Full track cycling roster, a first for the Canadian Olympic team, includes reigning sprint champion Kelsey Mitchell
Canada has quietly stepped up to challenge traditional Olympic cycling nations like Great Britain, the Netherlands and Italy by qualifying the maximum number of track cycling athletes and one rider in any cycling discipline, excluding BMX freestyle, for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Dan Proulx, Canadian Cycling Head Coach, shared his thoughts on this milestone and the preparations leading up to it in an exclusive interview with Cycling News.
Canada is one of the few countries to have qualified riders in every discipline. Only Great Britain was able to register the maximum number of athletes on track, mountain bike and road. Bringing Canada to the same level as an Olympic powerhouse like Great Britain is the result of the hard work of the runners, eight coaches and support staff, as well as the financial support of Sport Canada.
“That support has made a significant difference over the years, ensuring we have world-class programming, coaching and staff,” Proulx said. “It’s raised the bar for everyone and helped us compete at the highest level.”
“What’s really unique about Canada is that we don’t have as many players as other countries in our development pipeline. Cycling isn’t Canada’s culture, but hockey sure is. We often select riders from a very small talent pool. So it’s very important to make sure they can stay in the sport for a while and maximize the talent we have. It’s a compact group, so we have to maintain good relations with everyone. »
“We’re very excited about qualifying for the Track World Cup,” Proulx said of the team’s ability to reach the maximum number of spots. “To my knowledge, this is the first time Canada has done this. We were hoping to qualify for the most spots, but it was never a guarantee until the very last event. Before Milton (the last Nations Cup), we were optimistic and hopeful, but we never took it for granted.”
The track cycling team, announced this week, includes defending sprint champion Kelsey Mitchell and keirin bronze medalist Lauriane Genest, who will be joined by Sarah Orban in the team sprint. Erin Attwell, Ariane Bonhomme, Maggie Coles-Lyster and Sarah Van Dam will compete in the endurance events.
But the biggest surprise came from the men’s sprint program, which narrowly managed to qualify for the Olympics with its final race in Milton.
“That one had me biting my nails,” Proulx recalled. “What’s really cool is that those guys were under pressure and set a personal best. We were pretty confident in the team pursuit because we had to be in the top 10, but all it would have taken was a little wheelie and that would have been it.”
James Hedgcock, Tyler Rorke and Nick Wammes will compete in the sprint events in Paris. The team pursuit squad has also been selected, with Dylan Bibic, Michael Foley, Carson Mattern and Mathias Guillemette.
The qualification process was complicated by the shortened Olympic cycle after the Tokyo Games were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While that left little time for development and experimentation, Canada put in some strong performances to qualify a large team, but that wasn’t the primary goal.
“The three-year quadrennial meant we didn’t have the post-Olympic year to do a lot of development work. We were immediately back to qualifying,” explained Proulx. “The coaches, staff and athletes focused on the process and their performance in each event. Our goal is to do our best at the Games, rather than just qualify for each event. »
Looking ahead to Paris, Proulx stressed the importance of preparation and mental toughness. “Like everyone else, we would like to see medals, but honestly, we can’t control that. We practice performance under pressure and fatigue to make sure the riders are able to perform at their best at the Games. The Olympics are a pressure cooker where athletes often underperform, so we focus on controlling the controllables and creating an environment where riders can succeed.”
A crucial aspect of Canada’s success has been the exceptional coaching team, including Rio Olympic bronze medalist Catherine Pendrell, who now coaches the mountain bike team. “I think it’s a fascinating story,” Proulx remarked. “She has been a mountain bike coach for two years and is doing a fantastic job with our athletes who are focused on the 2028 Games. We will have mountain bikers at the Games, but with our mountain bike group, it is more of a Games. reconstruction and experience. Catherine shares her wisdom gained over nearly 20 years of international career with coaches from various disciplines. »
Siblings Gunnar and Isabella Holmgren will represent Canada in cross-country mountain biking. Isabella is the reigning junior world champion while Gunnar won the men’s mountain bike race at the Pan American Games last year.
On the road, Michael Woods and Derek Gee will fly the Maple Leaf flag on a Classics-style road course in Paris, while Olivia Baril and Alison Jackson will represent Canada in the women’s road races.
Mollie Simpson completes the team in Women’s BMX Racing.
“We have medal potential in several different disciplines,” Proulx said. “What’s exciting about the road course is its level of difficulty. Our coaches, like Nigel Ellsay, have been scouting the course and we have a strong group from which to choose our runners. We have our work cut out to determine who will be the best on the big day.”
Canada’s preparations go beyond physical training. Collaborations with equipment partners such as Argon 18 and Louis Garneau have provided the team with state-of-the-art equipment and clothing. However, Proulx emphasized that mastering the basics is crucial. “The tactical aspect, especially in track cycling, is extremely important. We study our competitions and ensure that our athletes can compete in unexpected ways. Technical aspects such as perfecting departures and optimizing exchanges are also essential. Each training session includes video analysis, power analysis, and aerodynamic testing. »
Mental preparation also plays an important role in Canada’s strategy. “We have invested in mental performance, creating a light, bright and clear performance environment,” emphasized Proulx. “Our mental performance coach, Sharlen Hoar, works with athletes and coaches to create environments that bring out the best in people. There is a great atmosphere within the team at the moment, which is the result of continuous investment and work. »
Team Canada for the cycling events at the Paris Olympic Games
- Molly Simpson (BMX racing, women)
- Isabella Holmgren (MTB, Women)
- Gunnar Holmgren (MTB, Men)
- Olivia Baril (road, women)
- Alison Jackson (road, women)
- Derek Gee (Road, Men)
- Michael Woods (Road, Men)
- Erin Attwell (track endurance, women)
- Ariane Bonhomme (Track Endurance, Women)
- Maggie Coles-Lyster (women’s track endurance)
- Sarah Van Dam (Women’s Track Endurance)
- Dylan Bibic (Track Endurance, Men)
- Michael Foley (Track Endurance, Men)
- Mathias Guillemette (Track Endurance, Men)
- Carson Mattern (Endurance Track, Men)
- Lauriane Genest (track sprint, women)
- Kelsey Mitchell (Women’s Track Sprint)
- Sarah Orban (Women’s Track Sprint)
- James Hedgcock (men’s track sprint)
- Tyler Rorke (Men’s Track Sprint)
- Nick Wammes (men’s track sprint)
