The Cyclery Racing add five new riders to 2017 roster

Five riders return as Olympian Tara Whitten takes up a mentorship role with the team

Philippe Tremblay November 22, 2016

The Cyclery-Opus celebrate Bonhomme's and Foreman-Mackey's victories — The Cyclery Racing celebrate Bonhomme’s and Foreman-Mackey’s victories at nationals

The Cyclery Racing had a tremendously successful 2016 season. The Ottawa-based Canadian development squad won the elite and under-23 Canadian women’s championship road race and time trial titles, took the overall win at the Cascade Cycling Classic, graduated two riders to professional UCI teams and had two riders attend the Rio Olympics. The team focuses on developing riders with an average age of 24 for the 2017 roster, to help them to get to the next level. The team adds five new riders to squad with five riders returning from last season.

@GRBridgeTheGap and @TrekRedTruck racer speaking to @ShawTVVancouver about youth bike racing. pic.twitter.com/dByb7pCybC

— GR Bridge the Gap (@GRBridgeTheGap) July 14, 2016

The team’s roster includes riders from across Canada with five provinces represented. Reigning national criterium champion Kinley Gibson (Edmonton) comes over from Trek Red Truck Racing and will sport the Canadian jersey in criteriums over the coming season. Also joining from Trek Red Truck is Suzanne Hamilton (Calgary) who brings more experience to the team.

Catherine Oullette (Monteal) joins the Cyclery after a season with Rally Pro Cycing bringing her experience over from one of North America’s top women’s teams. Oullette raced the WorldTour Prudential Ride London Grand Prix as well as across North America.

Marina Aspen from Saskatoon and Sara Gioventti who won the Ontario Cup road race series overall also join the team stepping up to the squad that will give them the opportunity to race extensively in Canada and the U.S.

The five new riders are joined by returning riders Justine Clif (Vancouver) who will lead the young team that will also be supported by Olympic medalist Tara Whitten (Calgary) who will take up a mentorship role with the team.

Returning are Ariane Bonhomme and Emily Flynn who went one-two at the Preston Street Crit. Photo: The Cyclery Racing

Other returning riders include under-23 road and time trial Canadian champion Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau), Emily Flynn (Ottawa) and Amelie Bruneau (Montreal).

Two riders who raced for the Cyclery in 2016 will graduate to UCI programs for the 2017. Annie Foreman-Mackey was the alternate for the bronze medal winning women’s team pursuit squad in Rio and won the Canadian national championship road race with a phenomenal solo effort and will join Twenty16-Ridebiker while Tour of Somerville winner Ellen Watters joins Team Colavita

The team will race in UCI and national racing caledar events around North American with a focus on the Canadian national championships which take place in Ottawa and the Canada Games taking place in Winnipeg.

The Cyclery Racing 2017 roster

Marina Aspen (Saskatoon)
Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau, Que.)
Amelie Bruneau (Montreal)
Justine Clift (Vancouver)
Emily Flynn (Ottawa)
Kinley Gibson (Edmonton)
Sara Giovonetti (Mississauga. Ont.)
Suzanne Hamilton (Calgary)
Catherine Oullette (Montreal)
Tara Whitten (Calgary)