Cycling Canada reveal 16-strong team for Parapan American Games

Sixteen para-cyclists will represent Canada at the Parapan American Games ©Canadian Paralmypic Committee

Cycling Canada have revealed that a team of 16 will represent the home country at next month’s Parapan American Games here, including Paralympic gold medallist Robbi Weldon.

Weldon won road race gold in the visually impaired road race at London 2012 and will hope to defend four titles in Toronto, having triumphed in the road race and time trial on the road at Guadalajara 2011, as well as the one kilometre time trial and 3,000 metres individual pursuit on the track.

The 39-year-old will have to win with a new pilot following the retirement of Lyne Bessette, who guided her to her Parapan American Games and Paralmypic gold medals.

As well as competing for gold Weldon and her team-mates will be able to secure vital points towards Rio 2016 qualification, with Jacques Landry, Cycling Canada's high performance director and head coach believing the Games will prove an ideal proving ground for the team.

"The Parapan Am Games is always a great opportunity to gauge where we are from an international competitiveness standpoint,'' he said.

''It's an even better opportunity do so in front of our home crowd.

"We hope that the processes we plan to use to win medals at the Parapan Am Games will be successful and also bring success to Canadian Para-cycling at the 2016 Paralympic Games."

Robbi Weldon will attempt to defend four titles in Toronto — Robbi Weldon will attempt to defend four Parapan American Games titles in Toronto ©Getty Images

Daniel Chalifour, winner of four medals at uadalajara 2011, including gold in the visually impaired individual pursuit, is also set to compete alongside fellow medallists from four years ago, Shelley Gautier and Marie-Ève Croteau.

Louis-Albert Jolin-Corriveau was also a member of the Canadian team in 2011 and is joined by Alexandre Cloutier, Mark Ledo and Robert Labbé, who have major Games experience having competed at London 2012.

The team is also packed with new faces as Ross Wilson, Michael Sametz, Charles Moreau and Nicole Clermont are all set to experience a multi-sport Games for the first time in their careers.

"With 16 athletes this is one of our bigger teams at the Parapan Am Games," said Elisabeth Walker-Young, Canada's Chef de Mission for Toronto 2015.

"It's nice to see the return of several veterans and emergence of some newcomers as well."

The Parapan American Games are due to take place from August 7 to 15, with track cycling set to be held at the CISCO Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome while the road races are scheduled to take place at Ontario Place West Channel.