Team Canada announces roster for 2018 GP Gatineau
Canada well represented at home UCI road race on Thursday, June 7
Live coverage: Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau road race 2018
After taking first and second at last year’s Grand Prix Cycliste de Gatineau, Cycling Canada returns in 2018 with a very different team to defend their title. Leah Kirchmann is not present to defend her title while second-place finisher Kirsti Lay returns but leading her Rally Cycling team which counts five Canadians on its six women roster for Thursday’s road race.
Team Canada is led by the experienced Karol-Ann Canuel who resides in Gatineau. Canuel will be targeting a victory in Friday’s individual time trial after finishing on the podium in the past three editions of the race against the clock.
Canuel, the only returning member from the 2017 Canadian entry to the GP Gatineau, will be joined by Marie-Soleil Blais of Montreal who finished top-10 in two stages of the Joe Martin Stage Race, Emily Marcoloni of Sudbury, Ont., Gabby Traxler of Calgary and junior Kaitlyn Rauwerda of Hamilton.
RELATED: Team Canada’s junior Kaitlyn Rauwerda ready to roll with the punches at 2018 GP Gatineau
Team Canada has stiff competition to defend their title in the 2018 race. Team Tibco-SVB bring a squad lead by Kendall Ryan who was third last year and Canadian Alison Jackson. UCI team UnitedHealthcare also brings a strong squad.
Rally Cycling have a very strong team with Canadians Lay, Katherine Maine, Sara Poidevin, Gillian Ellsay and Sara Bergen for support.
Local Ottawa team Cyclery Racing bring recently crowned Ontario provincial champion Annie Foreman-Mackey along with Canadian national track endurance teammates Ariane Bonhomme and Kinley Gibson who earned all ride to bronze in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.
Canadian Teams Macogep-Argon 18, Desjardins-Ford, Highgate Racing, Red Truck, Rise Racing, First Draft and Quebecor-Stingray are all set to make the start in Thursday’s 105-km road race.
