01.15.09 - Track Team chases down the motorbike

January 15, 2010 - The Canadian Track Team has been coming to LA almost once a month since September and the team heading in to the final World Cup in China have noticed that the excitement of previous camps has been replaced by a professionalism and a feeling of getting down to business. Zach Bell has noticed the shift in attitude and focus that these camps have brought. “The sprinters are all starting to take the presence that international sprinters should have. When they are in an effort they own the track and their bikes make a sound that demands your attention. The women working on the team pursuit are
looking more like a single machine. And I would like to think I am the metronome behind the moto just ticking over and making it look effortless. Each part is starting to look refined.”

Tara Whitten and Steph Roorda

Tara Whitten has made the move down to LA, at least until Worlds, to benefit from the quality track, warmer weather, and the new electric bike that can go over 60 km/hr for an hour on a single charge. Electric Coast Vehicle modified a dirt bike to accommodate the high performance needs of the track team, and it got quite the workout today. The sprinters and endurance riders used the moto for most of the session and Tara noted that “the Americans, who were training here earlier in the week, are very jealous of our motorbike! It is an invaluable training tool, and we are lucky to have it.” Video of the women training with the
electric bike can be seen at www.youtube.com/canadiantrackcycling..

Travis Smith, who resides in Long Beach, is excited to be doing team sprint for a second time this season with the young kids of the national team. “Seeing them improving every time they get on the track gives me high hopes for a strong team in the very near future. I know the team and myself are setting our goals high for this race in China. I honestly think we can better our times from previous races and break the 45-second barrier! Being a part of a vision that the whole CCA has this year is well... AWESOME!”

The team has two more days of training before they depart to China with racing scheduled to start on January 22 through the 24.