May 27/14 17:13 pm - Cycling Canada Announces BMX Worlds Squad

Posted by Editoress on 05/27/14
 

Cycling Canada is pleased to announce its selections for the 2014 UCI BMX World Championships, scheduled to take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from July 23rd to 27th.

Canada will be led by Tory Nyhaug of Coquitlam, BC, who has had a consistent season among the best BMXers in the World Cup Supercross races. Nyhaug, who has won six consecutive Canadian Championships titles, including four in the Elite category, was the sole BMXer representing Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Last season, Nyhaug finished in fifth place of the World Championships, his first Finals berth since joining the Elite rank in 2010. Back in 2009, Nyhaug had narrowly missed the podium of the Junior main event, taking the fourth place.

Nyhaug will be joined by Jimmy Brown of Airdrie, AB, James Palmer of North Vancouver, BC, and Brandon Reid of Victoria, BC.

Canada qualified three spots for the Elite Men in addition to the automatic invite to Nyhaug. Canada is currently ranked eighth in the Elite Men UCI Nations Rankings.

The reigning Canadian Champion Amelia Walsh of Ayr, ON, will be representing Canada in the Elite Women category, while Tanner Vandenhoven of Didsbury, AB, and Daina Tuchscherer of Airdrie, AB, will be racing in the Junior races.

Ken Cools, Head Coach of the Canadian BMX team, is pleased with the selection of athletes who will race for Canada. "The World Championships is the one event of the year where athletes have the opportunity to show what they are made of and earn a rainbow jersey. This is what all athletes will be striving for, to become the best in what they do."

Cools added: "With Rio just over two years away, the qualification system has begun and the World Championships is the event that will offer the most amount of points in 2014. We aim at maximizing the points we earn as a country as we work towards getting as many athletes qualified for the Olympics as possible."

Also traveling with the Canadian Team, Alex Tougas of Pitt Meadows, BC, will be competing in the 16-year-old men Challenge Class. Tougas is a targeted development rider with the BMX National Team and was the World Champion in his category last year during the UCI BMX World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Elite Women
Amelia Walsh (Ayr, ON)

Elite Men
Tory Nyhaug (Coquitlam, BC)
James (Jim) Brown (Airdrie, AB/Surrey, BC)
James Palmer (North Vancouver, BC)
Brandon Reid (Victoria, BC)

Junior Men
Tanner Vandenhoven (Didsbury, AB)

Junior Women
Daina Tuchscherer (Airdrie, AB)

Schedule
July 23: UCI BMX World Challenge 17 and over/UCI BMX World Championships Masters
July 24: UCI BMX World Challenge 5-16 year
July 25: UCI BMX World Challenge Cruisers
July 26: UCI BMX World Championships Time Trial Qualifications and Super Finals
July 27: UCI BMX World Championships Race Motos and Finals

Courtesy Cycling Canada