Gibson to make race debut

On Saturday, Kinley Gibson will find herself among the strongest group of riders she will have ever ridden with. “It’s going to be the longest road race I’ve done,” the 18-year-old Edmonton native said of the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau road race. “I’m also really excited about getting a shot at the time trial [two days later]. It’s my first big women’s race with, you could say, the ‘top dogs.’ It’s really exciting for me. But, it’s going to be pretty darn hard.”

To date, Gibson’s focus has been the track. (On her Twitter feed, her profile has a cheeky description: “I like to ride my bike in a straight line. And occasionally make a left turn.”) However, Gibson’s interest in the road discipline is growing. Although she didn’t have a team that might take her to the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau, she was keen on participating in the event. She contacted Denise Kelly, the head coach of women’s road program at Canadian Cycling Cyclisme. Kelly, who was working on the national team roster for Gatineau, couldn’t give Gibson an answer right away. But, just a few weeks ago, Gibson got the good news. She’ll be racing on Saturday with Lex Albrecht, Audrey Labrie, Véronique Labonté, Véronique Fortin and Candice Vermeulen. This isn’t the first time Gibson has raced with Labrie. In  In 2012, the two rode together on Piste.ca at le Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski. At that race, Gibson finished second in the Stage 3, 79-km road race and second in the Stage 4 time trial.

This past winter, Gibson participated in training camps in Tucson, Ariz., and South Carolina. At home, she’s done her best to get base miles in winter-locked Edmonton on the trainer. “We finally, in the past two weeks,  got rid of our snow and cold here so I’m finally getting out on the road at home,” Gibson said. “I’ve done a lot work this year and I’m hoping to see it pay off in Gatineau.”

On Saturday, tune into our live coverage of the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau.