Provided by Andrew Thomas

After a short warm up Tim, Brian and I started to make our way down to the start line, where we noticed a larger group of riders about to start. So we hurried over to the start line and took our places in the back row. As we were waiting to start, the big gun expected to win the race glanced over at Tim and said, “Are you Tim? You’re probably going to win today”. The big gun was defeated before the race even started.

So, we were off and started on this flat section of the course that circled around a small lake and then eventually into a forest with some tight sketchy corners. There was also one small hill with a slightly technical section at the base, which comes into play later on in this report.
The start was very fast, and because all three of us were at the back, we needed to move up as quickly as possible. I was sprinting through the pack with Tim on my wheel and Brian close behind, and in only a few short minutes, Canada House in Holland had reached the two riders off the front. Once at the front, Tim and Moorlag got away while Brian and I were holding off another few riders in top few spots.

Tim Heemskerk did what he does best, and made Moorlag suffer for a couple of laps before dropping him hard on the courses only hill I mentioned earlier and rode to the first win for Canada House in Holland. Brian still being very jet lagged from his journey across sea’s, had a strong race and finished in 11th spot. He is now looking forward to getting over this jet lag, and inflicting some pain and suffering on other racers in the races to come. I was riding in 4th with another rider, who was very strong on the flat sections but not so good in technical sections. So like Tim, I dropped this racer on the hill with the technical section at the base, and rolled in for 4th place.
Not a bad for our first team race.
Big thanks to team JanTerpstra for providing us with everything we need to race cyclo cross in these parts of the world.

Edmonton’s Andre Sutton and Aaron Schooler are both in Nommay, France to race the 6th stop of the Cyclocross World Cup. They make up 2 of 3 Canadians participating in the event. Andre have been in Europe for a number of weeks now and has raced a few World Cups already along with some Cross races in the Czech Republic.

Schooler has just made his way to Europe and intends to stay until late January in order to compete at the World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands.

More info about the World Cup can be found [here]

Provided by the Alberta Bicycle Association

The Canadian Cycling Association has announced the athletes who will represent Canada at the 2009 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships being held in Hoogerheide, NED from January 31- February 1, 2009. This group includes 3 Alberta athletes.
Elite Women:
Wendy Simms (BC)
Natasha Elliot (ON)
Pepper Harlton (AB)
Elite Men:
Aaron Schooler (AB)
Derrick St John (ON)
U23 Men:
Andrew Thomas (SK)
Brian Robinson (AB)
Kyle Fry (ON)

From the Manitoba Cycling Association

Jayson Gillespie had never been to Winnipeg until last week. His first impressions were good - good enough to accept the position of Provincial Team Coach of the Manitoba Cycling Association (MCA). Jayson will start in this position in the New Year.

Since 2005, Jayson has been the Provincial Cycling Coach and Head Coach of the National Cycling Center in Calgary starting in 2007. Through his role as Head Coach, Jayson gained experience in managing a high performance cycling program and coached some of Canada’s best junior and senior national team athletes. In 2008, Jayson was appointed the assistant coach of the Canadian team competing at the Junior World Road Championships in South Africa. That team included Winnipeg cyclist Leah Kirchmann. He is also the coach of Brayden McDougall who competed in cycling at the recent Paralympics in Beijing.

In addition to his cycling experiences, Jayson has an extensive academic background. With an Undergraduate degree and a Masters degree in Biology, and a half-completed exercise physiology degree, Jayson’s in-depth understanding of sport science helps him develop world-class training programs. His certification as a level 3 coach helps him understand the principles of coaching and training.

The Manitoba Coaching Association is thrilled to have Jayson join its team and look forward to an exciting future of cycling in Manitoba.

The Alberta Bicycle Association will be looking to replace the Provincial Coach position soon.  If you are interested in finding out more information about the job, please contact Executive Director Kipp Kaufmann - kipp@albertabicycle.ab.ca

Tara Whitten of Edmonton finished 3rd yesterday in the finals of the Women’s Individual Pursuit clocking a time of 3:39 (49.312 km/hr) - beating out Dalilia Rodriguez of Cuba to take the Bronze Medal final.

All results and reports can be found at http://cyclingnews.com/track/2008/worldcup0809/cali08/

Name, Discipline, and Sponsors

Aaron Schooler, Road-Cyclocross (I did MTB before but I suck at it), Team H & R Block-Louis Garneau-OGC-CAP Management Services

1. Age?

Ummmm… 23? I don’t know… born 1985, that’s all I remember

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Edmonton Baby… Born and Raised!

3. Oilers or Flames?

I did downhill skiing as a kid so we were definately NOT a hockey family… But Oilers if I had to choose. Something about flames that makes me cringe…

4. What is your job?

Professional Drawer. I draw lines on paper and people buy the paper when i’m done. It’s a pretty intense field actually, brought to you by black gold.

5. Best Result?

Nationals 2007 I got 4th and was in 3rd for a while, until Plaxton got his seat post fixed. Also won the Bowness Omnium Overall 2008. Probably because I didn’t crash that weekend.

6. Key to your past successes?

Staying upright, animal crackers, and Darrel Lea’s Australian Style Strawberry Soft Licorice.

7. What result are you most proud of?

Cyclocross Nationals 2007 (2nd- Espoir) and going to Worlds in my first year Elite. Oh, and jumping the Massive drop in Mill creek on a cross country MTB. My massive Biceps.

8. What’s in regular

rotation on your iPod right now?

Who said I had an I-pod? well, a mix of Planet Smashers, Snow patrol, Tegan and Sara, KT Tunstall, Reel Big Fish, and Great Big Sea.

9. Future goals in Cycling?

Not crash so much.

10. Best memory in cycling?

Climbing Anarchist at ‘no higher than 150 heart rate’ … hahahhahaha .. I mean at race pace attacking eachother the whole 13 km. So much fun

11. High Socks or Low Socks?

They both look un-natural

12. What is your pre-race meal?

Italian pastries are the Bomb. But usually some sort of Fish and Rye-crisps.

13. What do you think about while you race?

Whatever song is playing in my head at the time. Usually Metric.

14. Campy / Shimano / SRAM?

Shimano … Just cause.

15. Any pre-race rituals?

I try and calm myself down as much as possible because if I get too ‘pumped up’, I tend to crash more. Pre-race naps are the best!

16. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?

I’m building a 3D apple right now, it’s pretty sweet! Has an apple core and everything! Oh ya, and making alogrithms out of paper, and thinking that I am unstable. I love that one.

17. Best bike you’ve ever owned?

2001? GT Avalanche (Blue). I could do everything on that thing. till I turned roadie and raised the seat post and then cracked the frame becuase the seat was too high.

18. What’s the best part about cycling in Alberta?

Training rides in pitch black in the winter on the walking trails and no one is out. Also spending hours on rollers inside while watching as many movies as you can.

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