Ewart is among seven Canadians in the elite women鈥檚 category for the 2015 UCI world road championships in Richmond, Virginia. Seventh at the 2011 world U-23 championships in the time trial, the 21-year-old Ewart is now a pro with the Optum-Kelly Benefits Strategies team and in senior elite competition.
In men鈥檚 elite, big-league European Tour pros Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria and Svein Tuft of Langley were named to the Canadian team but gave up their spots to give less-heralded Canadian riders a chance to race and learn at the worlds.
鈥淲e respect the difficult decision taken by Ryder and Svein to decline their invitations after long, tough seasons. Their commitment to the long-term growth of Canadian cycling is extremely appreciated,鈥� said Cycling sa国际传媒 men鈥檚 road program manager Kevin Field, in a statement.
A top-10 result in the men鈥檚 or women鈥檚 elite competition would gain sa国际传媒 a spot in that event for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. A top-five result earns that particular racer a spot in the Rio Games.
Among the five Canadians in Virginia to race in the U-23 men鈥檚 category are rising Victoria riders Adam De Vos and Nigel Ellsay.
De Vos caused a stir last week at the Quebec City Grand Prix as part of the breakaway lead group that detached from a peloton containing several European Tour pro racers. The breakaway group was eventually overtaken with De Vos suffering a flat. Rigoberto Uran of Colombia won the race with Hesjedal top Canadian in 16th.
