TaG Cycling Youth Development – Cycling Prodigies Project

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TaG Race Team 2020 – Update

Sept 14, 2020

August 26, 2020

It has been a rough year for everyone. But as a young athlete in key years of development it has challenged all facets of maintaining motivation. Adjusting to a new normal and looking forward to an uncertain future.

I feel proud of our TaG Cycling Racers in the challenges they have set themselves and conquered.

Our current Canadian National Junior ITT Champion, Jacob Rubuliak set an early Everesting (8848meters of climbing) Canadian Record of 9 hrs and 33 mins. After weeks earlier completing a 507km ride from Kelowna to Victoria in 1 day. 170km of this via gravel trails.

Emilly Johnson, also missing her final junior year,raced in a continental tour field in a “virtual” stage race that is heavily impacted by pure power to weight output. Emilly placed top 10 in a very strong field of the senior womens peloton. Facing world champions and top tour riders from all over the world!

Jackson Bocksnick and Ethan Pauly rode side by side on Bear Mtn..61 laps to achieve the Everest height. This raised money for disadvantaged kids in Victoria’s KidsSport.

Ana Large did an 10 hour epic gravel challenge around the entire Okanagan Lake.

Caleb Bender also did an everesting challenge and raised over $4000 for MS.

I am very proud of the initiatives and drive they have all shown during this time.

One of our Spring Europe Tour objectives suddenly re-opened when they rescheduled to Sept 17 and our invite was extended. The Ronde de L’Isard in Southern France. This is a U23 Nations Cup. Normally only offered to National Team. We are very exciting that our team can ride this race. Essentially as their key objective for the year.

Axel Froner,Ethan Pauly,Thomas Schellenberg and Evan Russel will be joined by Jean Denis Thibault of Quebec who is based in France. The team will travel and have to quarantine initially at a team house. They are under the guidance of a high level team staff support who are all based in France. It is a great opportunity for the riders who have not been able to race in anything but virtual competitions since their early tour in Arizona back in February.

They will compete in the 4 stage Ronde de L’Isard from September 17-20.

They will race 4 mountainous stages in the southern part of France. As a Nations Cup which is usually only open to National Teams and UCI Teams, TaG was accepted with the help of some long time contacts in the region, and support of the National Team.

We will keep you posted on the progress. Thank you again for making this a possibility. Thank you to Bernard Leroux for joining in the support of this effort.

All the Best

Lesley Tomlinson

TaG Youth Development Race Team Fundraiser

 January 9th – Ride with Ryder Future Champions

           Thank you TaG Riders !

Ryder has generously offered his time to host a “Fun” evening of Riding and Raising Funds for the TaG Youth Race Team

TaG Cycling Youth Race has developed future champions since 2012. The year Ryder won the Giro D’Italia!

Since that time TaG Youth have won 16 National Titles, placed riders on the National Team and even put a rider on a European Pro Tour development team, Sunweb.

Programs like ours are crucial to bridge young riders to potential teams in their early senior years and on to successfully competing at an elite level.

We rely greatly on help from lovers of the sport in the cycling community.

This January 9th Ryder has offered to host an Indoor Class at TaG.with.a few special Olympian guest Andreas Hestler, who will attend and Co Coach. There will be a raffle for Ryder’s Trek 2016 jersey in his last professional year and other special items TBA. Local TaG Cycling Race team members will be in attendance and helping out. Post class we will have a casual Pizza and Wine party in Edgemont, North Van. Included in the ticket price.

Race Team Update Dec 1, 2019

2020 Team Roster

Junior Men

• Ethan Pauley
• Thomas Schellenberg
• Sean Richardson
• Jacob Rubuliak
• Jackson Bocksnick
• Evan Russell
• Caleb Bender
• Aeden Crocker
• Axel Froner
• Eric Inkster

Junior Women

Elle Bush – Race Age: 18 Hometown: Aldergrove, BC Year Racing: 6
-2019 Highlights: Bronze Medal Canadian Criterium Champs, Gold BC Criterium Champs

-2020 Goal: Win Canadian Road and Criterium Champs / Qualify for World Champs

Tori Kalyniuk – Race Age: 18 Hometown: Victoria, BC Year Racing: 5
-2019 Highlight: Up-grade to category 3, racing with Elites at BC Superweek

-2020 Goal: Continue to get high performance opportunities

Ana Large – Race Age: 17 Hometown: Kelowna, BC Years Racing: 6
-2019 Highlight: Racing Tour de L’Avenir, racing full time bikes

-2020 Goal: Top 3 BC Championship Road race and Cyclocross race / get European race experience

Emilly Johnston – Race Age: 18 Hometown: Comox, BC Year Racing: 5
-2019 Highlight: Racing MTB World Championships, Bronze Medal Canadian National TT Champs

-2020 Goal: Qualify for Road World Champs / get more European race experience

2020 –

Since the formation of TaG Cycling race Team in 2012, we have progressed from introducing new talent to cycling’s pool, to creating an environment for talented young riders, to make the right choices and take steps towards major international opportunities.

As a raw young team racing road and track, we won the Junior Men’s Canadian National Team Pursuit title in 2014. TaG has grown and generated 16 Canadian National titles, 3 World Championship medals, and many provincial titles and podium finishes at major international events.

In 2017-2019, We put a number of young riders on the National Team for World Championships, and in 2018, TaG Junior racer Ben Katerberg was contracted by Sunweb in Holland as a member of their Pro Development squad to their World Tour Team.

2020 will be see TaG the team field one of its strongest teams to date. We have retained our Junior Boys as they enter the U23 category and the team is now making the team a combination of 1st and 2nd year U23 riders as well as 2 two Junior Men and 4 four Junior Women.

Our focus is to develop our young riders, to provide key racing experiences in North America and in Europe, and  nurture our riders as they make the difficult move from junior to elite senior to senior racing from junior in their first few years.

The 2020 Team Schedule starts with a Tucson training camp and a season kick-off Valley of the Sun Race in Phoenix (AZ). A month of racing follows in BC for  the Spring Series of racing close to located near Vancouver.  The Joe Martinns Stage Race (AZK),AZ and Redlands Stage Race (,CA) will serve as selection for the team of 6 riders heading to Europe to race 1 day events in Belgium followed by and capped by the U23 Paris –Roubaix on May 17 2020.

3 Time Canadian Olympian, and experienced directoeur sportif, Gord Fraser, will direct the team in their European project. Gord raced the Pro Paris Roubaix 4 times in his illustrious career. “My heart has been in development for many years. With my Pro Continental Teams and with National Team” said Fraser “and I miss European racing, so it’s a great project!”

Junior men and women will also spend time in France racing in the spring. Following Europe, the team will return for West Coast Races in Canada and the USA, then followed by Provincial and  National Championships,  with the season and culminating within  BC Superweek.

TaG is welcoming new riders,: Thomas Schellenberg, Sean Richardson and Jackson Bocksnick of B.C., .; Axel Froner from Ontario. ; Returning Juniors  include Jacob Rubuliak, Aeden Crocker, Emilly Johnston (for road), Ana Large, and Tori Kalyniuk.  Elle Bush is an exciting addition to our women’s side.

TaG Race Team was founded by 1996/2000 Cycling Olympian Lesley Tomlinson of North Vancouver who is joined by Jon Watkin & Erin McGann as directeur sportifs. Charles Russell as sponsorship manager and Ryan Taylor as assistant manager and team mechanic.

“As a development cyclist we all need support, and it is not always easy to find in the short window we have to excel,” says Tomlinson. “I feel fortunate that I was able to get to high level races early in my career. I think it made all the difference to where I ended up and ultimately competing on the World Stage.”

TaG Cycling is a coaching company, proud to support riders at all levels. North Vancouver, Vancouver, Whistler and Squamish BC.

For Information: Lesley Tomlinson at contact@nulltagcycling.com

                                                                      SPONSORS

HAYWOOD SECURITIES

BUILDING ON OUR PAST, INVESTING IN THE FUTURE- www.haywood.com

SHIMANO

“Shimano Canada is proud to support the next generation of upcoming road cyclists.   For 2020 we are partnering with TaG cycling based out of British Colombia.  We will be supporting the team with Shimano and PRO Components and Lazer Helmets.  We hope that with this support they will be able to achieve their big goals for 2020. “- www.shimano.com     

FACTOR BIKES

Factor Bikes are proud to support the TaG racing team and look forward to seeing them ride to success on Factor in the future. Factor are always keen to support the development of youth talent and along with Factor ambassador Ryder Hesjedal we are pleased to be involved in the 2020 season with the team. It is great to see Factor’s bikes being championed at all levels of the sport.-. – www.factorbikes.com

DUNBAR/CORSA CYCLES

Team Schedule (some races apply only to U23)

• March Training Camp Tucson
• March Local Racing Vancouver,BC
• April Joe Martins Stage Race AK  UCI Race
• April Redlands CA.
• April Local Racing Vancouver, BC
• April Walla Walla WA
• May Local Racing Vancouver, BC
• May Tour e Bloom WA
• May Enumclaw WA
• May/June Provincial Elite and Junior Road Champs, BC
• May European project. U23 & Juniors. Separate projects. FR UCI Racing
• June Cascade Classic (tent) UCI Race
• June Tour de Beauce. QU
• June National Champs, QUE UCI Race
• July Superweek Vancouver, BC UCI Race
• Finish the season with key Fondo events and ride with Sponsors

Race Team Update , Sept 2019

Our progression from 2012 to 2019 has been from introducing new talent to cycling’s pool, to creating an environment for talented, committed young riders to make the right choices and take steps towards major international opportunities.

From a raw young team that won the Junior Mens National Team Pursuit title in 2014 we have grown and generated 16 National titles, 3 World Championship medals, many provincial titles and podium finishes at major international events.

Once again a successful year, Jacob Rubuliak has been selected for the World Championship Road Race and ITT.  He is first year junior.

2019 we had 1 young rider contracted by Sunweb in Holland on their development squad. In his 1st year as a U23 this year he finished top 10 at the prestigious Tour de Beauce 2019 when he can back to attend with our TaG Cycling BC project

2020 will be one of our strongest teams to date. We will develop the young riders into International fields by providing key European racing experience. We will nurture our U21 men as they make the difficult move to senior racing from junior in their first few years.

2019 Results

•Jacob Rubuliak is Junior National Champion in the Time Trial

•Jacob Rubuliak 3rd in Tour l’Abitibi TT & 4th in Individual Classification.

•Emily Johnson is Bronze at Nationals in TT and 4th in the Road Race

•Ethan Pauly is U23 Provincial Road Champion.

•2019 Evan Russell is 5th at Nationals Junior Mens Road Race

•BailiGuidi is 2nd at the U23 Provincial TT Championships

•Ethan Pauly successfully completed Tour de Beauce at 19 years old. The composite team sent by TaG Cycling was 6th place overall.

•Evan Russell,Eric Inkster and Aeden Crocker selected to Team BC for Tour de l’Abitibi

•Jacob Rubuliak selected to Team Canada for Tour de l’Abitibi and World Championships

September , 2018  Team Sunweb are pleased to welcome Ben Katerberg (CAN) to their Development program for the upcoming two seasons….  full story click here 

 

Conor was silver in ITT and 4th in the Road Race

Evan is provincial Road Champion and Ben is provincial TT Champion.

TaG Cycling Race Team Voted Best In BC

Congratulations to our amazing crew.They are.all under 23 and beat out all the senior teams in BC!
TaGTrained .What an amazing year. Also top BC Male and Female athletes were our TaG Riders Maggie Coles Lyster  and Cam Fitzmaurice. Looking forward to 2017.

2017 Team Line-Up 

We are very proud to have such talented athletes on our team.

• U23 Men: Cam Fitzmaurice, James Grant, Maxwell Kelsch
• U23 / Elite Women : Callie Swan, Isabella Bertold. Esta Bovill
• Junior Girls: Maggie Coles-Lyster, Micaiah Besler, Julia Long
• U17 Girl: Kaelen Coles-Lyster
• Junior Boys: Mark Grant, Erik Diertens, Ben Katerberg, Isaac van der Vliet
• U17 Boys: Conor Martin, Tyler Davies, Evan Russell, Skylar Beauregard
• Mountain Bike: Stephanie Denroche, Julia Long, Evan Russell

TaG Cycling Race Team Updates- 2017

August 26 – 2017 – Maggie Coles Lyster  followed up on her Silver in the Omnium with Winning the World Champonships in the Points Race!! She even crashed in the race and still won !

August 15 , 2017 -Maggie Coles Lyster took it one step higher than last year on the World Championship podium  in Italy.

July 16  Congrats Maggie Coles Lyster on a perfectly executed race to take second step in the PoCo Grand Prix. Maggies Superweek was beyond Super. Best Young rider on the first weekend and 10th at the Delta UCI womens race. Maggie got a special upgrade to ride as she is a junior. Winning the TaG Cycling Prime lap in Gastown Grand Prix on the way to 8th Place. 5th place in the Giro di Burnaby..5th place in the White Rock RR and 3rd place in GC for the White Rock weekend. 9 races and probably the most consistent rider over the week…on her way to Belgium to prepare for the World Championships. 

In Delta she won best young rider….she won the crowd prime in the crit and finished 10th in the UCI cat 1.2 road race!!

The boys have stepped it up too. They have a lot on their plates racing with the Pro men..but they are not intimidated and are putting themselves in the mix. Check out Cam attacking in Ladner off the front showing great attitude. 

Conor Martin is coming back now from his heinous crash in April. he and Evan Russell were at the cadet stage race in Quebec..Tour of Rimouski where Evan managed a podium and 4th place over all. He was riding for a composite Eastern team with Conor (wearing orange) 

July 2017

We are very excited to be fielding a team for this year’s White Sport Delta UCI 1.2 Delta Women’s Road Race. This will be the first time TaG Cycling Race Team has had the opportunity to enter a race at this level.

We have been able to acquire Gillian Carleton to guest ride with our team in a competitive race mentor role. Gillian is a London Olympic Bronze medalist who is preparing to return to the National Team. Maggie has been given a special up-grade to compete in this race as she is a Junior, and along with Isabella and Callie will complete our team of 4. Super exciting!

Maggie will be competing again at the World Junior Track Championships and goes there as a favourite to win. Remember she was bronze last year.
Although this is track, it provides a very strong avenue for her to move towards her mission to compete at the Games in Tokyo in 2020.
As an accomplished road and track athlete she will have a strong foot into make her way down that path. Lots can happen but so far her progression is really solid and as an 18 year old.. this certainly wont be her last chance.

Conor Martin who you remember crashed badly in the spring, is back racing and feeling positive.
Cam Fitzmaurice is also back in the mix and will be someone to watch at Superweek.
Ben Katerberg just continues to ride like a gem.
Best of luck to them all this weekend at Nationals!!

BC Road and TT Championships – May  27, 28 / Langley, BC

The team entered the BC Road and TT Championships looking to not only continue their preparations for Nationals, but to win some Championship Jersey’s.   All our Juniors competed hard, with most of them competing in the Elite categories.

Maggie competed in one of her best road races ever, and even though she is still a Junior, won the BC Elite Women’s Road Race.  Coaches Esta and Chris also won BC Championships in their Master categories.

TaG’s Top Results:  

• • Maggie Coles-Lyster – 1^st Elite Road Championships
• • Esta Bovill – 1^st BC Master Road & TT Championships / 2^nd Canadian Master TT Championships
• • Chris Worsford(Coach) – 1^st BC Master Road Championships

It is great to finally have our biggest spring races here. Over the past month, we participated in 3 of the largest stage races in the Pacific Northwest including Race the Ridge, Tour de Bloom and Mutual of Enumclaw Stage Race.

RACE the RIDGE – April 29, 30 / Maple Ridge, BC 

The team’s first stage race of the year provided tough courses with large, competitive fields. We had 11 riders compete in the 2-Day / 3-Race event with some solid results.

TaG’s Top Results: 

•  Maggie Coles-Lyster – 2nd GC Elite
•  Ben Katerburg – 2nd GC Cat 3
•  Issac Van der vliet – 4th GC Cat 3
•  Esta Bovill – 2nd GC Cat 3
•  Isabella Bertold – 4th GC Cat 3

TOUR de BLOOM – May 4 to 7 / Wenatchee, Washington 

A group of 7 riders made the scenic 5-hour journey to Wenatchee to compete in this 3-Day / 4-Race event. It is nice to see the hard training that these young riders commit to starting to pay off.

TaG’s Top Results: 

•  Ben Katerburg – 2nd Road Race # 1 / 5th GC Cat 3
•  Esta Bovill – 4th in Hill Climb / 6th GC Cat 3
•  Maggie Coles-Lyster – 2nd in Road Race #1 / 2nd in Criterium / 1st Road Race #3

ENUMCLAW STAGE RACE – May 19 to 21 / Enumclaw, Washington 

On our second trip to the USA, and with Nationals 5-weeks away, it was time for all team riders to set the bar even higher for these races. Our team rose to the occasion with some very hard, aggressive racing topped off with some outstanding results. We had 10 riders compete in this 2-Day / 3-Race event.

TaG’s Top Results: 

•  Ben Katerburg – 3rd in TT / 1st in Road Race / 2nd in GC Cat 3
•  Evan Russell – 1st in Road Race / 4th in GC Cat 4
•  Maggie Coles-Lyster – 2nd in Criterium / Flatted in Road Race!

TaG Cycling Race Team Report -2017

With Spring finally in the air, TaG Cycling Race Team is progressing nicely into form to again be Canada’s top development race team. With new riders, equipment and support in place, the team is not only preparing to win on the race course, but to represent its sponsors and supporters in a professional, responsible manner.

Team Training Camp 

We had a Team Training Camp back on March 11 and 12, based in the Lower Mainland. The training camp included 2-days of road racing at Spring Series races, a team meeting and a team dinner. It was a great opportunity for the team to bond, and for team staff to discuss our 2017 season plan with the team.

Junior Track Nationals Success 

We had 3 riders make the journey to Milton, Ontario for the Canadian Junior Track Championships on March 30 to April 2. These riders were Maggie Coles-Lyster, Tyler Davies and our new rider from Saskatchewan, Micaiah Besler.

Maggie dominated the Junior Women’s category winning 10 medals, including 8 Gold. She also secured her spot on the National Team for the 2017 World Junior Track Championships. Micaiah also had a very successful event, winning 6 medals including 2 Gold in her first major track event. Tyler also had success with 3 medals including 1 Gold in the Team Sprint.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunities as team manager to support these amazing athletes at such a high caliber track event.

2017 Team Race Schedule remaining 

Race Event Date 

• Race the Ridge April 29, 30
• Tour de Bloom May 5 to 8
• Hatzic Valley RR May 14
• Enumclaw May 19 to 21
• BC Road / TT Champs May 27, 28 
• Victoria Cycling Classic June 2 to 4
• Hayman Classic Youth Stage Race June 8 to 11
• NRC Crits Ottawa June 20
• Canadian National Road Champs June 24 to 28 
• BC Superweek July 7 to 16 
• North West Junior Stage Race August 2 and 3
• BC Youth Championships July 29, 30 
• Cypress Challenge August
• Gran Fondo Whistler September 9

Our Thanks for making this happen to Kim and Bob Disbrow, Reid Carter, Paddy Downey, Kevin Mahon, Randy Turner, Adam Korbin, Greg Pallone, Dan Bowditch, Bernard LeRoux and Jay Menning.

Thank you for product and service support to Elladee Brown, Lutz and Nick Brode, James Wilson,Fraser Vaage, and Michael Wegner .

TaG CYCLING YOUTH was founded in 2012.

The Mission is to recruit, develop and mentor youth talents in cycling through a specifically targeted program with the goal to be continuation in the sport at an elite level.

The TaG Race Team have become a forceful riding group who have learned Team Work and Discipline, and have also achieved an impressive set of results.

TaG Cycling provides coaching direction, indoor training facility and support throughout the season at Race events. The goals of the team are aligned with those of the provincial and national team programs for progression to National and World Championships.

TaG also provides the Junior and Espoir riders work opportunities with the company in the studios and at camps and clinics. This enables them to earn and support their racing whilst learning valuable work and social skills

2016 – Team Update

You know we are VERY proud of our young elite riders on the TaG Cycling Race Team. All are 15 to 21 years old.
Their cumulative achievements in 2016 are inspiring. Here are just a few..

• World Championship Bronze Medal. Maggie Coles Lyster
• 11 National Titles. Cam Fitzmaurice,Maggie Coles Lyster,Tyler Davies,Stephanie denRoche
• 10 Provincial Titles Cam Fitzmaurice,James and Mark Grant Conor Martin and Ben Katerberg. Maggie Coles Lyster,
• Stephanie denRoche and Julia Long
• National Stage Race Tour of Rimouski title Ben Katerberg
  Additional National Podiums Conor Martin, Cam Fitzmaurice, John Wilcox,Maggie Coles Lyster,Julia Long

July 2016

Maggie Coles Lyster – World Championships – podium finish in Switzerland

June 2016

Great Nationals for TaG Riders – Maggie – National Crit Champion , Cam – bronze in the Road race, James – with the 60km breakaway of the day!

May 2016  North Shore news

April – 2016

• Congratulations – Maggie Coles Lyster and Tyler Davies Gold In Team Sprint – National Champions
•  Maggie Coles Lyster, John Wilcox and Cam Fitzmaurice qualify for Worlds !

Congratulations to our Super Team. Cam Fitzmaurice , Maggie Coles Lyster and Tyler Davies. Series Champs from our TaG race team .

2015 TaG Race Team members 

ESPOIR (U23)
Amiel Flett,  Maxwell Kelsch,  Christian Shubart Knapton
JUNIOR (U19)
Cam Fitzmaurice,  Max Duso,  Rowan Morris,  Brendan Armstrong,  Matan Guttman
Coach: Tim Kilcullen
Director: Matt Barth

TaGCycling is very proud of the young posse of Racers we have developed since starting TaGYouth.

Our Elite Youth Road and Track Racers all under 23 posted some very significant results in their relatively short race career.There are currently 8 elite level racers aged cadet to espoir (16-20 years old) The junior (U19) racers have progressed from entry level to cycling in late 2012 to being National Champions in 2014! They are racing Road and Track to explore their abilities. Track has been identified as the most effective path for these young riders to master the sport and explore their potential.

The final goal for 2014 was the Junior Track Nationals in which they won the Junior Team Pursuit, Cadet Omnium and had a bronze in the Junior Omnium. This level of success was a surprise, but many elements were managed throughout their progression in 2 years, to facilitate it happening.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS “RACE TEAM” 2014
80 youths from various sports have joined us for Indoor training and riding development outdoors.

The TaG Race Team has evolved from this initiation to riding and racing. In under 2 short years they have become a forceful riding group. Racing road and track they have already a number of results.  Now finishing first year , the Juniors, along with 3 espoir riders have had a promising list of accomplishments.

• Max Duso (17) won National Omnium Bronze and is Provincial Road Champion
• Brendan Armstrong (17) won bronze at Provincial Junior Road
• Cam Fitzmaurice (16)won the U 17 National and Provincial track omnium and is National Champion!
• Max Duso was top 10 in the Whistler Fondo Giro Race and all of the TaG Race Team were in the top 2 groups of racers in the Whistler Giro
• Duso,Armstrong,Morris and MacLeod National Team Pursuit Champions!!

Our Elite Mountain Bikers have also ridden incredibly well on the world stage.

Jack Iles – 2014 Jr World’s Team

• Crankworks 2014 – DH, Garbonzo and Air DH Jr Champion
• Canadian National Championships, 2014 – 2nd.
• Norco Factory Racing Team

Conrad Murdoch – BC Enduro Series #1 and #3, U19 1st place

• BC Enduro Series #2 and #4, U19 2nd place
• Oregeon Enduro Series #5, U19 3rd place

Finn Iles – 2014 Whip Off World Champion

• Canadian National Championship 2014. U17 3rd place
• Crankworks 2014 Garbonzo, U15, 1st
• Crankworks 2014 DH, U15, 1st

Georgia Astle – Canadian National Championships, 2014 U19 Citizen Champion

• Crankworks World Enduro Series #6 – 11th in Pro Category
• Crankworks 2014 – Garbonzo Jr Champion
• Mulitple Enduro wins in BC Enduro Cup.

For information on TaG Youth – Training to Train Programs Go to  Youth Program