01.21.09 - High Expectations For Canadian Track Team

Tara Whitten and Richard Wooles

January 21, 2010 - Over the past year the Canadian Track program has been focused on creating a team of riders and support staff, to move forward in their quest for 2012 and 2016 Olympic success; as well as building on the two World Championship medals that were won last March by Zach Bell and Tara Whitten. Training camps, with strong training groups, have been organized by the Canadian Cycling Association almost once a month since September and the athletes are benefitting from the new group focus.

Canada sent small teams to the first two World Cups and then a full team to Cali in December where every rider came away with a personal best, three new Canadian records were broken, and the team came home with 1 gold and 2 silver medals. The focus of the athletes has changed from trying to make the team to wanting to podium.

Monique Sullivan

Ten riders are now in China for the last World Cup where they are getting acquainted with the track and the time change, the air quality and the food. Coach Richard Wooles is expecting the team to come away with medals at this event too; however, he sees this competition as a progression in the development of the team. “We’re focused on trying to get the best out of ourselves and get the basics right … I’d be happier if we came away with personal bests all around, showing that we’re moving forward. This is very educational for everyone, even our most experienced athletes are learning from actually spending more time talking about their preparation on a daily basis with the coaches.”

There is a full staff support team for this event, like there was at the third World Cup, which allows the coaches to coach and look after the physical, mental, and emotional state of the athletes; to help best prepare them for racing. The other staff members are looking after the mechanics, the managing, and all the small errands that need to get done and are time consuming and distracting for the coaches and athletes.

To hear more of Richard’s expectations of the team and to see the team training in Beijing check out the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGT6QW7e6Xo

Stephane Cossette

Racing begins on January 22nd and almost all of the Canadians will be competing in the following events:

Women’s Sprint: Monique Sullivan
Women’s Scratch: Laura Brown and Stephanie Roorda
Women’s Individual Pursuit: Tara Whitten and Julia Bradley
Men’s Team Sprint: Travis Smith, Joseph Veloce, Stephane Cossette
Men’s Points Race: Zach Bell

Allan Leparskas will make his World Cup debut in the Kilo on day 2.