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Local cyclist gunning for world title this weekend

Gunnar Holmgren among four Hardwood athletes competing at the World Cyclocross Championships in Denmark
2018-11-14 gunnar celebrates win
Gunnar Holmgren savours the moment as he captures the Canadian Cyclocross Championship in Peterborough. Ivan Rupes photo

Gunnar Holmgren, the reigning Canadian champion, will be racing for a global title this weekend at the World Cyclocross Championships in Bogense, Denmark.

Holmgren, 19, races with the Hardwood Next Wave Cycling Team, and will be competing in the Under 23 men's category against the world's best riders.

Three other Hardwood team members have qualified for the world championshp:

  • Paul Mysko, Junior Men (Barrie)
  • Dana Gilligan, Under 23 women (Craighurst)
  • Kelly Lawson, Under 23 women (Craighurst)

"The team is so proud to have four athletes selected for the world championships," said Rob Holmgren, who coaches the young athletes. "It's a testament to the quality of programming offered from Team Hardwood Next Wave... It's world class."

Gunnar Holmgren, Gilligan and Mysko have been in Europe since mid-December training and racing for Team Canada in a variety of elite-level events in prepartion for the world championships.

In an interview before heading to Europe, Holmgren told OrilliaMatters he was looking forward to measuring himself aganst "the best of the best" in a series of races in Belgium.

For the past two weeks, he and his teammates have been participating in in two-week training camp prior to the world championships.

Holmgren, who is about to graduate from Nouvelle Alliance, a French Catholic secondary school in Barrie, said he has high hopes of excellng.

“I have been racing against some of the top guys in the States who have been there before and they’ve had some impressive results,” Holmgren said. “I know I can hang with them … we’ll see.”

The driven Orillia teen continues to hope cyclocross becomes an Olympic sport. But he also continues to pursue mountain biking, where he is also at the top of his class in Canada.

“For now, my ticket (to the Olympics) would be mountain biking … and that’s why I’m still pursuing both sports,” he said.

Scott Kelly, Program Manager for the Canadian National Cyclo-Cross Team, said his athletes are poised for success.

"We're really excited about the Canadian athletes selected for Worlds this year," he said in a media release. 

"The majority of the group has been in Europe racing and training together since the Namur World Cup in December.  In that time we've seen a lot of learning and a lot of progression, and it will be great to see that all culminate at World Championships," said Kelly.

"We have an amazing group of staff volunteering to be over here and take care of these young athletes," he added. "It is because of their time and expertise that they so generously donate, and the outpouring of support of the cycling community from across Canada, that our program is able to support these athletes in Europe and we owe them all debt of gratitude."

In all, 13 riders will represent Canada on the world stage in Denmark.

The team will include four reigning national champions, led by the elite women's and men's champions - Maghalie Rochette of St-Jerome, Quebec, and Michael van den Ham of Abbottsford, BC and, of course, Holmgren.

Here's the Canadian National Team Roster for 2019 World Championships (* denotes National Champion)

Junior Men

  • Ryan MacLean - Edmonton, Alberta
  • Conor Martin - Kelowna, BC
  • Paul Mysko - Barrie, Ontario

Under-23 Women

  • Dana Gilligan - Oro Medonte, Ontario
  • Kelly Lawson - Barrie, Ontario
  • Sidney McGill - Edmonton, Alberta
  • Magdeleine Vallieres Mill - Sherbrooke, Quebec
  • Ruby West * - Dundas, Ontario

Under-23 Men

  • Gunnar Holmgren * - Orillia, Ontario
  • Tyler Orschel - Uxbridge, Ontario

Elite Women

  • Maghalie Rochette * - St-Jerome, Quebec

Elite Men

  • Cameron Jette - Toronto, Ontario
  • Michael van den Ham* - Abbottsford, BC