Hamilton Road Foundation to support Canada’s Junior riders at the 2015 world championships

Twelve years after the 2003 UCI road world championships in Hamilton, Ont., that event’s legacy is continuing to benefit Canadian riders.

With that year’s competition, which happened in the southern Ontario city between October 7 and October 12, the Hamiton 2003 Road Cycling Foundation was established. From its inception, its mission was to support programs dedicated to the long-term development of young road athletes, taking them from junior ranks to the professional level. In fostering Canadian cycling talent, it’s also tasked with identifying the top young riders in the country. Some of the country’s top riders, names seen leading start lists and climbing podiums today, were discovered and supported through the Foundation’s efforts.

Hugo Houle, Antoine Duchesne, Joelle Numainville, Leah Kirchmann, Julie Beveridge and David Veiulleux, notably, were all among those athletes whose careers were kick-started by the Foundation, receiving its assistance in establishing themselves on professional teams. This year, with the Foundation’s announcement that it will provide grants to Canada’s eight competing junior riders at the 2015 junior world championships, that tradition continues.

Grants provided through the Foundation will go towards covering the various expenses incurred by Canadian junior riders. It’s the burden of those expenses for young athletes and their families, officials say, that the organization wants to lighten through this year’s support.

“When the Board reviewed the plan for the 2015 road and track programs,” said Linda Jackson, former Olympian, national and world champion, and current chairperson of the Hamilton 2003 Road Cycling Foundation, “we were pleased to see the depth of the program to be offered and know that many up and coming Junior riders will be involved. At the same time, we are also aware of the substantial costs that families face when their daughters or sons are selected to development level projects. For that reason, we are pleased to support this program.”

Canada’s roster of Junior athletes representing the country in Richmond, Virginia include Gillian Elsay, Leah Harvey, Katherine Maine, Gabby Traxler, William Boersma, Derek Gee, Adam Roberge and Joel Taylor.