Paracycling track world championships reveals Team Canada’s strengths

This weekend’s UCI paracycling track world championships in Alpendoorn, The Netherlands, gave the national team’s staff a good insight into the level at which the athletes are preforming going into the World Cup season and with Toronto 2015 and Rio 2016 in mind.

The five-person team were evaluated over the four days that they rode the boards, while garnering one medal. Ross Wilson of Sherwood Park, AB took the silver in the individual pursuit in only his second-ever race, losing to Li Zhangyu of China. This makes him a likely contender in the event at Rio 2016.

On Thursday Brayden McDougall also had a good race in the individual time trial, finishing just off the podium, edged out by Argentinean Rodrigo Lopez.

The athletes will now hone their skills in specific, targeted events. Their next event is Challenge Longhi and the Defi Sportif in Montreal May 1 to 3.