Women’s Team Update
June 15, 2022
The TaG Cycling Race Team women have been busy this season to date!
Many of the women are balancing studies and work with racing, however they have managed to maximize on both.
Mara Roldan, our lone junior racer, has had a standout season so far. After shining on the road this spring with early season podiums, and taking down some of our BC racing elite, she was selected for numerous National Team projects on the road and MTB. Mara raced in the Netherlands and France on the road, led by former TaG Cycling Director, Nigel Ellsay.
Up next for Mara is Canadian Nationals, Future Champions Camp, and a goal of Canada Summer Games in August.
Alanna Janz and Annabel Irwin both finished their spring studies at medical school and veterinary school, before joining the race team.
Annabel raced her first Ironman on May 25 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She blew the competition out of the water! Annabel won her age group, was 3rd female overall, and was close to a sub-10 hour finishing time.
Alanna competed in local Vancouver spring series races, accumulating points to upgrade. Alanna has already started her residency as a doctor . A big congrats to her.
Maja Woolley and Larissa Black have been steadily progressing with their development. Maja and Larissa have recently raced Tour of Enumclaw, BC Provincials, and Victoria Cycling Festival. Both women are new to the sport of road cycling but have impressed so far with grit and determination. They have both been successful in their respective winter sports, Alpine ski racing and Biathlon. We are seeing their natural racing mentality translate quickly to road cycling results. Maja has an impressive sprint and has had 5 victories in spring races, winning from group sprints. Larissa narrowly missed the podium at BC Provincial Road Championships losing the wheels in the final meters to finish 4th in the elite women.
Mara and Maja will be attending the Future Champions Cycling weekend with Ron Haymen, Richard Wooles and Nigel Ellsay on June 30. Gillian Ellsay will also be there coaching, along with our team camp guest speaker, Annie Foreman-Mackey. This is a U23 initiative to have these young athletes negotiate a variety of race and training simulations with the guidance of former pros and National Team Coaches. Maja will also be re directing her focus to the track to take advantage of her natural sprint ability. She is invited to the Cycling Canada Advancement camp with CC National Advancement Camp Coach and Olympic Sprint Medalist, Tanya Dubnicoff.
Thank you to all our supporters for the generous contributions. Without your support this program wouldn’t be possible! Stay tuned for more race updates…
Upcoming Race Schedule
June 23-27, Canadian Road Nationals – time trial, road race, and criterium
June 24-26, Track Fest Victoria
June 30, Tour of Concord – criterium
June 30-July 3, Future Champions Camp
July 14 , Giro de Burnaby - criterium
August 16-20, Canada Summer Games – time trial, road race, criterium
August –Cycling Canada Advancement Camp.
