'Gut wrenching and infuriating' – fury as Canadian women's team pursuit squad cut ahead of LA Olympics

Cycling Canada has announced the removal of the women’s team pursuit squad from its 2028 Los Angeles Olympic programme, sparking significant backlash from athletes and supporters. The federation will neither enter a women’s team pursuit squad at the upcoming UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai nor pursue qualification for the LA Games, while continuing to support the men’s team pursuit throughout the Olympic cycle. This decision has been met with strong condemnation from members of the women’s programme, who describe it as both “gut wrenching and infuriating,” highlighting the impact on years of progress and equality within Canadian cycling. The rationale behind the decision, as explained by Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher, centres on performance metrics and long-term strategic planning. Boucher stated that recent results and training performances of the women’s team pursuit squad do not indicate a realistic chance of medalling at the 2028 Olympics. Despite past successes—including bronze medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020—the team’s recent finishes, such as ninth place at the 2023 World Championships, have not met the federation’s benchmarks. In contrast, the men’s team pursuit squad, which has not medalled since 1996, will continue to receive funding and support. Athletes have responded with frustration and calls for a formal review of the decision, pointing to systemic issues of gender disparity in access to high-performance opportunities. Squad members, including Paris 2024 reserve Fiona Majendie and six-year veteran Lily Plante, have emphasised their dedication and sacrifices to maintain the programme despite limited resources. They argue that the decline of the women’s team pursuit is not due to a lack of talent or commitment but rather poor management and unequal support. Former Olympian Ariane Bonhomme, who retired earlier this year after losing funding, echoed these sentiments, criticising the handling of the programme over recent years. In light of the cut, Cycling Canada plans to redirect funding towards individual women’s endurance events such as the Omnium and Madison, as well as broader development pathways for emerging athletes. Boucher affirmed the federation’s commitment to rebuilding the women’s team pursuit programme through targeted investments and collaboration with the wider cycling community. Key upcoming opportunities for development include the Junior Track World Championships in 2026 and several international events in 2027, signalling a longer-term approach to regaining competitiveness on the world stage.