NEWS: Racing for Canada

I'm happy to announce that I will be racing the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau Hydro Québec (an international calibre UCI 1.1 race, right in my own backyard...almost) with the Canadian National Cycling Team on May 18, 2013.

How to spot me?  I won't be in my typical blue, white, and orange NOW and Novartis for MS bike kit but I will be on my trusty Specialized S-Works Amira bike.

This is the 3rd edition of the GP Cycliste Gatineau, and the event has grown every year.  This year there are 2 Gran Fondo events, a Kids' Ride, the Vélo Village Bike Show, a Bike Safety and Awareness Day and a Ride With The Pros event. 

It will be cool to race with the Maple Leaf on my back again, especially so close to home!

Special-edition manicure.  Racing for Canada at the World Championships in 2012 (photo credit : Canadiancyclist.com)

Nothing Like Flags to Get Pumped Up!

The Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau is back for it's thrid consecutive year.  I arrived in Ottawa, Ontario from my home in Québec, Québec yesterday while two Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies teammates (Canadian U23 road and time trial champion, Denise Ramsden and American Carmen Small) raced the 20 km time trial of the Gatineau Grand Prix Cycliste in the Gatineau heat. 

The road race will take place on holiday Monday, beginning at 9:30am.  Here is the Optum roster this time around:  (ALL of our Canadian riders are here!)
Lex Albrecht
Denise Ramsden
Leah Kirchmann
Joëlle Numainville
Annie Ewart
Carmen Small

It was great to see the display of the Canadian flags coming out of our nation captial's airport.  It was another boost to my patriotic excitement that's stemming from the pride of having a prestegious UCI event right here in ''my own backyard''.  Backyard...that's relative, but I'm happy to be racing in Québec, in Canada.
Come out and cheer on Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies tomorrow!