When it comes to hometown sport heroes, Nova Scotians can be forgiven if they quickly respond with Hockey Super-Star Sidney Crosby, or Colleen Jones of Olympic Curling fame. Despite our focus on Canada’s penchant for excelling in winter sports, Nova Scotia is beginning to hit well above its weight class in Cycling. On Saturday, June 23rd Halifax’s own Ed Walsh, 22 years-old, won Canada’s National U-23 Road Racing title in Saguenay, Quebec.
This isn’t Walsh’s first national title. In 2014 Walsh took the top Junior Road Racing title during a National Championship race in Saint Georges de Beauce, Quebec. Since his 2014 title-win, Walsh has taken the time to hone his abilities and learn from some of the world’s best riders after being picked up by professional Belgian Cycling Team, T-Palm PCW. Although most of his 2017/18 season of competitive riding and training has been in Europe, Walsh also trains on Nova Scotian roads with Provincial Team Coach, Jon Burgess. Walsh notes the near four and a half hour, 180 km course in Sangunay suited his riding style, however Coach Burgess breaks-down the race a bit further: “He rode smart and made the right major, decisive race moves putting himself into the front group of 10 elite men and the only under 23 rider left in the leading group after 9 laps. With 30km to go he got dislodged from the lead group with a precarious lead over his 2nd and 3rd place under-23 competitors. The under 23 win and championship jersey was within reach, but not without a monumental amount of focus and determination.” Walsh won the race ahead of 2nd place Noah Simms (Ontario) and 3rd place Connor Toppings (Alberta) by only 8 and 12 seconds.
Add this to Nova Scotia’s growing list of Cycling Championship titles.
In May 2018, Musquodoboit Harbour’s Mackenzie Myatt was crowned US Collegiate Champion during a race in Grand Junction, Colorado. Myatt also boasts a USA Varsity Mountain Biking Championship victory and has represented Nova Scotia in past Canada Games events.
A Bright Future for Cycling in Nova Scotia.
With a group of young, talented athletes developing their riding styles and skills under a new Provincial Coaching program, it won’t take long before Nova Scotian riders will be seen sprinting, climbing, and time-trialing to more podium finishes on the international stage.
