January 16/03 11:05 am - CCA 2003 Espoir Project, Midweek Spring Camp, Friends for Life Rally

Posted by Editor on 01/16/03
 

Canadian Espoir Spring 2003 Project
Courtesy CCA

For spring 2003, the Canadian Cycling Association has decided to try something new with its promising Espoir road athletes. Thanks to Sports Canada and the 2003 Hamilton road worlds, the CCA created the Canadian Cycling Center in Europe (CCCE).

For its trial year, the CCCE will function out of Castelsarrasin, a town 80kms north-west of Toulouse in France. The goal of this center is primarily to help young athletes progress to a competitive international level through more complete racing, while establishing a more familiar North-American environment when in Europe.

The first Espoir athletes to partake in this program were selected according to results in national and international races in 2002. They are:

Ian Condron - Victoria, BC
Cameron Evans - Delta, BC
Andrew Davidson - Calgary, AB
Jean-Sébastien Maheu - Montreal, QC
Ryan Roth - Bright, ON
Warren Tilbrook - Fonthill, ON

The CCCE's racing program will start on March 2nd, after a week-long training camp at the end of February. For the most part, the races chosen are listed on the national French racing calendar and, in some cases, are UCI Espoir races. The following is the proposed racing program:

- GP d'ouverture Pierre Pinel - March 2nd
- Circuit des 4 Cantons - March 8th
- Prix Mathias Nomblot - March 9th
- Circuit des Monts du Lubéron - March 15th
- Souvenir Francis Delpech - March 16th
- La Durtorccha - March 22nd
- Tour du Canton de St-Ciers - March 29th & 30th
- Tour de l'Indre - April 3rd - 6th
- Circuit des vins du Blayais - April 13th
- GP des fêtes de Cenac - April 14th
- Tour du Canton de Dun le Palestel - April 19th
- Circuit des monts du Livradois - April 20th
- Trophée national de Pujols - April 21st
- Ruban Granitier Breton - April 25th to May 1st
- Tarbes-Sauveterre - May 8th
- Tour de Corrèze - May 10th
- Tour du Périgord - May 11th
- Olympia's tour - May 17th - 25th

Note : Racing program is subject to change

As Spring 2003 will be the first attempt in creating a more competitive development scheme, through the CCCE, we anticipate that the benefits will appear as early as the end of the 2003 season. In 2004, it is the CCA's intention to expand the CCCE's facilities to the young women's development program as well as using the CCCE as a European nerve center for all national team programs.

Jacques Landry
National development coach


Le programme espoir canadien se rend outre-Atlantique pour le printemps 2003

Au printemps 2003, l'Association Cycliste Canadienne présente une nouveauté en matière de développement pour ses athlètes prometteurs sur route, catégorie Espoir. Grâce à Sport Canada et au championnat du monde de Hamilton en 2003, l'ACC a mis sur pied le Centre Cycliste Canadien en Europe (CCCE).

Pour cette première expérience, le CCCE s'installera à Castelsarrasin, une ville située à 80kms au nord-ouest de Toulouse en France. L'objectif premier est d'aider la progression de cyclistes de développement en participant à des courses internationales européennes, tout en leur offrant un climat Nord-Américain en sol franÝais.

Pour cette première édition du CCCE, les cyclistes espoirs ont été sélectionnés grâce aux performances nationales et internationales de 2002. Ces athlètes sont :

Ian Condron - Victoria, BC
Cameron Evans - Delta, BC
Andrew Davidson - Calgary, AB
Jean-Sébastien Maheu - Montreal, QC
Ryan Roth - Bright, ON
Warren Tilbrook - Fonthill, ON

Le programme de course du CCCE débutera le 2 mars suite à un stage d'entraînement d'une semaine, fin février. La plupart des courses au programme sont des épreuves du calendrier national franÝais. Par contre, certaines courses sont des présentations UCI espoirs. Les courses suivantes sont proposées :

- GP d' ouverture Pierre Pinel - 2 mars
- Circuit des 4 Cantons - 8 mars
- Prix Mathias Nomblot - 9 mars
- Circuit des Monts du Lubéron - 15 mars
- Souvenir Francis Delpech - 16 mars
- La Durtorccha - 22 mars
- Tour du Canton de St-Ciers - 29 et 30 mars
- Tour de l'Indre - 3 au 6 avril
- Circuit des vins du Blayais - 13 avril
- GP des fêtes de Cenac - 14 avril
- Tour du Canton de Dun le Palestel - 19 avril
- Circuit des monts du Livradois - 20 avril
- Trophée national de Pujols - 21 avril
- Ruban Granitier Breton - 25 au 1ier mai
- Tarbes-Sauveterre - 8 mai
- Tour de Corrèze - 10 mai
- Tour du Périgord - 11 mai
- Olympia's tour - 17 au 25 mai

Note : Le programme de course est sujet à des changements

Puisqu'il s'agit d'une première tentative du genre, via le CCCE, nous croyons que les bienfaits de ce programme se feront sentir dès la fin de la saison 2003.

En 2004, l'ACC veut élargir le spectre du CCCE en incluant les athlètes féminines de développement, en plus d'utiliser le CCCE comme plaque-tournante européenne pour tous les programmes de l'équipe nationale.

Jacques Landry
Entraîneur national de développement


Midweek CC Training Camp

The Midweek CC has had a terrific response from riders who want to come to this great camp which includes, billeting with Ashville BRC members, coaching sessions with Andy Applegate, Ultrafit/Joe Friel chief coach, Art Shuster, collegiate coach and a USA cycling licensed coach, and Tina Mayberry who is already involved with several of our club riders. The Blue Mountains around Ashville are a super place to get some pree-season distance in, with lots of long, hard climbs for the fit and some
easier flat roads for those who would like to be! There are have 5 spots left - first come, first served. Dates are March 10th. to 15th. and cost for non-MCC members is only $100! E-mail pakamac@sympatico.ca


Friends For Life Bike Rally - 2003 Launch Date Announced

Over four years ago, two neighbors decided that not enough was being done in the fight against AIDS. More importantly, they both knew friends and family whose health was suffering as a result of HIV, and so they decided to issue a challenge to their neighbors and the community at large. What started as a commitment from 32 of their neighbors, friends and family has now grown into The Friends For Life Bike Rally.

In the 6 days from July 28th-August 02, 2003, 250 Riders & Crew will embark on a groundbreaking journey. With their sights set on raising thousands of dollars for the Toronto PWA Foundation, our team of courageous men and women will be pedaling over 100km a day through the scenic shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Our crew of able volunteers will be providing sumptuous nutritious meals, ample snack breaks, camping along beautiful lakes and rivers, evening activities and entertainment and we will arrive in Montreal just in time for Divers-Cité gay pride celebrations!

The Friends For Life Bike Rally has been a huge success since it began almost 4 years ago with net proceeds (to date) exceeding $900,000. The Kick-Off Event for the 2003 Ride will be held on Wednesday February 26th, 2003 at 7-9pm at Le Petit Liban, 580 Church St, (at Dundonald, just north of Wellesley), in Toronto. Come to the launch to learn more about the event, register, mix and mingle with riders from previous years, and new riders. This is a great opportunity to talk frankly with other riders about what to expect on the ride. Complimentary snacks and a cash bar will be available.

For more information, please visit our website at www.bikerally.org, email info@bikerally.org, or call 416-506-1400 ext 30.