November 21/17 15:22 pm - Cycling Canada Hires Mens Endurance Track Coach

Posted by Editor on 11/21/17
 

Cycling Canada has announced the anticipated appointment of Jono Hailstone to the position of Head Men's Track Endurance Coach. Hailstone is expected to start work at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in early January [after work permit paperwork is completed].  Hailstone will take the place of Ian Melvin, who was headhunted by Japan earlier this season.

Hailstone will work closely with Luc Arseneau, Men's Track Endurance NextGen coach, and sports science and medicine support staff to optimize the performances of the men's track endurance pool of riders in the hunt for a medal in the Men's Team Pursuit event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The New Zealand native comes to Cycling Canada's high performance track program after several years as a track endurance coach for Cycling New Zealand and para-cycling coach for the New Zealand Paralympic Committee. In addition to the experience acquired in working at the top level of coaching in New Zealand, Hailstone also has a bachelor's degree in exercise science and the highest levels of coaching certification offered in the Oceania region.

"I'm really looking forward to coming on board with Cycling Canada. I'm excited at the opportunity to work with a group of talented young athletes, and help them develop on the road to Tokyo 2020," said Hailstone. "Canada is a rapidly developing nation on the international track cycling scene, and I'm looking forward to contributing to that momentum going forward. I would like to thank Cycling New Zealand for their support, and for the opportunities they have provided me over the last 12 months, and wish them well in the future".

"We are thrilled to have Jono on board to take the helm of our rapidly growing men's track endurance program," said Jacques Landry, Cycling Canada's Chief Technical Officer - Head Coach. "Through our extensive debrief process we were able to identify gaps that our riders had in the team pursuit event; Jono has the skills to bridge those gaps. With the help of our talented support staff, I am confident he will continue to add to the already strong foundation that [previous men's endurance coach] Ian Melvin had started building."

Hailstone will be on site during the Milton Track World Cup (December 1-3) to meet and observe the athletes during their respective competitions.