Jasmin Glaesser focused on track World Cup in Mexico

Jasmin Glaesser is aiming for a strong performance as a member of Canada’s women’s team pursuit squad competing at the third UCI Track World Cup held from Jan. 17 to 19 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The team will use the event as a training opportunity ahead of the world championships held from Feb. 26 to Mar. 2 in Cali, Colombia.

“The world championships at the end of February is definitely the goal and we will be using this World Cup as more of a training exercise,” Glaesser said.

Glaesser is familiar with the world-class track in Guadalajara having earned a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2011 Pan American Games. She is looking forward to returning for the upcoming World Cup.

“I am definitely excited to race there again considering it’s home to some pretty memorable moments for me,” she said. “It’s where I first represented Canada during an international competition and took home a gold in the team pursuit with teammates Laura Brown and Steph Roorda.”

At the opening World Cup in Manchester in November, the Canadian team won three medals that included a gold in the points race and two silvers in the women’s team pursuit and omnium.

Cycling Canada Cyclisme sent six athletes to the second World Cup in Aguascalientes, Mexico in December. The women’s team pursuit earned the silver medal and included riders Glaesser, Gillian Carleton, Allison Beveridge, Brown and Roorda. Glaesser also earned the silver medal in the points race. Hugo Barrette competed in the men’s endurance events.

“There’s no points race offered on the race program at the third World Cup and the focus will be entirely on the team pursuit,” Glaesser said. “Competitions on the track are sparse throughout the season and so every time you have an opportunity to suit up in the maple leaf and race against your competition, you want to give it everything and come out on top.”

Glaesser had a difficult start to the season with some health problems that kept her from being able to train as much as she would have liked this winter. Although she’s been struggling to find consistent form and results, the obstacles gave her a chance to focus on other aspects of being a member of a team sport.

“Strength and confidence can be gained by being able to trust your teammates to support you and believe in you even when you’re doubting yourself,” she said. “I think these gains that we have made as a team to improve our dynamic and to focus on the details will contribute more to helping us ultimately achieve our goals than physical conditioning could.”