Team Canada men’s team pursuit squad head to first two UCI track cycling World Cups of the season

On Tuesday Cycling Canada announced its selection for the first two events of the UCI track cycling World Cup in Glasgow, Scotland (November 4-6) and Apeldoorn, the Netherlands (November 11-13), and the big surprise was the absence of women on the team, included the powerful team pursuit squad.

Jacques Landry, Director of High Performance at Cycling Canada, explains why: “In starting our Tokyo [Olympic] quad we want to ensure that some of our athletes are getting much needed rest after a tiring Rio campaign. Though we are resting some of our athletes, we also have a pool of athletes that are ready to fire on all cylinders at these two first World Cups. With this in mind, our men’s track endurance athletes are ready to start off this track season by setting the tone in the first two World Cups at Glasgow and Apeldoorn.”

After the Glasgow and Apeldoorn events, there’s a long break until Cali, Colombia in mid-February, 2017, before the World Cup ends in Los Angeles, California, February 25 and 26. The world championships are set for Hong Kong, April 12-16.

First day of training at #TissotUCITrackWC in Glasgow. Here come @CyclingCanada ??????? pic.twitter.com/bx26E0GM3j

— Track World Cup Glasgow (@TrackWorldCup) November 1, 2016

Five fellows will square off against the world in Glasgow and Apeldoorn. In both events, the men will race the team pursuit and Adam Jamieson will compete in the points race. Scotland is the setting for Jay Lamoureux’s bid for individual pursuit glory. Lamoureux was bronze medalist in the discipline at the 2015 Canadian national championships.

Aiden Caves, Pan-Am championships gold medalist in the omnium, while wait until Apeldoorn to contest the new omnium format.

Starting this season, the UCI had done away with three individual omnium events–the individual pursuit, flying lap and time trial–to instead carry four bunch races, the scratch, elimination, points and tempo. The tempo is a short-distance race where the pack sprints every lap. Also this season, two team pursuit squads will run at the same time in qualifying instead of one. A women’s madison has been added to the slate.

Team Canada for Glasgow and Apeldoorn UCI Track Cycling World Cups

Aidan Caves-Vancouver, BC [Team Pursuit, Omnium (Apeldoorn)]

Adam Jamieson-Barrie, ON [Team Pursuit, Points Race]

Jay Lamoureux-Victoria, BC [Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit (Glasgow)]

Bayley Simpson-Lindsay, ON [Team Pursuit (Reserve)]

Ed Veal-Toronto, ON [Team Pursuit]