January 11/01 5:04 am - Canadian Cyclist Award Winners, Roger Sumner Award

Posted by Editor on 01/11/01
 

Olympians Sydor and Green Sweep Canadian Cyclist Awards

Olympic mountain bike competitors Alison Sydor and Roland Green took all three of the annual Canadian Cyclist of the Year awards for 2000 after thousands of ballots were cast. These People's Choice awards are voted on over a two week period by cycling enthusiasts from across Canada, and are recognized as one of the most prestigious cycling awards in Canada. Both Sydor and Green are based in Victoria, B.C. and recently signed contracts with the U.S. Trek-Volkswagen racing team.

Alison Sydor won the Female category with 38% of votes cast after a season that saw her win a World Cup race (Mexico), a silver medal at the World Championships (Spain), 5th at the Sydney Olympics, finish the season ranked number two in the world and number three in the World Cup series. Sydor is the first cyclist to win this award in two consecutive years. Sydor responded to her win with the statement "That's a nice way to start the new year!".

1998 Award winner Genevieve Jeanson (Lachine, Quebec), who won a World Cup race (France) and is the top ranked Canadian road racer in the world, finished second in voting with 20% of votes cast. In third place was 1997 Award winner Chrissy Redden (Campbellville, Ontario), the mountain bike cross country national champion and 7th place Olympian, with 18% of the votes.

Roland Green took the Male title (44% of votes cast), after a breakthrough year that saw him win the silver medal at the World Championships (Spain), make multiple podium appearances on the World Cup circuit and finish the season ranked 9th in the world (the only North American in the top-10). Green also represented Canada at the Sydney Olympics, finishing 14th

U.S.-based professional road racer Gord Fraser (Ottawa, Ontario) finished second in voting (26%), following a season in which he was the top North American professional road rider for the second consecutive year. Olympic track rider Jim Fisher (Calgary, Alberta) finished third, with 13% of votes cast.

Roland Green also took the Individual Performance award (42% of votes cast) for his incredible World Championship silver medal race in Grenada, Spain. His medal is the first mountain bike world championship medal ever won in the Elite professional category by a Canadian man. Victoria, B.C. native Geoff Kabush finished second in polling (13%) for his 9th place finish in the men's Olympic mountain bike race - the highest placing by a North American. Last year's winner Genevieve Jeanson finished third (12%) for her victory in the Fleche Wallonne World Cup (France).


Clare Hall-Patch First Roger Sumner Award Winner

The Canadian Cyclist of the Year award for Best Newcomer has been renamed the Roger Sumner Award, in honour of long-time cycling mentor Roger Sumner, who passed away last December. Roger was particularly active in the coaching, managing and encouragement of newcomers to the sport, so we believe that this award is best suited to his memory. This award will be not be voted upon, but will be chosen by Canadian Cyclist each year, when there is a suitable candidate. Each fall we will request submissions for consideration. In addition to the award, the recipient will receive $500 to assist them in their cycling development. We encourage members of the cycling community who wish to contribute towards funding this award to contact the editor - rjones@canadiancyclist.com.

The first recipient of the Roger Sumner Award is Clare Hall-Patch, the Junior woman who rode brilliantly to a bronze medal at the 2000 Road World Championships in Plouay, France.