Tag Archive for: Pacific Cycling Centre

PCC and UVic Cycling Announce Partnership

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the UVic Cycling Club (UCC). This collaboration is designed to expand opportunities for university cyclists at UVic, using the expertise and experience that PCC offers. Houshang Amiri, head coach, PCC, will be coaching the UVic cycling team to help riders prepare for the upcoming cyclocross and road season.

“Pacific Cycling Centre is excited to be partnering with UVic Cycling Club. We share the same values and look forward to providing training and coaching services, and supporting UCC athletes at races,” says Amiri.

To date 22 members have registered with the club which as the first year as a varsity club is a huge step in the right direction for the team.

“This partnership is the foundation for supporting riders at every level. Our goal is to create structured pathways for development — whether you’re training for fun, aiming to improve your fitness, or pursuing competitive cycling. With strong coaching support from PCC and a team-based training culture offered by UCC, every rider has the opportunity to grow,” says Abigail Drews, UVic Cycling, Co-president.

October will see an info session with coach Amiri and an advanced skill session for riders who are ready to push their technical ability further and sharpen their cycling skills.

This partnership between PCC and UCC is just the beginning, and it will be exciting to see how much UCC riders will achieve this season.

 

PCC Accepting Athlete Applications

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) is excited to announce that new applications are now being accepted for online and Victoria-based athletes of all levels in preparation for the upcoming cycling season. Athletes including U18, U19, U23, Elite, and Master athletes in all respective age categories are invited to join the Pacific Cycling Centre coaching program and support system.

Last season was a success for PCC-coached athletes, with many achieving personal bests, podium performances.

PCC coaching programs are open to athletes who are committed to hard work and willing to develop their potential to progress to the next level through PCC’s training system.

“Our goal at PCC is to create a stress-free and balanced environment where athletes can enjoy their training while learning all the necessary skills both on and off the bike,” said PCC Head Coach Houshang Amiri. “Fitness improvements won’t come overnight. Our programs challenge athletes in measurable ways, creating opportunities for them to learn and progress toward their personal goals in both individual and group settings. This creates an exciting opportunity for the next generation of cycling champions.”

The athlete training and coaching program packages are based on the Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model stages, set via testing and evaluation ahead of the start of the training program.

PCC programs are available for athletes in disciplines including road, track (track sprint & track endurance), mountain bike (XCO), cyclocross and mountain bike Enduro. Athletes in the program will have access to high-quality professional coaching and training in a peer group setting, training camps, regular physiological testing, and mentorship opportunities with Olympians and professional cyclists, depending on the chosen coaching package.

Limited Time Offers for the Month of September for applications:

1 – One free maximal aerobic power and lactate profiling test with signing up for a full-year program (Value: $260.00)

2 – Your test results may earn you a PCC scholarship by achieving PCC talent standards of up to 30% off your program cost on a full-year agreement.

Interested athletes can send a race CV and cover letter to info@pacificcyclingcentre.ca.

Or Apply online

 

 

PCC women triumph at Criterium

PCC athletes close in on the finish line in the women’s race. Photo credit: Alex Skvortsov

It was a one, two, three for PCC athletes at the Windsor Park Criterium on Sunday. Abigail Drews was first in the women’s race, with Holly Simonson second and Kimberley Chen third.

The criterium at Windsor Park in Victoria is one of several Vancouver Island races organized by the Victoria Cycling League annually in the spring and summer.

PCC athletes compete in Vancouver

Holly Simonson at the Gastown Grand Prix. Photo courtesy Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix

PCC athletes competed in the Gastown Grand Prix and the Tour de Concord last weekend in Vancouver. Both races were good learning experiences for Tristan Drews (Red Truck Racing) and Abigail Drews (Red Kilo Racing), while Holly Simonson (LA Sweat) and Brenna Pauly (Red Truck) worked on their respective team strategies. Holly won the women’s race at the Tour de Concord.

“Gastown is always my favourite race of the season,” said Holly. “The atmosphere is unmatched, and having so many friends and family out supporting was really special. I felt really good and was able to get some big primes along with the help of my teammates. It was also exciting to return to Vancouver a few days later and take the win at the Tour de Concord. I am happy all my work training can come to fruition in some close to home high calibre events.”

Women’s start line at Gastown. Photo courtesy: Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix

There was a lot of prize money in both races and no dominant team as has been seen in the past, which opened up the field for others.

“Gastown is always a special race with the crowds and many supporters cheering your name out on course,” said Brenna. “With primes from the get go it took me a few laps to settle into the pace. About halfway through my legs came around and I was able to move to the front. My goal was to stay close to some of my other teammates and help set up Kimberly for the sprint at the end.”

“The Tour de Concord was another opportunity to line up for a competitive prize purse,” she added. “I was super happy with how I was able to race with my teammates to help two of them lap the field. It was a real team effort out there ending with my teammates in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.”

Abigail is racing this weekend at the Marymoor Grand Prix track race in Redmond, Washington. Tristan is racing in Europe for the rest of season and Holly and Brenna are gearing up for the Tour de Gatineau  UCI 1.1 race from September 19-21.

PCC Athletes Podium at Pacific GP

PCC Athletes competed in the Pacific GP at the Greater Victoria Velodrome last weekend. Tristan Drews won the scratch race and was third overall in the elite men’s omnium. Tristan’s sister Abigail won the elite women’s sprint omnium.

Congratulations to both.

 

Photos: Courtesy PCC

PCC Collaborates on a Road Skills Course

Pacific Cycling Centre is excited to collaborate with Cycling BC on a road bike skills course for coaches on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30 in Sidney, BC.  Led by PCC head coach Houshang Amiri and Ben Chaddock, head of coach development with Cycling BC, the two-day course will instruct coaches on basic and intermediate road cycling skills.

The course runs from 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday and 8:30 am – 3 pm on Sunday. Participants attending on Saturday receive credit for NCCP Basic Skills, and participants attending on Sunday also receive credit for NCCP Club Skills (ROAD).

On Sunday afternoon, there will be a discounted LTR Road54 skills session so coaches can practice teaching in a closed or open environment, respectively, with Cycling BC members new to road cycling.

A Cycling BC Single-Event License or Annual Membership is required.

For availability and more details go to Cycling BC

 

Tristan Drews wins Southie Circuit

Photo: Red Truck Cycling

Tristan Drews won the elite race of the Southie Circuit in Langley on March 15, the first of the Spring Series. The riders did 12 laps of a 6 km course with Tristan finishing in 1:53.

This is Tristan’s first year in U23 and after cycling with Glotman Simpson Cycling  team in his Junior years, he is now with Red Truck Racing.

He will race the remaining races of the spring series in March and then head with his team to the Redland Bicycle Classic, from April 9-13 in Redlands, CA.

Tristan on a training ride. Photo: PCC

PCC renew contract with Gruppo Nutrition

Pacific Cycling Centre is delighted to announce it has renewed its partnership with Gruppo Nutrition for 2025. Gruppo Nutrition is one of Canada’s leading sports nutrition suppliers. Their products fuel athletes from all disciplines.

PCC athletes have been using Gruppo successfully for a number of years. “Gruppo supplementation has been essential to my training, fueling my recovery and strength, by providing the necessary nutrients I need to meet those goals,” says Tristan Drews, who won the U23 B.C. Road Provincial Championship last year.

PCC look forward to another year of fueling from Gruppo.

Busy summer for PCC riders

PCC riders have had a busy spring and summer series of races and into September will continue training with their respective teams.

Tristan on the podium at the Wix Brown Circuit Race in March. Photo: L. Drews

Parker Swanstrom, Caleb Bender and Tristan Drews have been racing in Belgium. Parker has returned home while Caleb and Tristan will remain in Belgium for the rest of September. They are taking on some late season racing there, after which Tristan will be joining the National team pre-World Championships training camp as final preparation for the championships in Zurich.

Holly Simonson is in Ireland and has just completed the five-day stage race (Rás na mBan) with her team. Brenna Pauly is training at home after racing the SBT Gravel Race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Brenna and Holly’s final race will be the Gatineau GP in Ottawa later in September.

Holly riding in the Victoria Criterium in August. PCC photo.

David Jackson, originally from Yukon, is training at home in Victoria. He had a great race in the Juneau Stage Race in Alaska last month, winning the overall GS in the expert race.

Podium finish for Holly Simonson

Approaching the finish line. PCC photo.

PCC’s Holly Simonson came second in the Canadian Masters Criterium Championship yesterday in Victoria. The 2023 champion had a good race but was involved in a crash that forced several riders to sit out a lap. Undeterred, she finished the race in style and came over the finish line first.  However, Red Truck rider Larissa Black was the only one of the seven finishers who wasn’t affected by the crash and so became the 2024 champion.

In the Masters C race Iain Hay placed 4th. And in Friday’s Time Trial Holly’s mother Heather finished first in the Masters G category. Congratulations all!

Holly in a breakaway. PCC photo.

 

Pacific Cycling Centre

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) provides coaching and training services for Elite, Masters, and Junior athletes in road, mountain bike, track, and cyclo-cross.

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100, 4636 Elk Lane Drive
Victoria, BC V8Z 5M1

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