13 athletes representing Canada at 2017 UCI junior track worlds in Italy

Between August 23rd and 27th, junior track athletes from around the world will converge on Montichiari, Italy for the 2017 UCI junior track cycling world championships. Canada will be represented by 13 young and promising athletes at this year’s events with a balance of experience and newcomers.

First-time competitors at the world championships will include Micaiah Besler of Saskatchewan who will contest the women’s endurance events and Je’Land Sydney of Ontario who will race the men’s sprint events.

Maggie Coles-Lyster of B.C. who has a bronze medalist in the omnium at the 2016 world championships and is currently the holder of eight national track titles, will return looking to build on last years results. Erin Attwell of B.C. will also be returning after earning an automatic selection from her win in the individual pursuit at nationals. Other returning athletes include Laurie Jussaume, Tristan Guillemette, Ali Van Yzendoorn and Nick Wammes.

“I’m thrilled to be leading our best and brightest junior track athletes to Italy in August,” said women’s national endurance coach Craig Griffin who will be the head coach for the championships. “This is an exciting time for Cycling Canada, our programs, and athletes as we continue to build upon the groundwork that has been laid these past years.”

On August 6th the athletes will gather in Milton, Ont. at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre for a pre-worlds campw which will conclude on the 16th, the day before the team flies out to Italy.

“I’m expecting great results from this group and, in particular, the women’s team pursuit who finished fourth in 2016,” Griffith said about the team’s expectations. “With the same group returning in 2017, the expectation is to improve upon that performance. It will be a fantastic learning experience for everyone, including myself and the personal coaches who are currently preparing these athletes at home prior to the final training activities in Milton.”

At the 2016 championships, Stefan Ritter won a gold medal in the men’s 1000 metre time trial and Devaney Collier earned a silver medal with a second-place performance in the women’s scratch race. Both are from Edmonton and have since graduated from the junior ranks but that does not mean expectations aren’t high. “There’s a ton of talent here that I’m hoping will deliver multiple top-6 performances and, hopefully, a couple of medals at worlds before these riders graduate into both the men’s and women’s Olympic Performance Pools in the coming years,” said Griffith.

Endurance Men

Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski – Montreal
Chris Ernst – Kitchener, Ont.
Michael Foley – Milton, Ont.
Tristan Guillemette – Trois-Rivieres, Que.
Ethan Sittlington – Elora, Ont.

Endurance Women

Erin Attwell – Victoria
Micaiah Besler – Saskatoon
Maggie Coles-Lyster – Maple Ridge, B.C.
Laurie Jussaume – Contrecoeur, Que.
Ali Van Yzendoorn – Orillia, Ont.

Sprint Men

Je’Land Sydney – Georgetown, Ont.
Nick Wammes – Bothwell, Ont.

Sprint Women

Charlotte Creswicke – Tottenham, Ont.