When it comes to cycling it seems that it never stops in the lower mainland of BC, probably in part due to our exceptional weather we are fortunate to have – well most days.

We have a chance to watch world class riders hit the streets during the summer months and even in the off season, we continue to follow the riders and their teams.

Team Canada traveled to the Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, Australia, managing to ride away with a tenth place finish in the Team Relay. With Team Switzerland winning the Championship narrowly ahead of both Denmark and France.

This year see’s the Team Relay made noteworthy changes to the overall format that included adding a fifth rider to each team.  

This now see’s each squad or team include a Junior or Under-23 Woman, in addition to an Elite Man and Woman, Under-23 Man and Junior man.

Canada’s first rider Peter Disera (Under-23) was caught in traffic on the opening lap but managed to finish 11th a close 46 seconds behind New Zealand.  

Raphael Gagne is regarded as Canada’s Elite man, moved up on the second lap putting Canada into fifth turning the ride to Junior man Holden Jones.

He had an exceptional lap and managed to move Canada into the lead handing off to Catharine Pendrel, Canada’s Elite Woman rider.

Pendrel extended Canada’s lead to a minute going into the final lap as she handed off to Under-23 Woman Anne-Julie Tremblay.  However, Tremblay faced an impossible task, with Olympic and current reigning world champion Nino Schurter leading a group of Elite and Under-23 men after her.

Dan Proulx, Canada’s Head Mountain Bike Coach at Cycling Canada mentioned “Our strategy first and foremost was to give each rider a chance to do a dress rehearsal on the course.”

He continued “Our second goal was to be top eight, but with the new format we weren’t sure how it would play out and now we know we are top-10 at this time.  

Raph [Gagne] had a really good ride to get us into top five and then Holden Jones had the most amazing ride; he just did a stellar job.  Our last rider was Anne-Julie, and we gave her the toughest job you could imagine, with eight or ten of the best men right behind her.  She rode her heart out.  So, overall we were a little short on our objective goal, but it was still a phenomenal start to Worlds for us.”

Stay tuned as Canada pedals to the finish!!