Hilary Wille is a young cyclist with big expectations.
The 19-year-old from Saanich is a rookie on the expanded Accent Inns-Russ HayB次元官网网址檚 Cycling Team for the 2013 season. Well, sheB次元官网网址檚 mostly a rookie.
Wille is transitioning from being a junior athlete with the National Triathlon Centre and a gold medal winner at the 2011 Kamloops Western Canada Summer Games. The reason is shin splints.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been cycling as a triathlete for years but my career as a cyclist has only just begun,B次元官网网址� Wille said.
As a triathlete, one of WilleB次元官网网址檚 biggest goals was to have the fastest bike split. To do so she trained with the boys. Then shin splints kept her from running, and competing, though she could continue training on the bike and in the pool. And though Wille was also an accomplished swimmer with Island Swimming for nine years, cycling won out.
B次元官网网址淭o make a pro (cycling) team is part of the dream but the big goal has always been the Olympics,B次元官网网址� Wille said. B次元官网网址淔irst swimming, then tri, and now this.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗er results in triathlon speak to her horsepower and fitness endurance,B次元官网网址� said team co-founder Jon Watkin, who also helps organize the annual Bastion Criterium.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 Accent Inns-Russ HayB次元官网网址檚 Cycling Team has 17 riders, three of them women, up from 10 riders in the teamB次元官网网址檚 first official season of 2012.
B次元官网网址淲e had great results last year and with more sponsors weB次元官网网址檙e entering more races and with more travel covered,B次元官网网址� Watkin said.
Leading the way as a junior last year was Jordan Duncan, 17, who returns as the defending provincial time trial and cyclocross champion.
Wille is classified as a member of both the development and elite rosters for the Accent Inns-Russ Hays Team, as sheB次元官网网址檒l be up against under-23 women and pros in her rookie season. But it wonB次元官网网址檛 be too much for the former Claremont secondary student, she insists.
B次元官网网址淥n the one hand IB次元官网网址檓 used to cycling, as the bike portion of triathlons would make or break my race,B次元官网网址� Wille said. B次元官网网址淏ut the cycling leg of my races were also limited to 20 kilometres.B次元官网网址�
WilleB次元官网网址檚 entry to the world of the peloton came last year when her NTC teammates jumped into a pair of Victoria Cycling League races in the Highlands district, Newton Heights and Caleb Pike. She admits a learning curve awaits her and is listening intently to what coach Houshang Amiri has to offer.
B次元官网网址淭his couldnB次元官网网址檛 be a better fit for me right now,B次元官网网址� Wille said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 completely healthy and lucky to walk into a development team out of triathlon.B次元官网网址�
WilleB次元官网网址檚 story echoes that of Shailie Sanbrooks, a Victoria-based cyclist and former triathlete, who was sponsored by Russ HayB次元官网网址檚 two years ago, before WilleB次元官网网址檚 team existed. With Russ HayB次元官网网址檚 help, Sanbrooks rode on the elite roster of U.S.-based Team Kenda (presented by Geargrinder) for 2012.
The South Island is also the home to premier national under-23 cyclists Annie Ewart (Brentwood Bay) and Adam De Vos (Oak Bay), both of whom ride for competitor teams.
B次元官网网址�(Accent Inn-Russ HayB次元官网网址檚) is one of just five or six like it in the province. WeB次元官网网址檙e just getting established,B次元官网网址� Watkin said.
New to the Accent Inn-Russ HayB次元官网网址檚 2013 menB次元官网网址檚 elite roster are VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Lucas Koolman, Vancouverites Jeff Werner and Mike Rothengatter, and the YukonB次元官网网址檚 David Gonda. Returning are Cid Martinez, Raph Lalumiere, Curtis Dearden, Emile de Rosnay, Steven Grandy and David Strasser. Wille is on the development roster with locals Alex Amiri and Evan Carey, as well as ComoxB次元官网网址檚 Jordan Duncan and CourtenayB次元官网网址檚 Andrew Grant. VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Nik Vogler and ManitobaB次元官网网址檚 Haley Warkentin make up the elite womenB次元官网网址檚 team, on which Wille will also compete.
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