Testimonials
Thank you for our athletes who contributed here. Testimonials written summer 2021. If you are an NCR Cycling Bursary recipient and you’d like to submit a testimonial, please submit it here.
2022 / 2023
SKYE PELLERIN
I was fortunate to be a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2023. It is a warm feeling to know that there are people in our community who are willing to help a young female athlete improve upon their cycling skills and goals. Having started to cycle in my late teens, I was fortunate enough to have been sponsored by Ride With Rendall last year where I was able to gain invaluable experience. The support from the team gave me the confidence to challenge myself further and a desire to do so in Europe. In November 2023, I moved to Girona to train and then competed on a N1 French cycling team - UVCA Troyes. Over the past nine months, I met amazing people from around the world, significantly improved my French speaking, and got to experience the intensity of European racing. It is expensive to move abroad and to pursue studies at the same time. This dream would not have been possible without the support of the NCR cycling bursary and words cannot express how appreciative I truly am!
Filipe Duarte
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in both 2022 and 2023. During those years, I was still based at home, racing with the Ottawa Bicycle Club in road and cyclocross events. Thanks to NCR's support, I was able to fund training camps, race expenses, equipment costs, and, most importantly, my trip to compete at the 2023 Cyclocross World Championships. This bursary has undoubtedly played a crucial role in my success. However, I want to emphasize that the support from NCR goes far beyond financial assistance. It has made me realize how much the community in Ottawa and Gatineau supports the younger generation of cyclists and it has opened my eyes to how fortunate we are to live in such an awesome area.
In 2024, after my time with OBC, I had the incredible opportunity to race a full season in Italy with the CPS Professional team during my final year as a junior. This experience allowed me to grow as an athlete and a person while achieving results on an international level. As I move forward to race in the Continental ranks in 2025, I remain deeply grateful to NCR for their continued support.
If you are interested in following my journey here are some useful links:
Julien Desjardins
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2023. It was the first time that I was winning an award this big and saw people that didn’t knew me and saw my potential and give me advice and tools to continue to grow in the sport because its difficult to succeed in a high level in mountain bike. I currently ride for Ride With Rendall and I had a blast this season and be able to shred on my bike. I did races all over the country, in the US and I had the privilege to race the world championship in Andorra this year due to my great performance and qualification race. With the bursary, I was being able to attend different race outside Canada and be able to participate to worlds without the financial stress and be able to help a bit my parents. With the NCR help I can project myself on a longer term and maybe could join a pro team in the future with the monetary help. Big thanks to everybody for the support and the tips.
2019 / 2018
Carson Miles
I’ve been a past recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2018 and 2019. During those years I rode for the professional teams Floyd’s Pro Cycling and Israel Cycling Academy. I currently ride for Tag Cycling, and I'm fortunate enough to do projects with Team Canada. This year I’m privileged to be able to race. I will be starting my season in Europe doing u23 races such as, Tour de Alsace, and the u23 version of the Tour de France, the Tour de l’Avenier. I then return home to Ottawa do some of my favourite races such as Nationals and hopefully the World Tour events in Montreal and Quebec. In the past the bursary has helped me get to the next level to compete at races like the World championships in 2018 and Il Lombardia u23 last year. Winning the bursary allowed me to focus fully on my goals and objectives and have more financial resources to help take care of my body and keep myself healthy and pushing everyday to be my best. Besides financial help, the bursary helped me make new connections in the community and help me feel more confident knowing I have the support of the Ottawa community behind me. It’s also served as a big motivation for me, pushing me to keep working hard knowing that some of the previous winners have made it to the top level and keeps me believing I can do the same. You can read more about me and what I am up to by linking to the following media sites;
2019
Laury Milette
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2019. I currently ride for the Macogep-Tornatech Girondins-de-Bordeaux team. I am looking forward to racing in Europe for a few months this year. I will participate to races in Serbia, Spain and France. I will also take part in the Nationals and local races in Quebec. Previously I have ridden for the OBC junior racing team and the Quebecor-Stingray team. I participated in events such as the Junior World Championships and Nationals in 2019, the Quebec Championships in 2020, and many other races in Quebec over the past few years. My greatest success so far has been my participation at the Worlds in 2019. The financial support I received from the bursary allowed me to take part of many projects, especially with the Quebec team. As I was also fortunate enough to compete in the Junior World championships, it helped me cover the expenses so that I could focus on my experience and performance. I was also able to put all my energy into either my training throughout my season or being a full-time student. Besides the financial support the bursary allowed me to meet other successful cyclists and learn about their careers. It’s a privilege to be part of the local cycling community and to rub shoulders with such dedicated and inspiring people. That encourages me to keep following my dreams and I’m grateful to be supported by the organization.
You can read more about me and what I am up to by linking to the following media sites:
2019 / 2018
Jérémie La Grenade
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2018 and 2019. The first year that I won the bursary, I realised how big the National Capital Region’s cycling community was. It felt like there was people that I did not even know who wanted to help me in my goal to become a better cyclist, and it gave me a lot of confidence for the years to come. I currently ride for Ride with Rendall. I am looking forward to doing some races in Europe both in road and mountain bike such as Leogang World Cup and Les Gets World Cup. Previously I have ridden for Skinouk Club and participated in events such as Quebec Cups and Canada Cups. My greatest success so far has been getting selected for MTB World Championships in 2019. The financial support I received from the bursary allowed me to participate to numerous training camp with Cycling Canada MTB Next Gen program which is part of the reason why I am at a higher level of racing now in 2021. This bursary can help an athlete make a step in the right direction to achieve their goals.
2017 / 2015 / 2013
Conor O’Brien
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Previously I have ridden for Stevens/The Cyclery, Ride with Rendall, and H&R Block Pro Cycling. I competed in two Cyclocross World Championships and numerous road races across North America as well as the Tour of Portugal. The bursary allowed me to chase my dreams. Cycling is a sport that requires immense dedication and passion. The bursary allowed me to focus on my training and racing in a way that would have otherwise been impossible. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I would not have been able to reach the level I did and commit to training and racing without the support from the bursary, both financially and through the amazing support of the community run events. I have since walked away from cycling and am working as a Financial Analyst at Deloitte. The adventures that the bursary led me on taught me invaluable lessons that have helped me in sport, work and life.
2017 / 2016 / 2013
Ariane Bonhomme
I was a recipient of the NRC cycling bursary in 2013, 2016 and 2017. I am currently racing for the Cyclery Racing Team on the road and for the Canadian National Team on the track as a member of the Women’s Team Pursuit squad. Since receiving the bursary, I have gone to achieve multiple track cycling World Cup podiums in the Team Pursuit, including a World Cup win in 2017. I have represented Canada at the World Championship 3 times. My greatest success so far has been to be selected on the Canadian Olympic Team for the 2020 Tokyo Games in track cycling. I will be racing this summer alongside my four other teammates in the hope to win a gold medal. The financial support the bursary gave me has allowed me to chase my Olympic dream on a full-time basis. It has also allowed me to pursue my academics. Beside the financial support, the bursary has given me a sense of support from the community around me. It gave me motivation to keep training in the hardest of times because I knew people believed in me. It takes a village to help an athlete make it to the highest level possible in sports and the NRC cycling bursary has been the foundation of it all for me.
Ariane Bonhomme
Canadian National Team Women’s Team Pursuit
Tokyo 2021
CAN Fund #150Women Recipient
2016 / 2015
Derek Gee
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2015 and 2016. I currently ride for X-Speed Continental on the road and the Canadian National Team on the track. I am currently preparing for the Olympic Games this summer in Tokyo, where I’ll be representing Canada on the track. I have participated in events such as the World Championships, Pan Am Championships and Commonwealth Games and my greatest success so far has been 4 Pan Am Titles and 12 National Titles on the track, alongside a Commonwealth Games medal. The financial support I received from the bursary allowed me to help cover team fees, bike costs and alleviate so much stress so that I can focus entirely on being the best athlete I can be. Alongside the financial aspect of the bursary, it was a massive confidence booster to know that my home community, where I learned to race, was behind me and still supporting me as I worked towards bigger and bigger goals. Due to the COVID pandemic, bursary fundraising opportunities have been restricted although the need to support local athletes is still present. Please help support the development of local athletes by making a financial contribution to the bursary by e-transfer at cyclingcelebration@gmail.com.
You can read more about me here https://olympic.ca/team-canada/derek-gee/ and keep up to date on what I’m up to on Strava (Derek Gee) and Instagram (derekgee97)
Derek Gee - Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website
Derek Gee has been a key contributor to Canada’s rise in the men’s team pursuit.
2015 / 2014
Emily Flynn
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2014 and 2015. I currently ride for the US Pro-Crit team LA Sweat. Receiving the bursary took away some financial stress and allowed me to travel to races across the country and in the US that eventually helped land me a spot on LA Sweat. Since receiving the bursary, I have been Ontario Criterium Series champion and have been on multiple USA Criterium podiums including winning the opening race in 2019. I am looking forward to continuing this trend when I meet up with my team again this year for the 10-day criterium series Intelligentsia Cup in Chicago.
Not only did the bursary help me financially, but it gave me the confidence to continue on this cycling journey. It showed that the Ottawa cycling community believed in me when I may not have fully believed in myself. The pandemic has had such a large impact on so many aspects of life. One thing I know (and have seen) is that the Ottawa-area cyclists took it as an opportunity to work on weaknesses and train even harder in a year without much racing. Ottawa will be coming back even stronger.
Please help support the development of local athletes by making a financial contribution to the bursary. You can read more about me and what I am up to by following me on Instagram @emilyflynn2 as well as my team @la_sweat.
2012
Kiernan Orange
I was fortunate to have received the National Capital Cycling bursary in 2012 while I was racing for Ride with Rendall and after returning home from a muddy cyclocross season in Belgium. Receiving the bursary upon my arrival home allowed me to jet set off to the next training camp that I otherwise would not have been able to accommodate into my schedule without the help of the Ottawa cycling community. This community has not only provided financial relief for me (and countless other young and gifted cyclists) but has also been a place to grow, learn new skill and if you’re lucky; eventually you might lap the field in an A criterium .
It was an honor to have been a recipient of the bursary. I am looking forward to helping aid the waves of talented Ottawa cyclists still to come.
2012 / 2008
James Riggs
I was fortunate to receive the NCR bursary twice during my cycling career (2008, 2012). The bursary allowed me to fund races and training camps in North America and Europe, including once in a lifetime experiences like racing the Tour de l'Avenir, the 2011 Olympic test event, and the Tour of Flanders U23. More than financial support, the bursary lets young riders know that the Ottawa cycling community believes in them, and the list of recent recipients is testimony to just how amazing the talent is in Ottawa.
Since I stopped racing at the end of 2012, cycling continues to be a huge part of my life - the memories, friendships, and contacts that were made during those years racing have served me well as I have transitioned to a new profession. I am currently completing my residency in Emergency Medicine in Toronto, and it is amazing how often cycling comes into everyday conversations. In fact, my first introduction to my new colleagues at the start of the pandemic came on a small group ride around the city where a main topic of discussion was how awesome the riding is in Gatineau Park. Thanks to everyone who has supported Ottawa cyclists over the years, I look forward to getting yelled at for not pulling hard enough in a Tuesday night criterium again one day soon!
2012
Nina Nesdoly
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2012. I competed in road and track from 2009-2012 and later coached in the OBC Youth Program from 2016-2018. I rode for the Ottawa Bicycle Club and Team Infinite, and participated in events such as the Junior Pan Am Championships in Argentina, and several track and road cycling Nationals. The highlight of my cycling experiences was receiving an award for Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship at the Pan Am Championships. The financial support I received from the bursary helped me cover travel and equipment needs. Aside from the financial support, the bursary was also a source of encouragement. It made me feel supported by the local cycling community and I was incredibly proud to be a recipient.
Although it’s been several years since I raced, cycling is still a big part of my life and the skills that I gained from competing have been invaluable. I went on to purse a BSc in Neuroscience, a Masters in Management, and will begin a PhD in Management and Organizational Behaviour in Fall 2021 at the University of Toronto. Cycling taught me diligence, consistency, cooperation, and teamwork, all things that have helped progress my career. I apply a lot of the same principles from training for cycling to my research projects and occasionally paraphrase advice from my former cycling coach, Don Moxley, to my colleagues.
2010
Florence Laplante-Lamarche
I was a recipient of the NRC top-ten performances and a great first international racing experience. cycling bursary in 2010. The bursary helped me attend the junior track world championships in Italy and Russia where I had Above the financial help, the NRC bursary brings a strong sense of community and support to young cyclists in the region, and it is no surprise that the Ottawa region is the home of many excellent cyclists. I’ve since retired from cycling, but this program has also contributed to giving me everyday tools such as teamwork, inner confidence and stress management skills – much needed abilities as I’ve just completed a year of board exams and fellowship interviews while working as a medical resident in the intensive care unit and on the wards of the hospital which has seen the most Covid-19 patients in the country. In the context of the current pandemic where motivation may have been difficult for young cyclists, your financial contribution to the NRC bursary will have even more of a positive impact on their cycling career and will help make an expensive sport more accessible to all.
2010
Alex Cataford
The national capital bursary is a long standing program that gives young Ottawa cyclists the chance to pursue their dreams. I personally benefited from this program back in 2010 when I was just starting out in the sport. That year I was starting to race more in the junior ranks, and was participating frequently in the local Ottawa weekly criteriums. I was presented with the chance to join the Canadian junior national team for some bigger international races, but these projects were self funded. Luckily, I was awarded the bursary that year, which provided me the funds to join the national team. These projects proved to be an important stepping stone in my career to where I am now, racing professionally at the World Tour level. Without the bursary, I may have never realized my dreams. Not only did the bursary provide me with financial aid, but also the advice and help of countless people in the Ottawa cycling community, which I relied on for many years afterwards to get to where I am today.
https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/feature/alex-cataford/
2010
Sarah Coney
Hi There! My name is Sarah Coney and I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary back in 2010. Since then, I was able to travel North America and Europe competing in Road, CX and Criterium races. My last race season was 2019 where I rode for the US team LA Sweat and secured a 5th overall in the USA crits series...all while working a full time job
The support I received when I was a young and developing cyclist from the NCR cycling bursary had a huge impact on my future success. Not only did I now have funds to get to races that I normally may not have been able to attend, but the support from the community really motivated me to keep pursuing my dreams. It was through the NCR and Ross Knight where I learned how to race Criteriums, and little did I know this would come in handy 9 years later when I was competing against the best crit racers in North America. I also had access to services from influential people like Kris Westwood who would generously take me motor pacing out behind the airport. It was during this time where I learned how to go fast, how to ride the white line, and how to hold my ground on a bike.
Bike racing was (and is) not only my passion and will be a lifelong endeavor, but it also prepared me for success in the workforce. It taught me how to be persistent, tenacious and hardworking. I am proud to say I raced some of my best years while working full time in IT, as well as completing several professional certifications which have helped me build a career in UX Design. I would not have been able to achieve my goals on and off the bike without the support of a close knit community like the NCR, and the generosity of those who support the program.
2005
Kate Scallion
I received the NCR cycling bursary in 2005. Although I no longer race seriously however I still love to get out and ride and do the occasional recreational race when possible. The financial support I received from the bursary helped me travel to various O-Cup mountain bike races in Ontario, as well as Canada Cup races in Eastern and Western Canada. Not only did it provide a very welcome and appreciated financial boost to support my racing, it also boosted my confidence to receive such support from the Ottawa cycling community. I only lived in Ottawa from 2003-2007 (for the duration of my BA), but attending the weekly in town races clearly demonstrated the strength and support this community has for its members. Receiving the bursary made me feel like a part of that community and it affirmed my decision to attempt to pursue bike racing at a high level. I will always be grateful for the support it provided and continues to provide to other aspiring cyclists. (Note: Kate currently practices law in the areas of real estate, labour and employment, and wills and estates, and in sports law and sports dispute resolution).
2002
Alan Reain
I was one of the early bursary recipient’s way back in 2002. I'd been Ontario junior road race champion in 1998, and 2nd at U23 road provincials in 2001, and this being my last year in U23 I really thought I had the ability to contend for the top of the podium in both Road and Mountain but I didn't have the money to travel to all the races. Receiving the bursary was a huge boost not just from a financial point of view, but also to know that the cycling community saw what I was doing and thought I was worth supporting. I used the money from the bursary mainly to fund my trip to the National Mountain Bike championships in Kamloops, which I wouldn't have been able to attend otherwise. To this day I'm grateful to everybody who donated and gave me the chance to test myself against the best.
2001
Colin Burn
I was a recipient of the NCR cycling bursary in 2001. I retired from competition in 2004 due to an injury but still love the sport. From initially racing in North America I moved to an amateur team in France for a few years, eventually returning to North American tour with Jet Fuel and participated in events such as the Tour de Beauce. My greatest success was winning the Provincial Championships and winning Stage 1 and the yellow jersey in the Tour de Midi. The financial support I received from the bursary allowed me to make the jump from North America to racing in France.