October 5/23 13:32 pm - Four Inductees to Cycling Hall of Fame in 2023

Posted by Editoress on 10/5/23
 

Four new members will be inducted into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame on October 28th, in Bromont, Quebec, as part of Cycling Canada's Annual Conference. Kelly-Ann Way and Lyne Bessette will be inducted as Athletes, while Guy Morin and Eric Van Den Eynde will both be recognized for their achievements as Builders.

The Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to recognize outstanding achievement and contribution to the sport of cycling by both athletes and builders. With this induction, the Hall of Fame will total 36 members, including 28 athletes and eight builders. [Note: Our Editor was a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee]

Kelly-Ann Way started cycling at an early age for the Windsor Bicycle Club in Ontario. She was quickly successful, winning both provincial and national titles in road and track. In 1984, Way completed in her first Tour de France Féminin, winning the eighth stage of the race. In doing so, she became the first North American to win a stage of the Tour de France. Way went on to represent Canada at the Indianapolis 1987 Pan American Games, where she won a silver medal in the 3000m Individual Pursuit on the track.

Kelly-Ann Way (Courtesy Windsor / Essex County Sports Hall of Fame)

In 1989, she became the first Canadian woman to wear the yellow jersey in La Tour de France Féminin. Way continued her success at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games, where she won a bronze in the Individual Pursuit on the track and placed seventh in the road race. Way is a two-time Olympian, competing at both the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

Hailing from Knowlton, Quebec, Lyne Bessette discovered cycling in 1995 and went on to win gold in the road race at the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1998, Bessette was selected to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, winning gold in the road race. The following year she won her first major stage race in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, one of the most prestigious stages races at the time for women. She would go on to win this race once more in 2001 and represented Canada at both the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Lyne Bessette, 2010 Women B World Champion with Robbie Weldon

In addition to a very successful road career, Bessette excelled at cyclo-cross, winning numerous North American races and podiuming at several World Cups. After a brief retirement, encouraged by her coach Eric Van den Eynde, Bessette became a tandem pilot in para-cycling. She was paired with Robbi Weldon [a member of the Hall of Fame] in 2010 and quickly found success, finishing second in the time trial and winning the road race at the Para Road World Championships in Baie Comeau, Quebec. The pair represented Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, winning gold in the road race. Bessette retired from competition in 2013 and continues to give back to the sport with her involvement at the Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont.

Eric Van Den Eynde arrived in Canada from Belgium before his first birthday, settling in Quebec with his family. At the age of 13, inspired by his older brother, Van Den Eynde took up cycling and raced for the National Team in 1979 but ended his athlete career in 1984 following an injury. A natural leader, he transitioned from athlete to coach seamlessly as he was already involved as a coach for the track programs at the Montreal Olympic Velodrome. In 1985, he became head coach of the Quebec team in both road and track cycling. From 1998 to 2006, Van Den Eynde coached the national track team, then returned to Team Quebec for two years focusing on road, track and para-cycling. In 2008, he returned to the Canadian Cycling Association as the coach of the national para-cycling team.

Eric Van den Eynde with Lori-Ann Muenzer, 2004 Olympic Games

Van den Eynde coached at three Olympics (1996, 2000 and 2004) and four Paralympics (1996, 2008, 2012 and 2016). Over the years, his impact has been felt by countless athletes who have competed for both the Quebec provincial team and the Canadian National Team. He continues to contribute to the sport through his involvement in with the Fédération Québécoise des Sports Cyclistes and the Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont.

Guy Morin had a very successful cycling career, claiming roughly 60 victories in road competitions from 1947 to 1960. Morin held the title of Canadian Champion on eight separate occasions. However, despite his success, he may be best remembered for his contributions to cycling that followed his competitive career. Morin continued to build the sport as a race organizer in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto, helping to organize numerous six-day competitions.

Guy Morin (Courtesy FQSC)

In 1965, Morin was elected president of the Union Cycliste du Quebec and went on to serve as the president of the Canadian Cycling Association from 1967 to 1974. It was during this time that he led the organization in hosting the Road and Track World Championships in Montreal in 1974. The 1974 Track World Championships were held on a temporary velodrome at Université de Montréal, while the Road World Championships were held on challenging course that included Montreal's Mont Royal. In 2026, the World Championships will return to slopes of Mont Royal once more.

Tickets for the 2023 Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame Event can be purchased Here. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go towards supporting the Centre National de Cyclisme Bromont.