November 20, 2006 (Ottawa, ON) - The following awards have been presented at the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA)'s Annual General Meeting this weekend, to recognize the exceptional contribution to the sport of cycling of athletes, event organizers, volunteers or coaches from all Provincial Associations across Canada.

Event/Organizer of the Year - Presented to the Event/Organizer, which exemplifies outstanding coordination and exposure for the sport:

Road - Tour de l'Abitibi (QC)
Mountain Bike - Mondial du Vélo - Bromont (QC) ; event: Mountain Bike Canada Cup
Track - Atlantic Cycling Centre - Dieppe (NB); event: 2006 Elite Track National Championships
BMX - Abbotsford BMX Club (AB); event: 2006 National BMX Championships
Cyclo-Cross- Ciclissima Cycling Club (ON); event: 2006 Aurora International Cyclo-Cross

Official of the Year - Pierre Gagné (QC), Commissaire

• To recognize a cycling commissaire for overall proficiency and contribution to cycling

Torchy Peden Award - Bicycle Newfoundland & Labrador

• To recognize a Province/Territory for overall success of contribution to cycling

Russ Coupland - Karol-Ann Canuel (QC), discipline: Road

• Awarded for the best Junior performance

President's Trophy - Stéphane Côté & Pierre-Olivier Boily (QC); discipline: Handisport Tandem

• Awarded to best overall athlete(s)

Builder of the Year - Luc Arseneau (NB), Dieppe National Training Centre Coach and 2006 Elite Track National Championships event organizer
To recognize an individual for its

• Contribution to the CCA as a builder
• Contribution to the CCA as a coach, instructor, official or event organizer
• Any other special contribution.

20 Year Service - Louise Lalonde (QC), Commissaire

2006 season Highlights

UCI World Championship Silver Medallist - Elite Women Cruiser at the 2006 BMX World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil: Samantha Cools (AB)

Paralympic Cycling Worlds Silver Medallist - Tandem Road Race in Aigle, Switzerland: Stéphane Cote & Pierre-Olivier Boily (QC)

UCI World Championship Silver Medallist - Women's Scratch Race at the 200t Track World Championships in Bordeaux, France: Gina Grain (BC)

UCI World Championship Bronze Medallist - Women's Mountain Bike XC at the 2006 MTB World Championships in Rotorua, NZL: Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC)

UCI World Championship Bronze Medallist - Espoir Men's XC at the 2006 MTB World Championships in Rotorua, NZL: Max Plaxton

UCI World Championship Bronze Medallist - Junior Women's Downhill at the 2006 MTB World Championships in Rotorua, NZL: Micayla Gatto

Retiring Athletes: Gord Fraser (Ottawa, ON) & Lori-Ann Muenzer (Edmonton, AB)

Coaching Association of Canada Excellence Awards awarded to three Canadian National Team Coaches whose athletes won medals over the past year at World Championships: Tanya Dubnicoff from Alberta (BMX and Samantha Cools, AB), Eric Van Den Eynde from Quebec (Road and Gina Grain, BC, as well as Handisport Tandem Stéphane Côté & Pierre-Olivier Boily, QC); and Michel Leblanc from Quebec (Mountain Bike and Marie-Hélène Prémont, QC).

If you would like to get some more background information on the Awards Recipients or get some photos, please contact:

Florence Bourg
Communications Manager - Directrice des communications
Canadian Cycling Association - Association cycliste canadienne
2197 Riverside Drive, suite/bureau 203
Ottawa, ON, K1H 7X3
Tel: +1-418-824-9207
Cell: +1-418-558-4559
florence.bourg@canadian-cycling.com