By Dan Plouffe
Evan McNeely carries a longer resume than most other cyclists competing in the Canada Games. It features two appearances at the junior world championships, including a top-10 finish at the 2010 mountain bike jr. worlds, a 2010 mountain bike jr. national title, and three under-23 cyclocross Canadian championships.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to take it this far, but don’t plan on stopping just yet,” McNeely stated earlier this year when preparing his Canada Games bio.
It seems everything has played out according to plan.
McNeely had a similarly prophetic experience prior to the July 18-21 Canadian XC Mountain Bike Championships near Barrie.
“I was feeling very confident and relaxed that everything was in order,” McNeely recounted on his blog at evanmcneely.blogspot.ca. “I wasn’t just relaxed, I felt like a Tibetan monk meditating on top of Everest.”
The good vibes boded well for McNeely, as the 21-year-old grabbed the second and final available qualification position for the Aug. 26-Sept. 1 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in South Africa.
His first appearance at a senior-level world championships, the competition will mark a major milestone as he continues to reach new levels in the cycling world.
Fellow local cyclist Emily Flynn is all about taking on new experiences as well.
Usually a member of the Ottawa-based West of Quebec Wheelers, the 20-year-old Winchester native joined the Stevens Racing Team for a series of July road cycling events in B.C.
“By far the hardest racing I’ve done,” Flynn, who had a tough time staying alive in criterium events, reported on Twitter. “Can’t wait for next year!”
Flynn, who broke her collarbone in May, set out with the objective to gain some race experience against elite competitors while on the tour. The Canada Games will offer a similar opportunity, which she earned by winning the Lake of Bays race in the spring.
Cyclist’s games goals uncomplicated
Matteo Dal-Cin, 22, owns a solid track record of strong performances in local events. The 6’ 5” Nepean High School grad says his best moment in cycling was winning the Preston St. criterium race organized by his dad, on Father’s Day no less.
Dal-Cin also recorded a third-place finish at the 120 km Grand Prix Cycliste de Gatineau race earlier this season on the May long weekend.
That helps justify the single word response he gave to the question of what his goals were for the Canada Games? “Win.”
The mountain bike events take place of the first week of the Canada Games, while the road cycling races are slated for the second week.