August 15/21 20:08 pm - Cycling Canada Adds to DH Team for Worlds

Posted by Editor on 08/15/21
 

When Cycling Canada announced the national team for the world championships [see Cycling Canada Announces Team for MTB Worlds] they stated that the Elite Women selected for the Downhill had declined their nominations and no riders would be sent for that category. The national federation has now announced that three riders further down the selection pool list who do want to attend have been selected:

The selection criteria for the 2021 World Downhill Championships for both Elite men and women was clear and objective. Selection was based on 2020 World Championships results, 2021 World Cups, UCI rankings and Nationals and all athletes had the same opportunities to enter races in 2021 and achieve results for selection. This year, three Elite women were selected to attend the World Championships, and unfortunately, all three declined their selection. The criteria clearly states that Cycling Canada is to only select the top three who are not already selected, provided that they finish in the top-8. If those athletes decline, the criteria does not state that selections should be rolled down the results list to pick additional athletes.

However, it is also very clear that there are extenuating circumstances. It is incredibly rare that every qualified athlete in a specific category would decline selection. Cycling Canada has a responsibility, above and beyond the confines of high performance sport, to both promote and encourage cycling in Canada. Canadian athletes' success on the world stage inspires the next generation of Canadian athletes and fielding a team that does not include a single Elite female athlete does not move us closer to that goal.

In consideration of these extenuating circumstances, and with the goal of increasing female representation at this year's World Championships, Cycling Canada has made the following decisions:

Cycling Canada will roll down selections to athletes finishing in the top-8 of the Canadian Downhill Championships in the Elite women's category. This includes:

Rachel Pageau
Jennifer McHugh
Vaea Verbeek

Cycling Canada also announced that Gracey Hemstreet, the Junior DH woman who was fifth this weekend at the Maribor World Cup, who did not meet the world championships selection criteria due to injury, will be added to the world championships team.