Cycling Canada establishes NextGen para cycling program

Canada’s national para-cycling program is being expanded with the introduction of a NextGen initiative that will help Canadians to continue to perform at the top of the sport. Canada’s para cyclists currently hold a total of 11 world titles on the road and track. The program will consiste of 13 athletes with bases in both eastern and western Canada.

“Cycling Canada is delighted to receive Own the Podium and Sport Canada support for both para cycling NextGen programs,” said Arnaud Litou, high performance manager for para cycling at Cycling Canada.

“The addition last fall to the para coaching task force of Phil Abbott represents a unique opportunity to have a physical presence in the Western region,” Litou saud. “Guillaume Plourde, who leads the Eastern program, will continue developing high performance athletes who shine on the international scene, as well as introducing new athletes to cycling.”

The eastern program will be based in Bromont, Quebec with nine athletes working with Plourde. The Mattamt National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. will also regularly be used.

“For the 2018 season, the eastern branch of the Para-Cycling NextGen program has a core group of nine athletes, including four newcomers,” says Plourde. “While some are working hard to be selected at multiple World Cup events and world championships through the summer, the main focus for the group will be to have strong performances at road nationals in June and at the road World Cup to be held in Baie-Comeau in August.”

The programs first training camp will take place in California next month. Recruitment and development will also play an important role as the NextGen program builds relationships with local clubs.

Out west, the program will be based in Calgary with coach Phil Abbott working in partnership with the Alberta Bicycle Association and Canadian Sport Institute Calgary

“We have identified a group of five talented para athletes in Western Canada,” says Abbott. “Over the next eight months we have planned a series of camps and competitions to develop this core group of riders. The long-term objective is to have the athletes progress onto the elite national team. In addition to developing the current group of athletes, we will also be looking to identify new talent across the western provinces.”

NextGen East Athletes

Myriam Adam [Women’s H3] – St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.
Annie Bouchard [Women’s Tandem] – Baie-St-Paul, Que.
Anais Courteille [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Gatineau, Que.
Joey Desjardins [Men’s H3] – Hawkesbury, Ont.
Evelyne Gagnon [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Quebec City
Keely Shaw [Women’s C4] – Saskatoon
Cindy Morin [Women’s Tandem] – Levis, Que.
Michael Shetler [Men’s T2] – Kirkland, Que.

NextGen West Athletes

Kara Douville [Women’s H4] – Calgary
Lachlan Hotchkiss [Men’s C4] – Surrey, B.C.
Erin Ruttan [Women’s Tandem Pilot] – Calgary
Carla Shibley [Women’s Tandem] – Calgary
Lowell Taylor [Men’s Tandem] – Lethbridge, Alta.