The National Capital Region cycling bursary of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is proud to announce the recipients of funds for 2024. The bursary provides funding to athletes that display both outstanding athletic ability and the desire to achieve greater goals.  Often greater goals require travel outside the National Capital Region and in most cases outside the Country. The bursary provides money to help offset the ever-increasing costs of travel and help reduce the financial anxiety for the recipients. Of note this year is that three of the recipients had been selected to represent Canada at U19 World Championships. This is the 25th  annual funding for National Capital Region cyclists and since its conception in 2000, the bursary has granted over $88 000.00 to local athletes.

The 2024 recipients are:

• Lucy Hempstead  $2000.00

• Julien Desjardins  $1500.00

• Nicolas Gauthier  $1500.00

• Addison Frank      $1000.00

• Henrique Martins  $750.00

The bursary committee would like to thank all the sponsors for their generous contributions that enable these athletes to have both the confidence of support and the financial means to compete at events beyond the local area.

National Capital Region Cycling BursarY

The National Capital Region Cycling Bursary is a volunteer organization where 100% of the donations go directly to local area athletes. The NCR bursaries are awarded annually to local elite cyclists to help with travel expenses to prestigious events and training camps located outside our region. The bursaries are funded by support from the local cycling community. We thank those who have provided contributions to the bursary, both financial and in-kind, as well as those who have worked hard to ensure that the bursaries remain an important part of cycling in the Ottawa/Gatineau region since they were initiated in 2000.

Donations to the bursary are open year-round however an annual call for bursary applicants occurs in August with a deadline date of September 1st. Successful recipients are announced mid September. Criteria for applicants are outlined here.

The 2023 recipients are:

• Filipe Duarte  $2500

• Skye Pellerin  $1500

• Henrique Martins $1500

• Julien Desjardins  $1000

The strength of our local cycling community is shown through the financial support given our bursary recipients. This support helps with expenses to attend the training camps and competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe that represent the first steps towards careers at the highest echelon of international cycling. The National Capital Region cycling community is one of the best in the country, and our athletes are among the best in the world. Some bursary recipients have gone on to inspiring performances at the highest levels of cycling, including the Olympic Games, Tour de France, World Championships, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games and many others. Some have retired from competitive sports and have gone onto to pursue carreers in law, medicine, academics, business, and the trades.

Who We Are

Bursary Selection Committee

• Ross Knight (Bursary founder)

• Doug Corner (Preston Street Criterium and Bike Race Ottawa)

• Rob Orange (Ride with Rendall)

• Jennifer Stephenson (Bursary recipient 2005, Co-founder Ottawa Women's Cycling Club)

Communications – Jay Heins

Finance – Nick Vipond

PAST RECIPIENTS

The following athletes have received funding from the National Capital Region Cycling bursary:

History

In 1999 Ross Knight of Seenite Sports (Tuesday night criterium series) was inspired by a local athlete (Marc-André Salois) who organized a 50/50 draw at the annual "Bikers Bash" to help support his efforts to race in Europe. Shortly after this the NCR cycling bursary was formed to help support a top ranked Espoir (U23) athlete from the National Capital Region. The inaugural bursary (year 2000) totalled $600. The recipient used the funds to assist with travel to a National Team project in Europe. The next fall, the bursary grew to $1,000 and was awarded to Colin Burn who used the funds to help support a season of competition in France that was successful enough for him to be invited back with a French team for a second year. For the last 15+ years the primary bursary fund raiser has been the year end Cycling Celebration hosted by Nick Vipond. From our humble beginnings, and the generous support of the local cycling community the NCR Cycling Bursary has provided over $70,000 " to $81,000 to assist our elite cyclists to help achieve their dreams. The National Capital Region Cycling Bursary is a volunteer organization where 100% of the donations go directly to local area athletes.