08.26.10 - Canada’s Track National Championships Are Underway In Bromont

(Bromont, QC – August 23, 2010) From August 24th to the 29th, Canada’s top track athletes will meet in Bromont, Quebec for the 2010 National Track Championships

Once again the Championships will be held on the velodrome used for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. It was at those Games and on the same track that great Curt Hartnett won a bronze medal in the Match Sprint.

The athletes will appreciate the fact that the track has just been overhauled and is in much better shape than past events.

For these Track Nationals 117 riders have signed up. The athlete’s ultimate goal this week is to win the National Champions title and have the honour to wear the red and white national champions jersey during the 2010-2011track season at events such as the UCI Track World Cups and UCI Track World Championships.

Canada’s top male track athletes will be taking part in the event such as Olympian and two time Gold medalist at the Beijing World Cup in 2010, Zach Bell (Watson Lake, YK). Other top male riders involved in this weeks action are Travis Smith (Calgary, AB), who finished fourth in the keirin at the Cali World Cup and Alex Cataford (Ottawa, ON) who, just a few weeks ago, set a new Canadian record in the individual pursuit at the Junior World Championships in Montichiari, Italy.

“The Sprint events will be exciting as Travis Smith will have competition this year with Joseph Veloce hot on his heels and the men taking part in the Endurance events have spent July training and have worked hard to get their speed up. Though no one is near Zach Bell in ability, the battle for the next podium spots will be between 4-6 guys.” commented Petrina Tulissi, track coordinator for the Canadian Cycling Association.

A strong women’s field is expected on the track with the two-time World Champion Tara Whitten (Edmonton, AB) getting ready to defend not one but five titles: Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit, Points race and in the Scratch race.

Also taking part in the event are Whitten’s team pursuit companions, Steph Roorda (Calgary, AB) and Laura Brown (Calgary, AB). The trio has set a new Canadian record almost everytime they have raced together.

“The women’s Endurance events will also see a high level of competition with tight races for the second and third spots on the podium with Steph Roorda, Laura Brown, and Julia Bradley all having good chance to medal here. Benefiting their cause, is the fact they have been competing and spending a lot of time training together and with World Champion Tara Whitten.” says Petrina Tulissi.

ON THE DOORSTEP OF A NEW WORLD TRACK SEASON
The Canadian National Track Championships will be part of the selection process to determine which Canadian cyclists will represent Canada during the next track season that is set to start in Melbourne, Australia on December the 2nd 2010.

A BUSY SCHEDULE
U17: Aug. 24 and 25 (Endurance and Sprint events)
Junior: Aug. 24 to 26 (Endurance and Sprint events)
Master: Aug. 28 and 29 (Endurance and Sprint events)
Elite: Aug. 25 to 28 (Endurance events), Aug. 26 to 29 (Sprint events)

Results for the Day 3 at the 2010 Track National Championships may be found here:
http://www.canadian-cycling.com/disciplines/index.php?q=node/270

Events that took place were:

Junior Women
* Individual Pursuit
* Scratch Race
* Team Sprint

Elite Women:
* Individual Pursuit
* Scratch Race (results not yet posted, results were Tara Whitten, Steph Roorda, Laura Brown)
* Team Sprint

Junior Men
* Individual Pursuit
* Kilo
* Team Sprint
* Points Race

Elite Men
* Team Pursuit
* Team Sprint

The men's Points race today was started, then 23 laps in it started to rain and was called off. About 30 minutes later the race started over and about 14 laps in it started to rain again. It was decided that the Points Race was not to be held tonight. Instead, the Points Race in the Omnium will count as the National Championship event. The same will be done with the Women's Points Race and Men's Scratch Race that were cancelled due to rain.

The Junior Men's Points Race was the most lively event of the night with Brian Trafford from Ontario attacking to lap the field, then attacking again and again and again to gain 4 laps. He was aggressive all the way to the end.