September 1/20 10:54 am - Cycling Canada Announces Early Paralympic Nominations

Posted by Editor on 09/1/20
 

Cycling Canada has made its preliminary nominations for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, presented in a ranked order based on performances up to March 3, 2020. This list will be used to name the starters and non-travelling alternates once Canada's Paralympic quota is announced on June 14, 2021, while leaving open the possibility additional athletes may be named to the list in the event of exceptional performances at the first two World Cups in 2021.

At the top of the women's ranked list is 2016 Rio Olympian Kate O'Brien, who broke the C4 500 m time trial world record on her way to winning gold at the 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. C4 athlete Keely Shaw is the second ranked women with strong performances at the UCI Para-cycling Track and Road World Championships in 2018 and 2019. Marie-Ève Croteau is currently ranked third, having represented Canada at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics.

Defending Paralympic champion and multiple world champion on both the road and track, Tristen Chernove headlines the men's rankings, followed by Ross Wilson, who has won medals at the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Road Worlds as well as the 2018 and 2019 Track Worlds. Charles Moreau, who won two bronze medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games, is ranked third.

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the postponement of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Cycling Canada amended the selection criteria with athletes' health as the first priority. As such, pre-selecting athletes via a ranked list will allow them to focus on Paralympic preparation while not putting their health at risk by travelling or undertaking the intense training required for peak performance during the pandemic.

Based on the current qualification ranking, Canada is projecting a quota of four women and five men; however, this could be affected by the outcome of the final qualification events and other factors such as the exclusion of certain nations from participating in the Games. Two Para-cycling World Cups in 2021 remain in the qualification process for the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

"Given these uncertain times, we are satisfied the selection amendments strike the best possible balance between our priorities," said Para-Cycling Head Coach Sébastien Travers. "The amendments respect our core value of health, while allowing athletes to prepare optimally for the Games. The current list of pre-selected athletes makes a very strong team, reinforcing our confidence in the performances we can expect in Japan. By adding an exceptional selection clause, the 2021 spring events will also give a chance for athletes to qualify. This is a key point, given the lack of para events since the start of the pandemic. These last two World Cups will certainly motivate our athletes to perform next season."

Cycling Canada ranked nominations list for the Tokyo Paralympics:

Women (Rank/Name/Class/Targeted Events)
1. Kate O'Brien C4 - Track Time Trial
2. Keely Shaw C4 - Track Individual Pursuit
3. Marie-Ève Croteau T2 - Road Race
4. Shelley Gautier T1 - Road Time Trial
5. Marie-Claude Molnar C4 - Track Individual Pursuit
6. Kara Douville H4 - Road Time Trial and Road Race
7. Carla Shibley/Meghan Brown B (Tandem) - Road Time Trial and Road Race

Men (Rank/Name/Class/Targeted Events)
1. Tristen Chernove C2 - Track Time Trial, Track IP, Road Race
2. Ross Wilson C1 - Road Time Trial
3. Charles Moreau H3 - Road Time Trial and Road Race
4. Michael Sametz C3 - Road Time Trial
5. Alex Hyndman H3 - Road Time Trial
6. Joey Desjardins H3 - Road Time Trial and Road Race
7. Matthew Kinnie H2 - Road Time Trial and Road Race