PROVINCIAL TEAM UPDATE

June 4, 2009

We are well into the season now, with the road selections completed. After the Canmore Canada Cup the Provincial team rosters will be finalized, and we will be able to focus on the preparation and execution of our season goals. Our primary goal is still Canada Summer Games (CSG) in PEI, and we will be using some Alberta races as well as all the national championships to optimize our training. There will now be a Western Canada Regional team for Abitibi. The selection criteria will be finalized and published June 8. The ABA will provide financial support for the Alberta athletes for this project. 

Upcoming Provincial Team Selection Events:
June 6: Iron Lung XC, Canmore: This is the final selection race for Canada Cup teams. Selected athletes will be notified by the 7th. 
June 13 – Edmonton XC Canada Cup: CSG and Nationals selection race
June 20 – Canmore XC Canada Cup: final CSG and Nationals selection race. 

Provincial Mountain Bike Team Selection:
We are selecting up to 12 athletes to represent Alberta for the 2 Canada Cups in Edmonton and Canmore. There will be 4 espoir and 2 junior spots for both men and women. These athletes will be notified by June 7. These athletes will receive race entry, race support, and a Team Alberta jersey. 

Canada Summer Games Selection:
June 21 – 8 men and 8 women will be selected for CSG team. Only 6 riders will be going to the games, and the final selection for CSG will be on July 26th. 
The mountain bike spots will be decided from the 2 Canada Cups. Juniors and Espoirs will race in Junior Expert, and Elite. The selection will be based on each riders average lap time from their respective races. The fastest rider will get an automatic spot. 
The 4 men’s and women’s automatic selections will go to the: top mountain biker, 2 top road riders, along with the rider with the top combined points. We will then be selecting a pool of 4 riders based on race results and development potential. The 2 automatic road selections will be decided June 1, and the rest of the 8 selections will be made June 22.  From this pool we will select the final 6 spots by July 26. If you miss the final selection, you will still be registered as an alternate.
The final 2 committee selections will be based on these criteria:

• Performance from all their races including from past seasons
• Dedication to training and attending training camps
• Working well with the rest of the team
• Communication with the provincial coach regarding training and reasons for missing selection races, and Canada Summer Games training camps
• Potential for future development
• Riders already selected can be dismissed if they break the Athlete’s code of conduct prior to the games.

Road Nationals Selection:

We will be taking the espoir riders that qualified for the CSG based on road points. 
The National championships are designated as CSG preparation, but we will be taking extra juniors for road nationals to provide a development opportunity. We will be taking the juniors who we feel can qualify for Abitibi, Canadian Junior National Team, and will benefit from this high level of racing.

Mountain Bike Nationals Selection:

We will be selecting 2 junior, and 2 espoir men and women for mountain bike nationals. These will be selected from the CSG pool.

Alberta athletes not selected to the Provincial team for any of the National championships will still receive race support at their races from the Team Alberta staff. These athletes can stay with the provincial team, at their own expense. Please contact the Provincial coach if you will be at a championship, and require information for booking travel and accommodation.

Canada Summer Games Team Preparation

• June 13 – There will be a sport psychology session following the Edmonton Canada Cup at the Percy Page centre from 4 - 6. This event is open to all riders under 23, including riders under 17.
• June 18- 21: While the final team will not have been decided, we will be entering an Men’s Alberta CSG team with eligible athletes in the Banff Stage race. Accommodations, race entry, team training sessions and race support will be provided. These athletes will be invited by June 5. We will not be fielding a women’s team the high level of competition will be of no benefit.
• June 18 - 19: All eligible athletes are also invited to a sport psychology and nutrition sessions, as well as a team dinner starting at 1pm Friday. Please let me know if you are attending, so we know how much food we will need. Athletes will be asked to pay the cost of the meal.
• June 24: All the CSG athletes must have completed their on-line registration. Athletes need to register at http://cg2009.gems.pro/. Athletes also need to complete the CCES Anti-Doping presentation on-line by this date. The information is attached.
• June 26-28: Devon Stage Race: All selected CSG athletes that are not racing at nationals will be required to ride as Team Alberta. The accommodation, race entry and race support will be supplied.
• June 26- 28: U23 road nationals Quebec. Leave on the 24th and return on the 29th.
• July 2-5: Junior road nationals Quebec. Leave on July 1st, and return on July 6th.
• July 6: CSG staging in Edmonton. Starts at 11 am at Sherwood Park Alliance Church (1011 Clover Bar Road). We will have to arrange an alternate date for the athletes that are not in the province racing. 
• July 8-12: Mountain bike nationals Quebec. Leave July 8th, and return July 13th.
• July 17-19: CSG Team camp in Jasper. Road and mountain biking.
• July 20-26: Abitibi stage race with the Western Canada Regional Team. Depart for Montreal July 19th, return on July 27th.
• Aug 1 –7: Calgary CSG Team camp, including Tour de Bowness races. Accommodation, race support, meals and transportation to racing and training venues. Final tune-up before the games. Sessions on the track, as well as road and mountain bike. 
• Aug 14: Depart for PEI at 6am. Calgary athletes will be transported to Leduc on the 13th to accommodate the early departure.
• Aug 22: The athletes will be returning to Edmonton from PEI on a late charter. We will arranger return to Calgary athletes either on the 22nd or 23rd. This will depend on the actual arrival.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me over the summer.

Rick Thiessen
Team Alberta Head Coach
403-542-6232
rick@albertabicycle.ab.ca