Ottawa, ON (Jan. 13, 2025) – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Annual Awards, which recognize individuals and events that made large impacts in the cycling community over the past year.
“Congratulations to our 2024 Annual Award recipients,” said Mathieu Boucher, Cycling Canada Chief Executive Officer. “These awards highlight the passion, commitment and dedication that fuel the growth of cycling across the country. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an inspiring community of athletes, coaches, officials and organizers who make an impact every day. Thank you to all the nominees, nominators and everyone who participated in this year’s awards process.”
The 2024 Annual Award recipients are:
Canadian International Commissaire of the Year
Geordie Ma – Calgary, AB
Canadian National Commissaire of the Year
Christian Côté – Sherbrooke, QC
Coaches of the Year
BMX: Nicolas Londono – Bromont, QC
Cyclo-cross: Robert Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Mountain Bike: Robert Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Road: Eric Van Den Eynde – Bromont, QC; Chris Rozdilsky – Shefford, QC; Christine Gillard – Beaupre, QC
Track: Rob Good – Kitchener ON
Community Coaches of the Year
Jeff Currie – Berry Mills, NB
Steph Sutton – Dundas, ON
Events of the Year
BMX: Drummondville BMX Canada Cup – Drummondville, QC
Canadian Championship: Canadian XCM MTB Championships – Thunder Bay, ON
Cyclocross: Cyclocross de Lévis – Lévis, QC
International: UCI Mont-Sainte-Anne MTB World Cup – Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC
Mountain Bike: Dieppe MTB XCO & XCC Canada Cup – Dieppe, NB
Road: Tour de Gatineau – Gatineau, QC
President’s Trophy
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Russ Copeland Award
Rafaëlle Carrier – Lac-Beauport, QC
Commissaire of the Year recipients were nominated by their peers and respective Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) for their exceptional accomplishments, contributions and assignments at local, national and international events. A UCI International Commissaire in cyclo-cross and newly appointed International Commissaire in mountain bike, Christian Côté earned the national title in recognition of his involvement in more than 80 events in cyclo-cross, mountain bike, road and track across all sanctioning levels since 2022. His commitment to developing the sport extends to training the next generation of commissaires: 16 candidates became provincial/territorial commissaires under his tutelage, with four more currently in training. The international award went to Geordie Ma for notable assignments in 2024 that included the Paris Olympic Games, UCI BMX World Championships and World Cups in BMX and mountain bike. He is dedicated to commissaire development from the provincial/territorial to international level, serving as Chair of Cycling Canada Officials’ Committee and a member of the UCI Commissaire Training Board.
Coach of the Year recipients were selected through a nomination process supported by their athlete and/or team that won a 2024 Canadian Cycling Championship title. The awards were given to: Nicolas Londono for Canadian BMX Junior Women Champion, Thessalie Bruneau; Robert Holmgren for Canadian Mountain Bike Champions, Émilien Belzile (XCC and XCO U17 Men) and Ava Holmgren (XCO U23 Women), and Canadian Cyclo-cross Champions, Ian Ackert (Elite Men), Belzile (Junior Men) and Isabella Holmgren (Elite Women); Eric Van Den Eynde for Canadian Road Champions, Benoit Lalumière and Maximilien Moreau (Para Road Race Tandem) and Louis Albert Corriveau Jolin (Para Road Race T1 and T2); Chris Rozdilsky Canadian Road Criterium Women Elite Champion, Magdeleine Vallières Mill; Christine Gillard for Canadian Road Time Trial Men Elite Champion, Pier-André Coté; and Rob Good for Canadian Track Women U17 Champion, Alex Fangeat.
The Community Coaches of Year were nominated by community members and supported by their PTSO. Representing the Dieppe Cycling Centre, Jeff Currie partnered with Vélo New Brunswick to deliver the HopOn program. A leader of grassroots programming in New Brunswick, he was instrumental in supporting HopOn festivals activated through Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All (CSAI) grant. Steph Sutton also delivered HopOn programing through Golden Horseshoe Cycling Hub and Ontario Cycling. The care she takes in her work to ensure a positive, safe environment and mentor new HopOn instructors optimizes the experience for all participants.
Event of the Year recipients were selected through a combined public and internal voting process, the results of which highlighted events that exceeded expectations in terms of operations, atmosphere and overall experience. Several repeat winners highlighted Canadian event organizers’ commitment to sustained excellence: the Dieppe MTB XCO & XCC Canada Cup won its fourth award, while the Drummondville BMX Canada Cup and Cyclocross de Lévis were recognized for a second year.
Isabella Holmgren was awarded the President’s Trophy for a second consecutive year, as voted on by members of the Canadian National Cycling Team. Representing a best performance in World Championship competition, Isabella notably secured the honour with not one, but two wins over the same weekend at the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. There, she claimed the Women U23 rainbow jerseys in both the Cross-country Short Circuit (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) disciplines.
Rafaëlle Carrier was also recognized by her fellow Canadian National Cycling Team members with the Russ Copeland Award for best Junior rider. The reigning Canadian Champion in Women Junior’s Cyclo-cross, XCC and XCO made an impressive UCI World Championship debut in 2024, capturing silver in the Mountain Bike XCO World Championship and cracking the top 20 at the Cyclo-cross World Championship.
About Cycling Canada
Cycling Canada is one of the oldest national sport organizations in Canada and has one simple purpose: to inspire Canadians to cycle. Cycling Canada administers programs to promote and grow cycling across the country, hosts national and international events and manages the National Team in all levels of international competition.
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