Canada announces roster for 2017 UCI cyclocross world championships in Bieles

Maghalie Rochette

Gunnar Holmgren

Jérémy Martin

Hot Sauce on the attack in 2016

Ruby West

Mical Dyck Photo: Mary Topping

Cindy Montambeault

Michael van den Ham at CrossVegas

Cycling Canada has announced the 11 athletes who will be wearing the maple leaf at the 2017 cyclocross world championships in Bieles, Luxembourg on January 28 and 29. Canada sends riders for all five categories with three national champions in the team’s ranks.

“Though cyclocross is not an Olympic event, we have seen an increasing number of athletes that are taking interest in this sport, as it nicely complements mountain biking,” Cycling Canada’s high performance director Jacques Landry said. “Through this increased interest in cyclocross we are slowly enhancing the quality and depth of the riders that take the start in World Cups and at the world championships.”

The junior men’s team will be led by national champion Gunnar Holmgren. He will be joined by Brody Sanderson and Noah Simms. Ruby West represents Canada in the under-23 women’s ranks with Trevor O’Donnell competing in the men’s U23 race.

Elite women’s champion Maghalie Rochette will headline the women’s team which also includes 2015 Canadian cyclocross champions Mical Dyck and Cindy Montambault. Canadian elite men’s champion Jérémy Martin leads the men’s team which also includes Mark McConnell and Michael van den Ham.

“The 2017 cyclocross worlds being held in Bieles promise to be a great venue for our Canadian riders who, for the most part, have been training and racing out of our European base in Tielt-Winge, Belgium, since mid-December,” explained Landry. “Under the watchful eye of Scott Kelly as team manager, I trust that our Canadian cyclocross riders will come out of these Worlds with some great performances.”

The team is currently assembling at the Cycling Canada’s European base in Tielte-Winge in Belgian before contesting the Hoogerheide World Cup on January 22. The team will then travel to Bieles a few days ahead of the world championships

Cycling Canada athletes that compete at the world championships are entirely funded by sponsorships, private donations or by the athletes themselves as there is no government funding for the sport. If you’d like to support Cycling Canada, donations can be made through  Hop On Canada.

Team Canada Roster for 2017 cyclocross world championships in Bieles

Gunnar Holmgren (Orillia, Ont.) – Junior Men
Brody Sanderson (Orillia, Ont.) – Junior Men
Noah Simms (Barrie, Ont.) – Junior Men
Ruby West (Dundas, Ont.) – U23 Women
Trevor O’Donnell (Barrie, Ont.) – U23 Men
Mical Dyck (Victoria, B.C.) – Elite Women
Cindy Montambault (Val-David, Que.) – Elite Women
Maghalie Rochette (St-Jerome, Que.) – Elite Women
Jeremy Martin (Quebec City, Que.) – Elite Men
Mark McConnell (Calgary) – Elite Men
Michael Van den Ham (Edmonton) – Elite Men