Cycling Canada Defends Women’s Team Pursuit Cut Citing Performance and Budget Concerns

Cycling Canada is facing growing criticism from Canadian track cyclists after deciding to remove the women’s team pursuit squad from participation in the World Championships scheduled for October. Several athletes publicly expressed their disappointment and opposition to the decision on social media platforms. Cycling Canada stated that the move was made following a performance-based and data-driven evaluation. The organization also cited financial limitations as one of the key reasons behind the decision. However, the governing body confirmed that the equivalent men’s team pursuit program will continue. Canada’s women’s team pursuit squad has enjoyed notable success over the years. The team secured bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and finished fourth at the 2021 Olympic Games. Currently, the Canadian women’s team is ranked 12th in the world rankings, while the men’s team stands 13th. Mathieu Boucher, CEO of Cycling Canada, said the team’s performances during the current Olympic cycle were not progressing toward medal-contending standards. He stated that competition and training results did not indicate that the performance gap could realistically be closed before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite the criticism, Boucher clarified that Cycling Canada is not permanently shutting down the women’s team pursuit program. He added that there remains a possibility for the team to return in the future with an eye on qualification and preparation for the 2028 Olympics.