The OBC Youth Racing Program strives to be a world-class high-performance racing program dedicated to the development of young bike racers in the Ottawa/Gatineau region.

We aim to continue the Ottawa Bicycle Club's tradition of developing some of Canada's top cyclists. To do this we need to provide our riders with opportunities to race and train at key events across Canada and the USA.

The major barrier for young athletes is frequently the cost associated with travelling to races outside of our region. This year the program is targeting two key events as important development opportunities for our U17 and U19 athletes; GP Charlevoix and Canadian Road Championships in Edmonton. Our fundraising objective is to make these two projects cost-neutral for the athletes and their families.

GP Charlevoix

This will be the third year for the program to send athletes to GP Charlevoix. This stage race event (multi-day, multi-race) is an important developmental experience for young riders and it plays an important role in the selection for provincial and National team projects. Success at this race opens doors for athletes to participate in bigger projects both at home and in Europe with the National team. In 2021 Mallory Williams placed 2nd in the road race and 4th overall. This result earned her a spot on the Quebec provincial team for Nationals where she placed 8th. In 2022 Filipe Duarte placed 2nd overall while Addison Frank placed 2nd in the Hill Climb stage.

But results aren't the only important aspect of this race! The Charlevoix project has the riders camping together (in tents!) where they gain valuable experience working together as a team developing friendships and bonds. This project has impacted riders in meaningful ways, providing them with the opportunity to experience a challenging race event while learning valuable life skills.

(photo - OBC U19 Charlotte Poll having a blast at GP Charlevoix in 2022)

Canadian Road Championships (Nationals)

Much like Charlevoix, Nationals is an important proving ground for riders who are trying to step up to the next level of the sport. Success in this race opens many doors for riders. Just the experience of being at Nationals is critical for long-term success in the sport. It allows riders to get a sense of the competition (racing the best in the country at their age and stage!) and allows them to network and develop connections with coaches, teams, and other influential people in Canadian cycling. We have up to 6 athletes planning to attend Nationals this year in Edmonton, and it is our goal to provide them with the best possible experience.