The Canadian Cycling Association announced both cross country and downhill teams this week for the upcoming world championships in New Zealand, and several Sea to Sky athletes have made the cut.
In the downhill, the elite women’s team includes national champion Michelle Dumaresq, Vancouver Island’s Adrienne Miller, and Whistler’s Claire Buchar, who was the top Canadian on the World Cup circuit this year. Vancouver’s Danika Schroeter was also named to the team, but was suspended by the CCA after her conduct at the nationals. It’s not known whether she will be replaced, but if so Whistler’s Katrina Strand is in contention for the last spot.
North Shore rider Micayla Gatto – third in last year’s world championships – is the only junior woman named to the team.
The Elite Men’s downhill team will be headed by national champion Andrew Mitchell of Vancouver, repeat Canada Cup series winner Luke Kitzanuk of Quebec, and Whistler’s Tyler Morland. The reserve riders are Dominick Menard and Charles-Alexandre Dube of Quebec.
For the junior men the team will include B.C.’s Steve Smith and Quebec’s Hans Lambert, with Invermere’s Dan Csokonay on the reserve list.
For cross country, the women’s elite team includes Marie-Helene Premont of Quebec, Alison Sydor of North Vancouver, Kiara Bisaro of Courtenay, Wendy Simms of Vancouver and Catherine Pendrel of New Brunswick (recently moved to Chase, B.C.). Mical Dyck is the team’s alternate.
For the men, the team includes Victoria’s Geoff Kabush and Seamus McGrath, Ricky Federau of Abbotsford and Mathieu Toulouse of Quebec. The reserves are Ontario’s Andrew Watson and Victoria’s Kris Sneddon.
In the Espoir Under 23 category, Squamish siblings Neal and Meghan Kindree both made the team. Other men making the cut were Tofino’s Max Plaxton, Raphael Gagne of Quebec and Martin Lazarski and Derek Zandstra of Quebec. The other Espoir women are Vancouver’s Jean-Ann McKirdy and Catherine Vipond of Quebec.
The juniors named to the team are Emily Batty of Ontario and Alexandra Gelinas-Hamelin of Quebec for the women, and Cody Canning of Alberta, and Francis Morin and Alex Harvey of Quebec.
The world championships take place in Rotura, New Zealand Aug. 22-27.
