Canada Wins the Velocity 2020 “World Championship” Individual Time Trial

Fall winds were blowing hard into the faces of everyone who raced against the clock last Saturday. Or as I call such headwinds, they were “prairie hills” that challenged the riders.

In “World Championship” style, it was riders representing Canada that brought home the Gold medals.

Podiums looked as follows:

Women’s 20km:

1. Kimberly Walter – 33:11 – 36.16kph
2. Courtney Parker – 33:28 – 35.86kph
3. Elka Strohschein – 34:34 – 34.72kph

Men’s 20km:

1. Nat Faulkner – 28:47 – 41.69kph
2. Jakob Claffey – 28:57 – 41.45kph
3. Brian Countrymany – 30:20 – 39.56kph

A HUGE thank-you goes out to Nikoo Najand for managing the starts and Kevin Coghlan for monitoring the U-turn at 10km. I couldn’t have run the event without either of you!!

Cycling Canada Officially Cancels the Entire 2020 Championship Season

It was no surprise that Track Nationals have also fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. That shoves a fork into the entire 2020 season of racing, at least domestically.

No doubt, pro cycling fans were cheering the most exciting (in years I think!!) Tour de France that just completed. And the wheels start rolling in the Giro d’Italia this Saturday. La Vuelta a Espana is scheduled to begin October 20 … but I’m not feeling too confident it will run as planned. Spain’s COVID situation is looking worse than ours right now, with some towns and major cities being put back into lockdown scenarios. We could see major disruptions or outright cancellation of La Vuelta.

But with optimism in mind for 2021, Cycling Canada has released next year’s National Championships calendar. Club members will surely want to note the following events on their own calendars:

• BMX racers have a Canada Cup in St. Albert on July 17 and 18
• BMX National Championships and another Canada Cup are in Calgary, August 28 and 29
• Masters Road Championships and the UCI Gran Fondo are in Victoriaville, QC, July 1 to 4
• Elite/Junior/Para Road Championships are in Beauce, QC, June 17-20
• No dates established yet for cyclo-cross and track nationals

Saturday Club Ride

We’ll be riding west of Edmonton again this Saturday. A similar, but modified route from two weeks back. I’ve chopped off a bit that was on the narrow shoulder and busy HWY 770 (the furthest point west on our route last time). The route is still about 110kms. Expect 3:30hrs riding through some fall colours. Bring on-bike food and at least 2 water bottles.

We’ll stage again at the Hampton Terrace shopping complex, on the very west end of Lessard Road (head west off the Lessard Road exit from the Henday).

Sign up for the Saturday ride HERE >>>Ride Registration Form

Riding details are:

• Hold an active 2020 Club Membership. If not, you must have it in order to ride. Go >> HERE NOW
• If you joined the club before June 6 you’ll need to send us your signed ABA COVID Waiver in order to participate for the season. Download it  HERE >>> ABA – Adult Waiver COVID 2020 and email your completed form to Coach Kevin Coaching@VelocityCyclingClub.ca
• All new memberships from June 6 onward will automatically require your agreement to the waiver.
• Meet Saturday, October 3, at 10am at the Hampton Terrace shopping complex. Staging allowed in groups of up to 15. The ride is about 113kms. See all the Event details HERE >>October 3 Ride
• You must PREREGISTER before 8:30AM on Saturday, October 3, for this ride using this >> GOOGLE FORM If you do not preregister, sorry you cannot ride that day. Absolutely no drop-ins will be accepted.

You were strong enough to get this far, you’re strong enough to keep going.