Pan Am medallists highlight TO2015 cycling team
Feature photo: women’s team pursuit squad (L-R) Kirsti Lay, Laura Brown, Allison Beveridge and Jasmin Glaesser at Pan Am team announcement June 1, 2015.
On Monday, Cycling Canada nominated 24 athletes to Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. It will be the largest cycling team of the 41 nations competing at TO2015.
Spanning four disciplines, a total of 16 cyclists will race in the track and road events (six women, 10 men), and four each in mountain bike and BMX (two women and two men for each category).
Men’s sprint competitors Evan Carey, Joseph Veloce and Hugo Barrette do a demonstration at the Pan Am team announcement on June 1, 2015.
Canadian women have historically been solid contenders at Pan Am games, including gold medallists Laura Brown (2011), Jasmin Glaesser (2011) and Catharine Pendrel (2007) – all are on the team.
Riders highlighted on the men’s side include two London 2012 Olympians: Tory Nyhaug will compete in the BMX event and Joseph Veloce will race in men’s sprint and team sprint.
Tory Nyhaug, third from right, races in the BMX quarterfinals during the London 2012 Summer Olympics, August 9, 2012.
Competition will take place at multiple venues in Ontario with the following events:
BMX
July 11: Men’s and women’s races at Centennial Park Pan Am BMX Centre in Etobicoke.
Mountain Bike
July 12: men’s and women’s cross-country at Hardwood Mountain Bike Park in Barrie.
Track Cycling
July 16-19: Men’s and women’s team pursuit, sprint, team sprint, keirin, and omnium at Milton Pan Am Velodrome.
Road Cycling
July 22: Men’s and women’s individual time trial at Milton Time Trial Course.
July 25: Men’s and women’s road race at Ontario Place West Channel in Toronto.
Catharine Pendrel races to gold in the women’s cross-country event at the Commonwealth Games mountain bike trails, July 29, 2014.
“Games events are magical,” Catharine Pendrel said. “ They are an opportunity to pursue dreams and connect with your nation in such a unique way. I can’t wait to compete at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.”
Canadian athletes have brought home 43 medals in cycling at the Pan Am Games: 21 gold, nine silver and 13 bronze.
