Canada’s Weldon ready to ride for a home crowd

For Robbi Weldon, the opportunity to race in front of a home-soil crowd at the Parapan Am Games, starting this weekend in Toronto, means a lot — and for a number of very good reasons.

After all, most of the podiums Weldon has climbed have been in other countries so far.

“It’s not too often you get this opportunity,” she said, speaking with Canadian Cycling Magazine after a few circuits around the track of the Milton velodrome, “to be able to be on home soil. I was able to do that in Vancouver, 2010 with skiing” — a reference to her dual role as a Canadian para-Nordic skier, in addition to being one of the country’s top paracyclists — “but in cycling, it’s fantastic that it’s in my home province and home country.”

On a personal level, there’s also the hardship that the Thunder Bay, Ont. rider has endured between these Parapan Am Games and the last to consider. Weldon’s starting at the 2015 Games — her second since 2011 — almost seemed to be in jeopardy two years ago, when she was hospitalized for months with a string of bad injuries. In August of 2013, Weldon and her pilot, Emilie Roy, were hit by a car during a training session in Matane, Quebec. Weldon suffered a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade, and fractured five vertebrae as a result of the accident, taking her out of cycling contention at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics. Instead, she competed in Sochi with a focus on her other athletic talent as a para-Nordic skier.

2015, though, has seen the 39-year-old rider return to the saddle in strong form. At the 2015 paracycling World Cup in Italy, she placed 7th, with a 5th place finish at the following World Cup in Switzerland. At the 2015 Defi Sportif, Weldon placed first in the time trial.

The opportunity to showcase what paracycling athletes are capable of to a home audience is a big part of what drives Weldon at these Games. “Para-cycling has really boomed,” she said. Through the course of recent events, Weldon observed that the profile of paracycling — both domestically and on the international stage — is rising, with increasing interest. It’s something no doubt boosted by the jaw-dropping strength of participating athletes, with the field of international competition at many of those races — some 41 countries were represented at the world championships, she said — having aggressively tested and challenged Canada’s team. Bringing that home, showing Canada what can be done despite disability, is central to her priorities at the 2015 Parapan Am Games.

“Our coach earlier today was saying the British guys are hitting 75 k an hour on the tandem,” Weldon said. “It’s exciting speeds, and we have some athletes from other countries with one arm, one leg, and they’re doing the track and hitting speeds like that. Just as a cyclist myself, I’m amazed and inspired by my teammates and others from around the world.”

Her preparation for the Parapan Am Games, she said, has that mighty field of competition firmly in mind. Still, going into the races is also a matter of going with what works, and what’s served her at other international races — with a string of first place finishes at the 2011 Parapan Am Games in Guadalajara and a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics, among others — has worked pretty well for the visually-impaired cyclist so far.

Particularly big thanks for that, she is quick to point out, goes to her team and supporters.

“Coming into the Parapan Am Games, it’s the same focus as coming into a world cup or a world championship, and we have great support, great coaching support, and great other support,” she said, referring to the physiotherapists and other staff tasked with helping Canada’s athletes achieve top form. “You couldn’t ask for a better crew helping us; mechanically, every little detail is looked at. We have great preparation and it’s going to be an exciting four races for sure.”