Christmas Cross season gets underway for Canucks Dec. 26 in Belgium
Canada will be sending 10 athletes for the world-class series, representing four classifications.
Christmas season means the beginning of one of the biggest cyclocross seasons of the year, with the European Christmas ‘Cross project officially kicking off in Belgium on Dec. 26 for a group of Canadians. This year, the UCI cyclocross world cup in Heusden-Zolder marks the beginning, concluding on New Year’s Day with the GP Sven Nys.
Ultimately, the series of events is a staging ground of sorts for the world championships, happening at the end of January — and Cycling Canada, along with the Canadian Cyclocross Working Group, have announced Canada’s roster.
“This is Cycling Canada’s third annual Christmas Cross Camp,” said Scott Kelly, the Working Group’s program manager, “and it is our largest yet. We’re excited that we are able to continue introducing developing athletes to international competition, while providing support to our elite athletes.” With national champions in the mix like Christel Gerrier-Bruneau, representing the elite women’s category, and Tyler Clark, her counterpart in the junior men’s category, the Canadian roster of athletes will include three under-23 men, two under-23 women and one elite female rider, all headed to the Christmas Cross Camp.
“Increased exposure to quality racing is an essential step in ensuring Canadians are able to compete with the best in the world,” Kelly noted, “and there is no better opportunity to do this than during the Christmas Cross period in Belgium.
Canada’s roster includes:
Colton Woods, Junior men
Dylan Kerr, Junior men
Conor Martin, Junior men
Tyler Clark, Junior men
Brody Sanderson, U23 men
Nicholas Diniz, U23 men
Trevor Donnell, U23 men
Siobhan Kelly, U23 women
Magdeleine Vallieres Mille, U23 women
Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Elite women
In Belgium, Christmas Cross action gets underway on Dec. 26 wwith UCI Cyclocross World Cup Heusden-Zolder and continues Dec. 28 with DVV verzekeringen trofee- Azencross, Dec. 29 with Cyclocross Bredene, Dec. 30 with Telenet Superprestige Diegem, and finishes on Jan. 1 with DVV verzekeringen trofee- GP Sven Nys.
