the most likely Canadian entries for the time trial.  Rollin is also a very strong possibility, as is Gilbert, and Lacombe would be, but his status after his crash at the Nationals Crit is still unknown.  Veilleux could certainly be there at the finish of the road race also.