The elite Team Saskatchewan riders created a green blur while riding past Friday on the Juan de Fuca Velodrome track.
In between training sessions was a seminar with 2008 road 颅Olympian Svein Tuft of 颅Langley, seventh in the time trial at 颅Beijing. That followed a talk 颅earlier in the week with Bear Mountain-based 颅mountain biker Peter Disera, just returned from competing in the Tokyo 颅Olympics.
This is probably 颅everything Cycling sa国际传媒 颅envisioned in establishing the Victoria national development and training hub this summer.
鈥淲e want to see Team sa国际传媒, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario out here as well,鈥� said Jon Watkin, who is overseeing the launch of the hub.
The initial $2-million start-up for the hub has been provided by $2 million in funding from 94 Forward, the legacy fund from the 1994 Commonwealth Games. It adds to the funding 94 颅Forward is also providing to Victoria-based Triathlon sa国际传媒 and the Athletics sa国际传媒 颅Western Hub middle-distance training centre at PISE on the Camosun College Interurban campus.
鈥淭hese are the top U-15, U-17, U-19 riders in Saskatchewan and they have never raced on a velodrome before,鈥� said Watkin.
鈥淎lthough built in 1994, this facility is still being utilized well. And within 10 kilometres, these riders also have road and mountain biking options.鈥�
The 12 Saskatchewan cyclists having been making use of all of them as they prepare for the sa国际传媒 road race championships Sunday in Mission, which is an open event. Conducting the training sessions for the group has been veteran Victoria coach Houshang Amiri.
鈥淭hese [Saskatchewan] riders have learned track cycling very quickly,鈥� he said.
Caleb Bender was happy to welcome his fellow Saskatchewan riders. The native of 颅Glenavon, east of Regina, is a pro with Tag Cycling and has been training in Victoria for nearly three years.
鈥淚t is so cool to see such a big group of riders from my home province who are so committed,鈥� said Bender, a 20-year-old Camosun College business student.
鈥淚 know what it鈥檚 like to be stuck inside for much of the year on rollers and 颅stationary bikes. Riders from 颅Saskatchewan have to seek out opportunities.鈥�
It is from such diamonds in the rough that Olympic gems have been known to emerge. The Saskatchewan riders are chasing the dream, both pro and national team.
鈥淚 want to take this as far as possible,鈥� said Bender, who has represented Saskatchewan in the sa国际传媒 Sumer Games and won three medals in the Western sa国际传媒 Games.
鈥淚t ends up where it ends up.鈥�
Bender is glad to see the investment put into the Victoria hub.
鈥淭he weather is a massive advantage and so is the culture here,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ou look up and there鈥檚 [Tokyo track and mountain Olympians] Jay Lamoureux and Peter Disera to meet and learn from.鈥�
