National Cycling Awards
Wheel Life column - 27 November, 1999
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

What do you wear to the cycling social event of the season? A tuxedo with cycling shorts? High heels with cleats? A stunning Gortex gown slit down the leg to reveal neon-bright Lycra tights?

Start looking now for appropriate attire to don at the National Champions of Cycling Awards Gala Dinner held here in Victoria, December 2 at the Ocean Pointe ballroom.

It is a fundraiser for the PacificSport National Cycling Centre and an opportunity to honour our national cycling champions. The Gala includes a silent auction, dinner and awards ceremony. Tickets are available by calling the National Sport Centre at 744-3583. The price is $60 per seat through November 29 and $75 after that. There is also an on-line auction going on now at http://www.canadiancyclists.com.

There is lots to celebrate. Our riders had an outstanding year in both national and international events.

Alison Sydor was again an incredible hardware collector (and we're not talking bikes), winning her third World Cup title - two gold, two silver and three bronze medal rides out of seven - and silver medals at the World Championships and Pan Am Games.

Roland Green dominated the NORBA (North America Off Road Bicycle Association) short-course series. Chris Sheppard took home a bronze from the Pan Am mountain bike event. Chrissy Redden became Canada's national mountain bike champion, finished 8th overall in the World Cup series and 14th at the World Championships.

Track great Tanya Dubnicoff won a World Championship bronze medal in the match sprint event, earned a World Cup victory this season and was the Canadian Pan Am Games hero winning double gold medals. Doug Baron claimed a Pan Am bronze in the kilo event. Brian Walton and Gord Fraser came 1-2 in the Pan Am road race. Eric Wohlberg claimed the gold in the Pan Am individual Time Trial.

The youth ranks also have much to celebrate, especially the women's junior division. Teen sensation Genevieve Jeanson became the only Canadian to ever win a world cycling road title at the junior or senior level, and she did this just days after winning gold in the individual time trial.

Three Victoria area graduates of the National Cycling Centre's Regional Development Program claimed all three levels of the podium at the National Mountain Bike Championships: Clair Hall-Patch, Erica Drew and Erinne Willock. Buoyed by her win at the nationals, Hall-Patch went on to claim a top 10 performance at the World Championships.

Last year's stars continued to sparkle around the planet. Seamus McGrath made his mark as Canada's and North America's top mountain biker at the World Championships, placing 27th. He was also the top Canuck in the NORBA series, claiming 24th spot overall.

In May, Lyne Bessette took the Tour de l'Aude in France, one of the most prestigious women's road stage races. Bessette took home a silver in the individual time trial from the Pan Ams, placed second at a World Cup in Montreal and added three more international victories to establish herself as Canada's top international rider.

You may see some of these champions on television next summer during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. This is your chance to see them in person.