NEWS RELEASE
HARDWOOD NEXT WAVE CYCLING TEAM
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We are excited to have two Hardwood Next Wave Cycling Team athletes qualify to represent Canada at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont Ste. Anne, Quebec.
Gunnar Holmgren, 20, (under 23 male category) from Orillia and Kelly Lawson, 16 (junior women) from Craighurst have earned the right to compete at the world championships.
This is the first time in 10 years that the Mountain Bike Worlds has been on North American soil and there will be a strong contingent of Canadians looking to continue their quest for the Summer Olympics next year in Tokyo.
This will be Holmgren's fourth Mountain Bike World Championships and the first for Lawson.
They have both been leaders for our team, providing examples to the youngsters to dream big and work hard for your goals.
The racing kicks off with the team relay event on Aug. 28 (Team Canada's team still to be announced), junior women/men Aug 29, under 23 men Aug. 30 and elite/under 23 women and elite men on Aug. 31. The downhill events will take place on Sept. 1.
Mont Ste. Anne is known to the top racers in the world as one of the most technically demanding courses featuring large rocks/rooty sections with steep drops and steep technical climbs (one averaging 27% gradient).
The course is unforgiving and favours the fittest, most skilled riders. Racing will be tight as countries are vying for Olympic qualification points.
Other local riders who will be competing at the worlds include Jenn Jackson (elite women), Quinton Disera (U23 men), Peter Disera (elite men) and Dylan Kerr (junior men) all from Horseshoe Valley.
Oro-Medonte continues to provide a significant contribution to the Canadian representation internationally on the mountain biking scene. We are expecting a large contingent of supporter out cheering on our local athletes at this world championships.
It's not just the kids competing. Keith MacKinnon, Robert Holmgren and Lisa Holmgren will be representing Hardwood Next Wave Cycling team and Canada at the MTB Master World Championships, also at Mont Ste. Anne, on Aug. 23, 2019.
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