Canadian track cycling championships draw record numbers

The 2015 Canadian track cycling championships begin Wednesday with 222 track cyclists coming from all over Canada — a record-high number for the modern era.

The five-day event will take place at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre velodrome in Milton, Ont.

Athletes will be competing for the ultimate honour of earning the red and white jersey, which is awarded to the Canadian champion.
 
The venue has played host to three major events this year alone, most notably the Pan Am Games, as well as the 2014 Canadian track championships and the 2015 Milton International Challenge.
 
Cycling Canada's Director of Development, Mathieu Boucher, is pleased with the pre-registration numbers for these championships.

"We have been seeing steady increases over the last few years in our Canadian Track Cycling Championships attendance," he said. 

"There is momentum and energy right now with track cycling, notably thanks to our national team and their outstanding international results."
 
This competition is the last elite track championships prior to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The event also serves for the national team as a key preparation for the upcoming UCI World Cup season.