05.03.07 - Pan Am championships selections

May 3, 2007 – The Canadian Cycling Association is pleased to announce preliminary selections for the Pan American road and track championships, to be held in Valencia, Venezuela, from May 21-27, 2007.

Four track athletes have been granted an exemption on attending the CCA track trials in Burnaby, BC, from May 9-11, and have been confirmed to the team based on their performances in recent international events. These athletes were identified based on their world cup results, and this confirmation is based on the CCA High Performance Committee’s assessment of their fitness:

Martin Gilbert (Montreal QC) and Ryan McKenzie (Calgary AB): men’s Madison
Gina Grain (Vancouver BC): women’s points race
Zach Bell (Vancouver BC): men’s points race

The CCA has also finalized selection for the men’s road race. As per the published criteria, the following athletes have been selected:

Elite men:

• Svein Tuft (Langley BC): road race and time trial
• Charles Dionne (Ste-Foy QC) : road race

U23 men:

• Christian Meier (Langley BC): road race
• David Veilleux (Quebec QC): road race and time trial

In order to field a complete team in the road race (six elite men and four U23 men), the CCA is also inviting the following athletes to attend. However, due to budget constraints these athletes will be required to fund a portion of the cost of their participation:

Elite men:

• Andrew Pinfold (Victoria BC)
• Andrew Randell (Toronto ON)
• Eric Wohlberg (Levack ON)

U23 men:

• Marsh Cooper (Aldergrove BC)
• Keven Lacombe (Amos QC)

The composition of Canada’s team for the men’s road events will therefore be as follows (in alphabetical order):

Road race (elite):

• Charles Dionne (Ste-Foy QC)
• Martin Gilbert (Montreal QC)
• Andrew Pinfold (Victoria BC)
• Andrew Randell (Toronto ON)
• Svein Tuft (Langley BC)
• Eric Wohlberg (Levack ON)

First reserve: Zach Bell (Vancouver BC)
Second reserve: Ryan McKenzie (Calgary AB)

Road race (U23):

• Marsh Cooper (Aldergrove BC)
• Christian Meier (Langley BC)
• Keven Lacombe (Amos QC)
• David Veilleux (Quebec QC)

Elite time trial:

• Svein Tuft (Langley BC)
• Eric Wohlberg (Levack ON)

Reserve: Zach Bell (Vancouver BC)

U23 time trial:

• Christian Meier (Langley BC)
• David Veilleux (Quebec QC)

Reserve : Keven Lacombe (Amos QC)

Gina Grain has the option to compete in the women’s road race. However, this is a low priority as, unlike the men’s event, it does not count for Olympic qualification because the qualification period has not yet begun.

Further additions to the team may be made following the Burnaby track trials.