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Cycling Canada announces 2016’s paracycling talent headed for Rio

6 men and 6 women will represent the country at the Paralympic Games this September

Shelley Gautier followed up her gold medal win in Maniago, Italy by taking silver in Switzerland. (Image: Canadian Paralympic Committee/Facebook)
Shelley Gautier followed up her gold medal win in Maniago, Italy by taking silver in Switzerland. (Image: Canadian Paralympic Committee/Facebook)

Wednesday, Cycling Canada announced the paracycling athletes who will be representing Canada this September, when the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games get underway. Draped in the maple leaf, six men and six women–including a handful of London 2012 medalists–will join a powerhouse roster, alongside a who’s-who of five Paralympic Games veterans and four world champions.

“I am delighted with our paracycling team selections for the Paralympic Games in Rio this summer,” said Jacques Landry, Cycling Canada’s head coach and high-performance director. “Our athletes were selected based on performances at international competitions and on their potential to perform in the Paralympic arena based on showings at selected races. Our team comprises athletes with Paralympic experience and also athletes we have recently identified who could surprise many.”

Those names, as Canadian Cycling Magazine readers know, are strikingly recognizable.

Quebec City’s Marie-Eve Croteau, Shelley Gautier of Toronto and Marie-Claude Molnar of Lemoyne, Que., join veteran Thunder Bay rider Robbi Weldon as veterans of London 2012, with Weldon and Molnar boasting towering credentials as winners of that year’s road race gold and time trial bronze, respectively. Hailing from Ste-Therese, Que., Daniel Chalifour, meanwhile, adds a third Paralympic Games nomination to his credit for 2016, while Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C., heads to Rio after taking double gold at March’s world track championships and two victories at Belgium’s World Cup road event in May.

Chantal Peticlerc, chef de mission for Canada’s paralympic athletes, said, “Canada is fielding a large and accomplished team in paracycling and we have a solid core of veterans to lead the way, along with talented newcomers. The team’s training and experience should prove beneficial at the Paralympic Games.”

Caral Qualtrough, Canada’s Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, echoed Peticlerc’s words.

“On behalf of all Canadians, congratulations to our cycling athletes named today to wear the maple leaf this summer at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Cycling Canada has done a phenomenal job of preparing our athletes to compete and now it’s their time to shine in Rio.”

“All of Canada is behind you,” Qualtrough added.

MEN
Daniel Chalifour (Ste-Thérèse, Que.)
Tristen Chernove (Cranbrook, B.C.)
Jean-Michel Lachance (Quebec City): pilot for Daniel Chalifour
Charles Moreau (Victoriaville, Que.)
Michael Sametz (Calgary)
Ross Wilson (Edmonton)

WOMEN
Nicole Clermont (Laval, Que.)
Marie-Ève Croteau (Quebec City)
Shelley Gautier (Toronto)
Audrey Lemieux (Alma, Que.): pilot for Robbi Weldon
Marie-Claude Molnar (Lemoyne, Que.)
Robbi Weldon (Thunder Bay, Ont.)

The Paralympic Games take place from September 7-18, with track events happening between September 8 and 11 and road events between September 14 and 17.