CLEVE DHEENSAW
sa国际传媒
Coming out of Oak Bay High School and Victoria Tripleshot Racing, it was Adam de Vos鈥檚 dream to wear the specialized kit afforded national champions in cycling.
鈥淏ut you don鈥檛 expect, at that point starting out, that pro cycling and national championhips are going to happen for you,鈥� he said.
They have come true, however, as the Rally UHC pro de Vos won the 2019 Canadian men鈥檚 road racing championship Sunday in Saint-Georges, Que., on a sa国际传媒 Day weekend to remember.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a distinct flag with the Maple Leaf, so it鈥檚 easy to notice on a bike,鈥� said de Vos, of the kit he will now get to wear as national champion.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to represent sa国际传媒 in the national kit in races around the world. And the custom bike that comes with it.鈥�
De Vos鈥檚 achievment capped a big weekend for Island cyclists as fellow-Victorian and Rally UHC pro Rob Britton earlier won the individual men鈥檚 time trial at the Canadian road championships in Saint-Georges.
鈥淚t鈥檚 because of the amazing roads and climate we have on the Island that allows us to train all year,鈥� said de Vos, by phone from Quebec.
鈥淚t is one of the few places in sa国际传媒 you don鈥檛 have to go inside on stationary training machines in the winter and there is so much support on the Island for athletes. I鈥檓 super happy for Rob [Britton]. We have been pros for four years each and raced together in the Tour of Oman this year.鈥�
The national titles for de Vos and Britton couldn鈥檛 have come at more auspicious moments, with the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics looming next year.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of riders in the mix. It鈥檚 a process and I鈥檒l keep chipping and grinding away at it, first at the world championships [Sept. 22-29 in Yorkshire, U.K.],鈥� said de Vos.
De Vos鈥� first national title shunted Nigel Ellsay and Nickolas Zukowsky to the silver- and bronze-medal positions.
鈥淭here were seven Rally riders and that was a big advantage tactically,鈥� said de Vos, who returns to his home province next week to race the Tour of Delta as the defending champion.
