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TEAM CANADA COLLECTS FOUR MEDALS AT PARA-CYCLING TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Ottawa, ON (March 27, 2024) – Canada shone at the Para-cycling Track World Championships 2024, held March 20-24, racking up a total of four medals.

On the first day of competition, Mel Pemble of Victoria, BC, clinched Canada’s first medal with a silver in the Women’s C3 500m Time Trial. She scored the second fastest time stopping the clock at 39.573s, just 0.093s behind gold medallist Xiaomei Wang, of China while Aniek Van Den Aarsen, of the Netherlands took the bronze medal.

On that same day, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien, of Calgary, AB, and Keely Shaw, Midale, SK, were also in action in the women’s C4 category. They finished fifth and ninth in the 500m time trial.

On Friday, March 22nd, Shaw, won the bronze medal in the Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit. After qualifying in fourth position, she scored a time of 3:54.093 in the bronze medal final against Anna Grace Taylor (4:00.732) of New Zealand. The gold medal was awarded to Emily Petricola of Australia, who scored a time of 3:46.317 in her heat against Samantha Bosco (USA) who finished with a time difference of 7.690s. That same day, Alex Hayward of Quispamsis, NB, finished fifth in the men’s C3 individual pursuit, just short of qualifying for the bronze final.

Looking to add a third omnium title to her collection, Pemble ended up taking the bronze medal on March 23, where she went on to score another second position in the 200m flying sprint, before finishing fifth in the individual pursuit and sixth in the scratch race. Pemble accumulated a total of 138 points, while the gold medal went to Xiaomei Wang of China (160 points) and the silver to Aniek Van den Aarssen of the Netherlands (146 points).

Surprising the field on the last day of competition, Hayward, of Quispamsis, NB, won a silver medal in the Men C3 scratch race Hayward crossed the line alongside Jaco Van Gass of Great-Britain and Masaki Fujita, of Japan, who respectively won gold and bronze.

“All in all, these are great performances from our athletes,” commented National Team Coach Sébastien Travers. “We are accumulating a lot of key learning as well as a better understanding of the priorities ahead in preparation for the Paralympic Games. I’m very proud of our team and grateful to the staff members who have contributed to the athletes’ success.”

Full results from the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships can be found here.

Team Canada: 

Alex Hayward (Men C3) 
Silver (Scratch Race), 5th (Individual Pursuit), 7th (Omnium), 11th (Time Trial)

Kate O’Brien (Women C4) 
5th (Time Trial), 11th (Omnium), 12th (Scratch Race), 14th (Individual Pursuit)

Mel Pemble (Women C3) 
Silver (Time Trial), Bronze (Omnium), 5th (Individual Pursuit), 6th (Scratch Race)

Keely Shaw (Women C4) 
Bronze (Individual Pursuit), 9th (Time Trial), 10th (Omnium), 13th (Scratch Race)

Lowell Taylor/Ed Veal (Men B)  
10th (Individual Pursuit), 14th (Sprint), 16th (Time Trial)

ALEX HAYWARD WINS SILVER AT THE UCI PARA-CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 24, 2024) – Alexandre Hayward, of Quispamsis, NB, won a silver medal in the Men C3 scratch race on the last day of the 2024 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA. Hayward crossed the line alongside Jaco Van Gass of Great-Britain and Masaki Fujita, of Japan, who respectively won gold and bronze.

“We are concluding these World Championships with a surprise performance from Alex – who finished in second position at his first-ever scratch race. His race-reading is improving and his physical abilities are improving, which bodes well for the rest of the season,” said Sébastien Travers, Cycling Canada National Team Coach.

This is Hayward’s first World Championship medal on the track.

BRONZE FOR MEL PEMBLE AT THE UCI PARA-CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 23, 2024) – Mel Pemble of Victoria, BC, won a bronze medal in the Women’s C3 Omnium on March 23 at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA. Pemble accumulated a total of 138 points, while the gold medal went to Xiaomei Wang of China (160 points) and the silver to Aniek Van den Aarssen of the Netherlands (146 points).

Placing second in the 500m time trial, where she clinched the silver medal on March 20, Pemble went on to score another second position in the 200m flying sprint, before finishing fifth in the individual pursuit and sixth in the scratch race.

Pemble previously held the World Champion title in the discipline.

KEELY SHAW WINS BRONZE AT THE UCI PARA-CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 22, 2024) – Keely Shaw, of Midale, SK, won the bronze medal in the Women’s C4 Individual Pursuit on March 22 at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA. After qualifying in fourth position, Shaw scored a time of 3:54.093 in the bronze medal final against Anna Grace Taylor (4:00.732) of New Zealand.

The gold medal was awarded to Emily Petricola of Australia, who scored a time of 3:46.317 in her heat against Samantha Bosco (USA) who finished with a time difference of 7.690s.

“I came to Worlds looking for a podium spot, so it’s hard not to be happy with that,” said Shaw. “We’ve got a lot of key learnings to take away for this race. At the end of the day, we did what we came here to do, we got ourselves on the podium. I’m excited to take all these key learnings to the training camp in Bomont and see what we can bring to Paris in September.”

Team Canada’s racers were all in action on Friday, aiming to rack up points towards the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Alex Hayward of Quispamsis, NB finished fifth in the men’s C3 individual pursuit, just short of qualifying for the bronze final. Mel Pemble (women’s C3), of Victoria, BC and Kate O’Brien (women’s C4), of Calgary, AB, finished sixth and fourteenth in their respective individual pursuits. The duo of Lowell Taylor, of Lethbridge, AB, and Ed Veal, of Queensville, ON, (men B) finished sixteenth in the one-kilometer time trial.

“We have to highlight the performances of our athletes today, who gave us precious points by doing events for which they don’t necessarily have the preparation,” said National Team coach Sébastien Travers. We’re really pleased to be able to count on our athletes, who are taking part in a number of disciplines, to score as many points as possible for the Paris Paralympic Games.”

Full results from the third day of the 2024 UCI Para-Track Cycling World Championships can be found here.

MEL PEMBLE WINS CANADA’S FIRST MEDAL AT 2024 UCI PARA-TRACK CYLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 20, 2024) – Mel Pemble of Victoria, BC, clinched the silver medal in the Women’s C3 500m Time Trial on March 20 at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA. She scored the second fastest time stopping the clock at 39.573s, just 0.093s behind gold medallist Xiaomei Wang, of China. Aniek Van Den Aarsen, of the Netherlands took the bronze medal.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien and Keely Shaw were also in action in the women’s C4 category. They finished fifth and ninth in the 500m time trial, 2.386s and 4.066s behind first place, won by Kaddena Cox (GBR) and her time of 36.675s. Anna Grace Taylor (NZL) and Xiohui Li (CHN) won silver and bronze.

“It was a good first day for us here in Rio,” said National Team Coach Sébastien Travers. “It’s always incredible to see athletes achieve their best-ever performance on race day.  That was the case for Mel Pemble and Keely Shaw today, and we’re very pleased. Mel’s medal is a balm on her performance in 2023, where she had some difficulties with the starts.”

Full results from the first day of the 2024 UCI Para-Track Cycling World Championships can be found here.

TEAM CANADA HEADS TO BRAZIL FOR THE 2024 PARA TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (March 15, 2024) – Cycling Canada is sending a team of six athletes to compete at the 2024 UCI Para-Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, BRA, on March 20-24 with sights set on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

All glorious at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, CHE, in Nov. 2023, medallists Alexandre Hayward, Mel Pemble and Keely Shaw will be on hand, hoping to impress the crowds once again.

Two-time world champion in the C3 women’s omnium, Pemble will have big ambitions, looking to collect another rainbow jersey to add to her collection.

“Coming into my third World Championships, I feel like I’m in a better headspace than I was before heading into the 2023 Worlds, because I’ve had that experience of coming in with medals under my belt,” said Pemble. “There’s also the fact that it’s a Games year and there’s added pressure to keep up those performances in the Paralympic events to secure that spot for Paris, but I’d also like to push to keep my Omnium crown. It’s going to be a different approach going in with an even bigger race on the horizon.”

Compatriots and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists Kate O’Brien and Shaw will build on the momentum of silver medals won at the World Championships in Glasgow in Aug. 2023, in the time trial and individual pursuit respectively, both in the women’s C4 category. After months of intensive training, the duo of Lowell Taylor and Ed Veal will also be ready to compete in the men’s B category.

Racing starts on March 20 and continues over the weekend. All information, including start lists and live timing, is available here.

Team Canada
Alexandre Hayward (MC3)
Kate O’Brien (WC4)
Mel Pemble (WC3)
Keely Shaw (WC4)
Lowell Taylor / Ed Veal (MB)

TEAM CANADA WRAPS UP SANTIAGO 2023 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES WITH 12 PARA-CYCLING MEDALS

Santiago, CHE (Nov. 28, 2023) – Team Canada’s para-cyclists made a strong impression at the biggest multi-sport event ever held in Chile, with a team of seven athletes racking up 12 medals in addition to setting new records and personal bests at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, held from Nov. 17-26. 

“We could not have asked for a better performance from our team at the Parapan American Games,” said National Team Coach Phil Abbot. “We are looking forward to seeing what 2024 holds for this talented group.” 

On Nov. 19, road athletes won the first four medals for para-cycling. Alex Hayward, 26, of Quispamsis, NB, was the first to claim gold with victory in the men’s C1-5 category. He was joined on the podium by teammate Mike Sametz, 27, of Calgary, AB, who took bronze. Later that day, Nathan Clement, 29, of West Vancouver, BC, also touched victory in the T1-2 mixed category, while Charles Moreau, 41, of Victoriaville, QC, was able to take home bronze in the H1-5 men’s category.  

Switching gears, four athletes took to the track on Nov. 23 and 24. Mel Pemble, 23, of Victoria, BC, (women’s C1-5) and Hayward (men’s C1-5) began their track journey with silver and bronze in the individual time trial. Sametz and Keely Shaw, 29, of Midale, SK, finished fifth and seventh, respectively, setting personal bests. The following day, all four athletes were on a mission, as Pemble (women’s C1-3), Hayward (men’s C1-3) and Shaw (women’s C4-5) set new Parapan American records in the individual pursuit, securing victory for Pemble and Hayward, silver for Shaw and bronze for Sametz (men’s C1-3). 

On Nov. 26, para-cyclists wrapped up the Parapan American Games by adding two medals to the Canadian team medal count thanks to the efforts of Nathan Clement (T1-2 – ) and Alex Hayward (C1-3) in the road race. 

After representing Canada as flag bearer at the opening ceremony, Shelley Gautier, 55, of Niagara Falls, ON, successfully completed her two road events in the T1-2 mixed category, finishing fifth in the road race and seventh in the time trial.  

Of the 140 athletes present at Santiago 2023, Hayward was the most decorated with a total of four medals to his credit. The para-cycling team’s total of 12 medals was tied with the para-athletics team for the largest number by sport within the Canadian team.  

More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. 

CANADIAN PARACYCLISTS WIN TWO MORE MEDALS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SANTIAGO 2023 PARAPAN AM GAMES

Santiago, CHE (Nov. 26, 2023) – Para-cycling at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games in Chile concluded with seven Canadians taking on the road race on Nov. 26, adding a bronze and a silver medal to their haul.   

On courses ranging from 32.4 to 64 km, athletes in the H1-3, T1-2 and C1-5 categories battled it out on a course bordered by mountains and a cheering Chilean crowd.  

After winning gold twice and a bronze medal, 26-year-old Alex Hayward (C1-3) from Quispamsis, NB, rounded off his collection with a silver medal, completing his five laps with a time of 1:18:03h after a close battle with Colombians Alejandro Perea (1:18:01hr) and Esneider Muñoz Marin (1:19:10hr). Santiago 2023 bronze medallist in the road time trial and individual pursuit, Paralympic medallist Mike Sametz, 27, of Calgary, AB, finished sixth. 

“I think being so new to cycling, the road aspect of it is the biggest learning curve,” said Hayward. “Given the situation and how it played out I’m pretty happy with how finished. Mike and I had a plan to push the pace at the start, we threw a few attacks and eventually, one of mine stuck. Then it was one and one, and I didn’t have a lot of matches left and Alejandro’s been doing this for a long time, so he sprinted me at the end.” 

In the T1-2 men’s and women’s mixed start, former Paralympic swimmer Nathan Clement, 29, of West Vancouver, BC, captured his second medal of the Games by winning bronze, with a time of 58:02m in three laps, 1:07m behind Dennis Dale Connors of the USA and 24 seconds behind Juan Jose Betancourt of Colombia. 

“It was a great measuring stick to see where I was at as a rider and as a cyclist,” said Clement. “There’s still so much room I need to grow and expand, but overall, seeing my power and feeling throughout the race and from the start of my cycling to where I am now, this was my strongest performance.” 

Also taking part in the mixed start, Shelley Gautier, 55, of Niagara Falls, ON, holder of several World Road Championship titles, finished sixth, 22:03m behind first place. 

“I was time trialing by myself in the road race,” laughed Gautier. “But I was able to stick to a constant pedal stroke and I was able to get out there and have fun and I was the second lady and I was catching her, so I did very well.” 

Despite a blistering start and a solid battle against the Americans, Paralympian Charles Moreau, 41, from Victoriaville, QC, was the victim of a small collision, costing him precious minutes, good for fourth place with a time of 1:43:56hr just over a minute from the podium, occupied by three runners from the USA, Alfredo De Los Santos (1:42:53hr), Eric Ryan Pinney (1:42:03hr) and Brandon Lyons (1:42:54hr). 

Using their strength in their respective categories, former Paralympic skier Mel Pemble, 23, of Victoria, BC, and Paralympic medalist Keely Shaw, 29, of Midale, SK, finished with times of 1:17:08h and 1:47:18hr respectively, to finish fourth and fifth in the women’s C1-3 and C4-5 categories. The C1-3 women’s podium was occupied by Colombian Daniela Munevar, American Jamie Renee Whitmore and Colombian Paula Daniela Caballero, who all finished with a time of 1:11:37hr, while victory went to Colombian Paula Ossa Veloza (1:35:39hr) in the C4-5 women’s race. Mariela Delgado of Argentina and Samathan Bosco of the USA completed the podium, both with a time of 1:47:16hr. 

The road race concluded Team Canada’s cycling competition at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. 

PARAPANAMERICAN RECORDS FOR TEAM CANADA’S TRACK CYCLISTS AT SANTIAGO 2023

Santiago, CHE (Nov. 24, 2023) – Canada’s para-cyclists rose to the challenge on the second day of competition at the Velódromo Parque Peñalolén for the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games in Chile on November 24, with all four starters winning medals.

After winning silver in the women’s C1-5 individual time trial on November 23, Paralympian para-alpine skier Mel Pemble, 23, of Victoria, BC, finished second in the women’s C1-3 individual pursuit qualifying behind American Jamie Renee Whitmore, whom she faced in the gold medal final. After a tight battle, Pemble (4:10.103m) edged out her rival by just 0.109 seconds. Paula Perez Caballero (4:14.851m) took bronze.

“I feel really surprised,” said Pemble. “The Individual Pursuit is not my best event, to be honest so qualifying second was a bit of a surprise and I wasn’t super happy with my performance with the time that I got, I knew I had more in me. It made the battle even sweeter in the final, in terms of having nothing to lose, and I went out with a really good plan and everything that could have happened, happened. I had to kick it off a notch in the last kilometre and it paid off.”

Silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the same discipline, Keely Shaw, 29, of Saskatoon, SK, was ready to give it her all in the women’s C4-5 after coming within 0.65s of the podium in the road time trial on November 19. Motivated by her performances of the week, Shaw set a new Parapan American Games qualifying record in the C4 women’s event with her time of 3:46.93 to advance to the gold medal final. In the end, she lost out to American Samatha Bosco (3:45.752), who beat her to the gold medal. Paula Ossa Veloza, of Colombia, took the bronze.

“Silver can be a hard pill to swallow with gold on the table,” said Shaw. “At the end of the day, our process was exactly what it needed to be. We came here knowing it was going to be a rehearsal for the upcoming World Championships and then later on the Paralympic Games, so I think we learned a lot about what we needed to do.”


Keely Shaw, Mel Pemble, Alex Hayward and Mike Sametz
Photo Credit: Claudio Santana/Getty Images
On a mission for his third medal in three races, track rookie Alex Hayward, 26, of Quispamsis, NB, who had won gold in the men’s C1-5 road time trial and bronze in the men’s C1-5 track time trial, was aiming to complete his medal collection in the men’s C1-3 individual pursuit, shattering the Parapan American Games men’s C3 record, with his qualifying time of 3:27.869m, propelling him automatically into the gold-medal final against Colombia’s Alejandro Perera Arango (3:32.491m), where he beat his own record to take gold.

“This is the first time I’m doing two pursuits back-to-back,” said Hayward. “Having had a bit of a rough season, to prove to myself that I can do two pursuits back-to-back and put down my two best times ever felt amazing.”

Satisfied with his performance after several years off the bike due to injury, Rio 2016 Paralympian Mike Sametz, 27, of Calgary, AB, who won bronze in the C1-5 Individual Time Trial on November 19 qualified third in the Men’s C1-3 Individual Pursuit, good for bronze medal final that he won by catching Colombia’s Esneider Muñoz.

“This is my first pursuit since the Rio Paralympic Games, so it’s nice to see where I’m at,” added Sametz, who is hoping to share the podium with Hayward once again on Sunday’s road race.

More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. Competition for Team Canada’s paracyclists conclude on Nov. 26 with the road race.

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PERSONAL BESTS FOR PARA-TRACK CYCLISTS AT SANTIAGO 2023 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

Santiago, CHE (Nov. 23, 2023) – Four para-cyclists switched gears on Nov. 23 at the Velódromo Parque Peñalolén for the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games in Chile adding two medals to their haul.

Athletes in the C1-5 categories took on the 500m-Kilometre Time Trial in a scorching hot velodrome, where PyeongChang 2018 Paralympian Mel Pemble and Santiago 2023 Time Trial Gold Medallist Alexandre Hayward respectively won silver and bronze.

On a mission, Mel Pemble, of Victoria, BC, stopped the clock with a time of 37.565s, just 0.701s short of victory, ultimately won by Sabrina Da Silva Custodia of Brazil, while Paula Ossa Veloza of Colombia completed the podium with bronze.

“I’m feeling amazing, mainly for the personal best and, of course, the medal is a bonus,” said Pemble. “I knew my times and how it reflected on the competitors here, but anything can happen on race day.”

Taking advantage of his victory in the C1-5 men’s individual road time trial on Nov. 19, Alex Hayward, of Quispamsis, NB, a former wheelchair basketball player and recent convert to track cycling, was able to climb onto the third step of the podium thanks to his time of 1:06.566m, behind Colombians Fabián Edwin Matiz Ruiz (1:04.388m) with gold and Carlos Vargas Villanueva (1:06.538m) with silver.

“I came here with no expectations,” said Hayward. “This is far from my event. I think I’ve only done one other kilo in my life earlier this year and it was five seconds slower. I came here looking for a personal best, and I achieved that, and it just happened to be enough for a podium. Tomorrow’s Individual Pursuit is probably the event that I’ve been looking forward to the most, I’ve had a bit of a bad run at that at Worlds and I would like to redeem myself.”

Although they didn’t make the podium, Paralympic medallists Mike Sametz, of Calgary, AB, and Keely Shaw, of Saskatoon, SK, were pleased with their performances, with their respective times of 1:08.707m and 40.179s, good for fifth and seventh place.

“It was a super fun day out there,” added Shaw, “The track was running fast. Personally, I got over a two second personal best, so while I wasn’t on the podium, I think there’s a lot to take away from today, it’s a really good place to be and a really good mile marker before we go to Brazil in March for World Championships.”

More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. Competition for Team Canada’s track para-cyclists continues Nov. 24 with the Individual Pursuit.