Michael Foley

Biography

Michael Foley has been a key contributor to Canada’s rise in the men’s team pursuit. A career highlight came at the 2019 UCI Track World Championships where the team exceeded expectations by racing for the bronze medal against an experienced Danish squad, ultimately finishing fourth overall. In his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Foley was a member of the men’s team pursuit that finished fifth for Canada’s best Olympic result in the event since 1932. He also raced with teammate Derek Gee in the Madison. 

At Santiago 2023, Foley won gold as a member of the men’s team pursuit that set a Pan American Games record time of 3:53.593. He also posted fifth place finishes in the omnium and the Madison. 

Foley was part of back-to-back gold medals in the men’s team pursuit at the Pan American Championships in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Foley also won Madison gold with teammate Dylan Bibic and claimed silver in the points race. In 2023, he also won silver in the individual pursuit. Foley had been a double gold medallist at the 2019 Pan Am Championships in the team pursuit and points race.  

Foley represented Canada in both track cycling and road cycling at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022. In 2018, he was part of a bronze medal in the men’s team pursuit. 

In December 2017, he stood on his first UCI World Cup podium as the team pursuit won silver in his hometown of Milton, Ontario. Foley earned his first national titles in 2018, taking gold in the team pursuit and madison (alongside Derek Gee), while recording second place finishes in the points race, individual pursuit and omnium. He repeated as national champion in both events in 2019. He added back-to-back individual pursuit titles in 2022 and 2023.      

A Little More About Michael

Getting into the Sport: Started cycling at the velodrome in Milton when it opened in 2015 and began competing a few weeks later; had been mountain biking and road cycling for several years prior… Competed in sailing before cycling; says that when he fell behind in a sailing race he didn’t have the tools or know-how to catch up, but cycling is as much a battle of attrition as strength, which suits his competitive personality… Odds and Ends: Biggest inspiration was his first coach, Steve Bauer, who nurtured his love for cycling by emphasizing fun in training and competition…