March 17/10 16:37 pm - Canadians Prepare for Track World Championships

Posted by Editoress on 03/17/10
 

The Canadian team, and all of their equipment, arrived in Apeldoorn, Netherlands for a pre-Worlds training camp.  The team is in Europe to focus on training, recovery, and to adjust to the time change before heading to Copenhagen for the World Championships March 24-28.

More than half of the team will be racing in their first World Championships, including sprinter Joseph Veloce (ON).  “Excitement and nerves are starting to increase and we aren’t even in Denmark yet!  We are currently training in Apeldoorn, a city filled with bikes, and will leave for Denmark in a few days.  The idea of this “holding camp” is also a new one for myself and many of the riders here.  I think it should help us not only prepare for the World Championships, but also prepare for the future when the 2011 Worlds are here in Apeldoorn.”

The team spent the first two training session spinning their legs and working out the jet lag.  Tomorrow will be the first hard day of efforts where the sprinters can try and knock out head coach Richard Wooles time of 9.2 seconds for 200 meters, but without being on a derny.

The staff at the Omnisport Velodrome, and all the Dutch people whom have been approached for help, directions, and other requests, have been exceptionally friendly, helping the Canadians settle in and feel like they are home, albeit away from home.

The team consists of:

Tara Whitten (Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit, Omnium, Points Race)
Laura Brown (Team Pursuit)
Stephanie Roorda (Team Pursuit)
Julia Bradley (Team Pursuit)
Zach Bell (Points Race and Scratch Race)
Travis Smith (Sprint, Keirin, Team Sprint)
Joseph Veloce (Team Sprint)
Stephane Cossette (Team Sprint)
Monique Sullivan (Keirin, 500 meters)

People wishing to pass on notes to the riders can do so on Facebook – Canadian Track Cycling.

Courtesy CCA